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American Press Founded at Boston
April, 1704, Spans Two
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Two hundred years ngo, with tlio
appearance of the Hoston News-letter
in the week (if April 17-24, the
American press was founded.
Before that time lint one paper had
appeared in the colonies, and that
but once. The News-letter "came to
stay," and for fifteen years was the
only newspaper on this side of the
Atlantic. Philadelphia was the sec
ond Amerlcnn city to establish a
paper, in 1719, and New York was
third, In 172:..
Hy that time Hoston had three
newspapers, and on one of them, the
Conrant, there worked a youth whose
name has ever spread luster on the
craft of printing In America, Ben
Jamln Franklin.
The American newspaper press for
the first three-mint ters of a century
after tho appearance of the News-Letter
developed only slowly.
In 1783 there were but forty-three
newspapers In tho United States; In
1S01 there were 200 weekly and seven
teen dally Journals. In 1830, 852 news
papers were published (CO dailies);
b 1840, 1,631; In 1830, 2,520; In 1800,
4,051; in 1870, 5,871; in 1900, 980
daily, 9,718 weekly and 1,075 other
newspapers and periodicals; In 1903
the number of newspapers published
in the United nnd Canada was 21,451.
In tho early days of tho press In
Boston the printer and the editor
were often tho same. There were
few editors for the first fifty years
of American nowspapers who were not
able to set type and work a press.
In mechanical equipment tlicro was
no great change in tho principles
newspaper printing for a century nft
ithe establishment of the Hoston New
Letter.
The Invention of the cylinder prcs
1814-1827, the application of media
ical power to presses In 1835, tho 1
ventlon of stereotyping in 1861, we
the most Important steps toward
great mechanical equipments of to-da
tbat enable a city newspaper to furl
off an edition of 300,000 copies or
paper containing sixty-four pages, I
tho samo tlmo that would have bee
required to turn out 300 copies of tl
Boston Nows-Lotter.
Tho development of newspapers ai
tho means of printing them has bci
ono of tho most Interesting nnd re
mnrkablo phases of tho advancement
of civilization In America In tho 200
years that has passed slnco the
American nowspapcr press was estab
lished In Boston, In tho month of
April, 170 1.
Tho Worcester antiquarian society,
which possesses tlio most nenrly com
plete Jllo of American newspapers,
gives a list, In Its catalogue, of 156
Boston publlcatlonn, monthlies, week
lies, soml-weekllcs and dallies, living
and dead, which at ono time and an-
N98o
New-Mlourant
From Mon DHFebruary ix..i a j..
' JFh?s7Jl(-2M ' e its editor.
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other since the nppcarance of the
News-l.etter. ApYll 24. 1794, have
been set adrift upon the uncertain
seas of popular approval.
The first English newspaper printed
In America was Issued from n Hoston
press In 1 COO. It was a little sheet,
7x11 Inches, printed on three pages,
with the fourth blank, entitled "Pub
lick Occurrences, both Foreign nnd
Uomcstlck."
The proprietor stated It would be
iFsued monthly, and give n "faithful
relation" of all happening. Four
days after Its appearance the legisla
ture decreed that Occurrences was an
unlawful enterprise, and should not
again nppcar without license from the
government something its publisher
never succeeded in getting.
In the week of April 17-24, 1704,
there appeared Boston's first perma
nent paper, The Hoston News-Letter. It
was printed by Bartholomew Green
nnd edited by John Campbell, post
master, being modeled on the news
letters that tho postmaster of Boston
had been in the habit of preparing nnd
sending to the governors of tho other
New England colonies.
In 1719 Editor Campbell lost the
Boston postofflce, and his successor,
following the custom of the time,
founded a newspaper organ of his
own, tho first Boston Gazette, the
new iwstmaster and new editor, Will
Inm Brookcr, making his editorial bow
Dec. 21. 1719.
During the twenty-two years that
this original Boston Gazette existed
Boston had five postmostcrs, and each
s
and began its career by attacking tho
News-Letter, calling it "a dull ve
hicle." Then BenJnAiln Franklin's big
brother began to pitch into tho gov
ernment and critUiso tho clergy. His
differences with tlio clergy had to do
with vaccination, m prnctlco which
Franklin opposed bynrguinont nnd by
ridicule. The Mathers, father and
son, were Inmpooneir with a vlrnlcnco
seldom witnesEed liAtho press of the
present day, and tho result was nn
"Address to tho I'ullllcU" by Dr. In-
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Hundred Years.
crease Mather, in which the Courant
was denounced as "n wicked libel,"
nnd the wrath of God was called down
upon the head of its editor.
About this time James Franklin In
timated In his paper that the Massa
chusetts government was dilatory In
tending an nrmed vessel In senrch of
plrntes who were then Infesting tho
const, and for this he was put In Jail,
where ho remained nbout four weeks.
On the imprisonment of James
Franklin the editorial management of
the Courant fell to llenjamln Frank
lin, who, since the paper's first issue,
had been "devil" in the otllce. and had
distributed the edition to subscribers
on publication days. lie had been
tired with a desire to write, and bis
communications to the editor, written
secretly and put under the office door
at night, had been unsuspectingly
printed by his brother.
When the editorial toga fell on the
shoulders of Benjamin Franklin, hi:
ambition for the moment wns real
l.ed. He ably edited the paper while
bis brother was in Jail, and, owing to
the irresponsible character of James,
the name of Benjamin Franklin In
February, 1723, was given as the Cou
rant's publisher. ,
Much and perhaps undue glory was
reflected on the history of the Cou
rant by the association with it of the
great philosopher's name; but It earn
ed at least the tho title to the first ol
the free lances in Boston Journalism.
One Boston weekly above nil others
deserves to be especially mentioned,
the oftentimes unfortunate nnd al
ways misunderstood Liberator of Wil
liam Lloyd Garrison, which, from Its
very Iweptlon down almost to Hi
death, manfully stemmed the current
of a strong and prejudiced public opln
Ion. Sometimes Its office wns demol
ished. Once its editor was dragged
through the streets of Boston with the
ropo ready for execution nbout lilt
neck. He was subjected at all times
to the ridicule and denunciations ol
his professional contemporaries, tc
strong words from the leading pulpits
yyounedIyBojcntaJ7dbctety
of New England, and to satlro and
venom alike from speakers upon the
public forums. But Gairlson's "I will
bo heard" prevailed, and tho Libera
tor's editor had tho satisfaction of see
ing tho principles for which ho so
stoutly contended through long years
of persecution and suffering becomo
incorporated in tho law of tho land.
About tho earliest religious weekly
was tho old Boston Recorder, started
In 1S1C, afterward changed to tho Con
gregationalism Unbroken files of both
papers have been preserved. Tho old
literary or story weeklies, such aa tho
Yankee Blade, tho Star Spangled Ban
nor, and tho Truo Flag, abound In de
lightful memories to tho readers of an
older generation.
Old Bay State Towns Whose Citizens
Won First Battle of
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"Tell your children of It, and let
your children tell their children, and
their children another generation," Is
an Injunction honoied by age, but
which every true New Englnndcr Is
prompted to obey on each nnnlvcrsnry
of the memorable battle of the open
ing of the revolution.
A glimpse at tho battle mnp gives
the reader some Intimation of the ter
ritory stlried to action nnd fiom
which enmo the embattled farmers,
and suggests tho spirit of gratitude
shown lu bronze nnd granite set up
by those who now consider that sig
nificant uprising in connection with
Its consequences to the entire world.
Although years have passed, evidence
of the yeomen's determination con
tinue to accumulate. Of all the towns
that responded to the lelngton
alarm, none has a gtander iceord than
tho town of Acton, and from the old
Kobblns garret in that tenltiny has
come this very spring a yellow matin
scilpt which reads as follows:
"We. the subscribers, do solemnly
agree and promise .Hint we will ob
serve and confoim to the association
of the continental cougrehs. and do
hereby tnnke It our own pattlcular act
and convenant until we obtain nn
ample redress of our grievances, as Is
specified In tho said association, ns
witness our hand this fifth dny of
December. 1771."
Of the twenty-seven signatures to
this paper, one autograph most Im
pressive Is that of Isaac Davis, who
fell at Old North bridge on the 9th of
April.
The nlarni sounded by Paul Hevere
ivas carried on by courier to the bor
ders of the county and beyond, while
Kbcntvor Dow, who left Hoston about
the snme hour, disguised ns a country
mnii on a marketing trip, gave the
alarm to the towns In other directions.
THE TOWNS SHADED WERE
Hence It is that more than thirty
towns aro found represented on the
roll of honor of April 19, 1775.
Lexington was on the line of march
of tho king's army, hence here oc
curred tho first clash of arms. Here,
too, wero peacefully sleeping In the
parsonage John Hancock and Samuel
Adams, whose capture was greatly de
sired by tho enemy, nnd whose doom
waa fixed. Other guests nt Parson
Clark'B that night wero Mme. Lydla
Hancock, mint of tho patriot, and
Dorothy Qttlncy, his betrothed.
Tlio alarm brought to Concord by
Dr. Samuel Prescott, who had been
at Lexington paying court to his loved
one, was quickly passed along to Ac
ton. A horscmnn galloped to the
homo of Capt. Joseph Bobbins and
without dismounting nt tho house,
cried out: "Capt. Bobbins! Capt.
Bobbins; tho regulars are coming."
a
Monument etc
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c uarcfsy
Tho Acton companies wero not long
In assembling and wero noon on tho
road to Old North Bridge, leaving tho
women to prepare food which tho
boys wero to bring on when ready.
Tho mlnuto men took up tho lino of
mnrch to tho stirring notes of tho
"Whlto Cockade." Luther Blnnchnrd
was flfer, and Francis Barker drum
mer. Both companies from Acton wero
at tho brldgo and had a prominent
plnco in tho engagement. Capt. Davis
had said In the hasty discussion that
Bolton Utov, tTSa (
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took plnce before tho engagement: "1
haven't a man that's afraid to go,"
and the Acton minute men were In the
front In the opening light.
Capt. Davis and Abner Hosmer
were killed and Ecklol DiivIh was
wounded wh.le pursuing the enemy,
and at Flak's hill James ltayvvnrd was
mortally wounded.
The henvlest lighting of tho dny
was on Lincoln soil lu the afternoon
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when on the ictrent. Here companies
front moie distant towns met the en
emy and gave light. Ten of the llrlt
Ish fell and several of tho Americans
were engaged near Fish's hill.
The king's forces were so hotly pur
sued that their dead lay iiuhurled un
til the next day, when tho bodies of
the enemy weio given Christian burial
by the people of Lincoln. Thtee found
graves by the side of tho king's high
way, and two In a field near whero
they died. Five were taken up and
A J ftm&s. ysSTy i3
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THE CONTRIBUTORS TO THE FORCE 8 OF 19th OF APRIL, 1776.
carried in an ox cart to tho burial
yard of tho town nnd given a common
grave. Lincoln has erected a memo
rial stone over the resting place of the
unknown foes.
Chelmsford, a mother town, was In
coipornted In 1055, and at the tlmo tho
provinces shook off the yoke of op
pression included the present city of
Lowell, then East Chelmsford. There
wero brave, determined men herefrom
the days of King Philip's war, nnd
there wns bold action hero in 1775.
They agreed upon n gieat stone nenr
the center of tho town ns tho rallying
point, and when the news from Con
cord reached them they made hnste to
tho placo of duty.
Tho Wcstford men wero nmong the
first nt tho bridge. Tho company
reached Concord Just ns tho tiring be
gan, and Jollied In tho pursuit. Capt.
Bates was moi tally wounded.
Tho old town of Blllerlca had a
scoio to settle against tho king's
troops, for during tho winter of 1771-5
ono of the mon of the town hnd been
seized In Boston and trented to a coat
of tar and feathers. Henco they hnd
sharpened their bayonetn and loaded
their muskots to bo rendy at a mo
ment's notice. They received word by
way of Woburn nnd tliu Mlnuto men
wero at Lexington rendy to balance
accounts with the regulars ns they
retreated. Tho mllltla company inter
cepted tho enemy at Merrlam's corner,
under Col. William Thompson. Nn
thanlel Wymnn wns killed. Although
claimed by Blllerlca ho Is recorded In
Lexington. John. Nicklen nnd Timo
thy Blnttchard of Blllerlca wore
wounded,
lu Arlington, onco Cambridge,
stands a stono on which is tho follow
ing: At this epot. April 1!. 1773.
The old men or Monotomy
Cnpturt-d a convoy of i-ls'liter-n soldiers
with KiipiilluH on Its wny to Join
Tho lirltlsli at Lexington.
This was tho first concerted action
on tho part of tho Cambrldgo men nnd
by thoso who wero too old to do full
duty. Thoy wero headed by Rev. Mr.
Pason, of Chelsea, it Is thought, and
David Lamson, of Cambrldgo, took a
lending part. Tho fight was about 5
in tho afternoon. Tho Cambridge men,
the Revolution.
with others from a. dlstnnco who- had
nrrlved, entered a walled Inclosuro
and piled up bundles of shingle for
a breastwork, but It proved to bo
their pen of slaughter. Tho retreat
ing enemy camo down tho main road
and the watchers were surprised by
n (tanking party of Irritated British,
who wreaked their vengennco on tho
provincials.
Not less than 22 Americana foil on
that April afternoon In Monotomy
(Cambridge), and fully twico an many
of the enemy perished. Mnny of tho
dead wero carried back to tho towns
whence they came In tho early morn
ing. So urgent wero their country'
needs that the villagers had no time
for funeral rites and the cnrponterH
were too busy to muko tliu coffins, no
that these martyrs wero committed to
a common grnvo with their ciothosfor
shrouds.
Lynn, In Essex county, responded
with a will. Many men went In hot
haste In answer to tho early warning.
Four were killed, as the Immortal
sci oil bears testimony. One, Abed
uego Rnmmlell, ran In lilt) stocking
feet from the marsh, whero ho wits
gunning, all the way to Snugiis, got to
Lexington at noon, faced tho Ilrltlnli
In the middle of tho road, fired ouco
and fell riddled with bullets. No more
pretentious monument Is needed than
the simple gravestone net up to Town
scud's memory.
Clint letdown, although only acrosn
the river Charles, saw nouo of tlio
lighting until tho return of tho enemy,
yet her men wero out lit pursuit ot
the Hrltlsh, with whom they wero fa
miliar. James Miller was killed nnd
a son of Capt. William Harbor, 11
years old, lost bin life. It was at
Phlpps' farm, Cambridge, that tho en
emy landed In tho mornlnr; whon
starting on their excursion, and tlicro
WerltiihAM
JHtuMIICtlliMrtT.
by the house of correction Is tho tab
let that tells or the fact.
On Burial hill, Charlestown, aro
grnvestoncs broken by the bullets of
the enemy on that day.
Newton, the southern extreme of
Middlesex county, sent out 218 racn.
A veteran of 70 years, Noah Wiswall,
was lu the company. Ho went, bo
said, to see what his three sons and
son-in-law wero doing. Ho wns wound
ed in the hnnd, but bound It up with
his handkerchief and went homo with
a gun captured from tho enemy.
There were four companies from tho
towns of Groton and Peppcrcll. Tho
women were on duty nt homo, under
command of Mrs. David Wright. They
captured Capt. Leonard Whiting, of
Hollls, a friend of the enemy, who was
bearing treasonable dispatches from
Canada to Boston.
Tho mon of Shirley wero equally
determined. Old "Will, tho Miller,"
who was bowed nnd crippled from
age, declared ho would go whon tho
company started off for Concord, say
ing: "True, I cannot hnndlo a musket,
but I will light tho redconts with my
two canes," which ho braudlshed ia
the air.
Appendicitis U? Cnntaglous.
Dr. C. C. Sheldon, ono of tho lead
ing physicians of Wisconsin, main
tains that appendicitis is contagious)
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