The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-07-15
Thc Reliable COntraBa d-Mark
Twatn Makes few Touching Re-
marks on his Death.

MIR. President and Gentlemen,--I is my
painful duty to mar these festivities with
the announcement of one who was dear to
It's all--our tried and noble friend, the 9 Re-
liable Contraband.' TO the world ut large
this event will bring no sorrow, for the
world never comprehended him, never
knew him as we did, never had such cause
to love him; but unto as the calamity
brings unutterable angush-for it heralds
the loss of one whose great heart beats
for us alone, whose tireeSs tongue vibrated
in our interests only, whose fervent fancies
wrought its miracles solely for our enrich
ment and renown.
In that time what did he not do for us!
When marvels languishcd and sensation dis
patches grew tame, who was it that laid
down the shovel and the hoe and came with
healing on his wings? The Reliable Contra
band. When armies fled in panic and dis
may, and the great cause seemed lost be-
yond all hope of Succor, who was il that
turned the tide of war and gave victory TO
the yanuuished? The Reliable Contra
band. When despair hung its shadows
about the hearts of the people, and sor-
row sat on every face, who was it that
braved every danger to bring the cheer
ing and incomprehensible news from the
front? The Reliable Contraband. Who
took Richmond the first timer The Re-
liable Contraband. Who took it the
second time? The Reliable COntraband.
Who took it erery time until the last,
and Their felt the bitterness Of hearing the
mutton applaud the man who took 1t once
more than that greater man who had taken
it six times before! The Reliable Contra
band. When we needed Il bioodleSs victory,
TO whom did we look to win it The Rella-
BILE Contraband. Whenwe needed news to
make the peoples bowels yearn, aud their
knotted and combined locks to stand on
end like quills upon the fretful porcupire,
to whom did we look to fetch it: The Re-
liable Contruband. When we needed any
sort of description of news upon any sort
of description or subject, who was 1t that
stood always readyto steal u horse and bring
that news along! The Reliable Contra
band. ....-...... .....-.
My friends, he was the faithfulcst yassal
that ever fought, bled, and died, in the glo-
rious ranks of journalism. Thunder and
lightning never stopped him; annihilated
railroads never delayed him; the telegraph
never overlook him; military secrecy never
crippled his knowledge; strategic feints
never confused his judgment; cannon balls
couldn't kill him; clairvoyance couldn't
ind him; Satan himself couldn't catch him.
q His information comprised all knowledge,
i, possible and impossible; his imagination
3 twas utterly boundless his capacity to make
" mighty statements, and TO back them up SO
AZ 10 make an inch of truth cover an acre OF
ground, without appearing to stretch or
tear, was a thing that appalled, even the
most unimpressible with its awful grandeur.
The Reliable Contraband is no more !!
Born Of the war and necessity Of the war,
and of the war only, he watched its pro-
gress, took notes of its successes and re-
verses, manufactured and recorded the most
thrilling features of its daily history, and
chen, when it died, his great mission was
filed, his occupation was gone, and he died
likewise.
No Journalist here can lay his hand upon
his heart and say he had not q cause to love
this faithful creature, over whose unsen-
tient form we drop these umayaillng tears