Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-06-21
Anecdotes Of James Gordon Bennett's
Newspaper Management.

Contributed to the New York Sun by an old re-
~ H porter on the Herald.
When first became familiar with the in
ternal arrangements of the Herald, the per
sonnet of the establishment consisted of
Thomas P. Kettell, who wrote the money
articles, for which Bennett obtained all the
credit; William II. Attree, the police and
city reporter; little Jew named Lee. who
attended the courts and furnished the legal
| Intelligence; and Frederick Hudson, who
collected the ship news. 81 Kettell was the
best financial editor of his day. He was
careful in his facts, bad a thorough knOwl-
edge of the subjects he was called upon to
discuss, and wrote in an accurate and pre-
else style. His financial articles constituted
one of the most important features Of the
paper. He was the originator Of the money
column, which no paper of any protensiOns
is now without.
Attree was an incorrigible reprobate, fun
of ability ola certain kind, and an admir-
able reporter. That is, he had the faculty
of turning everything into Tidicule, that
jumped exactly with Benefits humor. He
would attend a public gathering of any
kind, and give readable, interesting carl
cature of the proceedings, interspersed with
ludicrous comments, and an amusing de-
sCription of incidents and circumstances
that never occurred. Bennett was always
quarreling with Attree, stigmatizing him
with all sorts of Opprobrious epithets, and
threatening to discharge him; but his con-
summate audacity saved him.
When President Van Buren, visited the
city in the summer of 1910 there was a
great procession AM parade. The Demo-
or Sc fr1rroI IN E,raa hon Huyfvor
music filling the air, with every appliance
calculated to make an impression On the
people. Here was an opportunity forathe
display of Attree's peculiar talent, and it
got noised about that the Herald of the fol-
lowing day was to contain full account Of
the affair, with ludicrous cuts aud caricas
lures, and there was a strong desire among
the Democrats to battle the scheme. IA
ron VanderpOel, afterward Judge of the Su-
preme Court, but then a member Of Con-
gress, and known as the 'KinderhoOk Roar
err" interested himself actively to prevent
the success of the undertaking. He had
the assistance of William B. Maclay, then
growing politician. As preliminary step,
they procured Attree to be Piled with
liquor Of all sorts until he became utterly I
Oblivious Of everything in progress. He had
the capacity of a seasoned cask, and he de-
voted himself faithfully to taking notes,
after drinking enough to have made any
other reporter in the city blind drunk. But
he succumbed at last and by the time the
performances were over he was fast asleep
In Jones' Second Ward Hotel on Nassau
street. The Democrats were apprised Of
the state of things, and they plumed them
selves upon having thwarted a design,
which, if carried out according to the origin
al programme, would not fail to have a
damaging effect on the party. About o.
clock that night, Attree's retreat was discOV-
cred, and be was taken around to the Her
all office, on Ann street, roaring drunk, and
as wild and unmanageable as COmanche.
But newspaper men are full of expedients.
Attree was thoroughly drenched with cold
water, and, recovering his faculties partially,
he was placed on lounge in the editorial
room, an expeditions penman procured,
the notes taken during the day read to
Attree, and be dictated report of the
transactions of the day in capital style, and
TIE Herald appeared rather late on the fol-
lowing morning, with nearly broadside of
letter-press devoted TO the democratic dem
onstration, illustrated with the most ludie-
rOus caricatures. .. ..
When Mr.. Vanderpool was asked for an
explanation, his reply was that he had
never before known 80 much good liquor
expended with so poor result.
Mr.. Bennett hectored, scolded and bullied
Lee constantly. He was Painstaking re-
porter, but he was too careful to suit the
tone Of the Herald. Bennett had taken a
strong dislike to Mr.. Noah, who was a
Judge of the City Court, and he had diree-
ted poor Lee, in reporting the proceedings
OF the court, to ridicule and abuse the