The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-01-09
BENNETT.

It4 a-g.. 1.-....I D .g.
The Founder OF the Herald and the
Father of American journalism.
Review of the Life-Work Of the
Dying Old Man. al.AaU.- o..
Extract from New York Correspondent OF the
Rochester Democrat.
BENNETT A FRENCHMAN.
Notwithstanding the fact that Bennett
is descended from one Of the old High
land families, have always considered
him more French than Scotch, and | nm
inclined to think that In the cOMmingling
Of nationaliies which marked the wars q
the Pretender, some intermarrlage occur
red introducing this feature. Benefits
philosophy Is aftet the style Of Rousseau
rather than that Of Hume, and in his en-
tire career he has shown the vivacity Of
French blood, combined with Scotch te.
nacity. do not think II possible that
any absolute ScOtchman could have built
up the Herald. They are too heavy, or,
you please, "toO solid" Bennett as a
cOmbatant was as dashing as Marshal
NCy, and his motto was "iuCidce, 81 ton.
,jOurS dutldce." The early pages of the
Herald sparkle like champagne, and were
the funniest light reading Of the day.
Look how he pins upon his lance such
men as Tom Hamlin, M. NJ. Noah, James
w. Webb, and others who came beneath
his displeasurel There were but two
men in this city who bore his lash with
cOmposure; these were David Hale and
Horace Greeley; all others dreaded It.
Sometimes it brought personal assaults,
but these did not intimidate. It is, in.
decd, surprising 10 see how the latter were
made to work benefit instead ola dam
age. When Jared w. Bell and Tom
Ilamlin came TO his sanctum to intlict per-
sonal violence, the public were amused to
see these men advertised rs thieves Ben
nett indeed offered u large reward for the
SUN Of $400, which, as he said, was miss
ing when they departed. This was re-
taliatiOn which these men did not expect,
and which showed how easily Bennett
could turn tue tables on them.
"REMINISCENCES
Old men are full of talk over the past;
and though Bennett is getting very feeble,
vet ifany one could suggest the strange
events in'his life, think 1t would wake
him up to full consciousness. Benefits
history is yet 10 be written, and II proper
ly done will be the most interesting book
ever issued from the press About twenty
years ago the late Isaac y. Pray, who
once had desk in the Iierrld office,
wrote allie of Bennett" but it was1too
soon to give the matter u thorough hand.
ling Parton has done something in the
same line, but the field is still open and
invites attention. Benefits severest at
lacks were levelel at such men as Noah,
the leading Jewish editor, Webb, of the
Courier, Hamlin, the actor, and William
II. Seward, then Governor. War was
his delight. They were invited 10 make
their worst retaliation, and were warned
to prepare for relentless foe. No one
ever commended long with Bennett, for
one would soon be worsted, and then
would learn too late that he had increased
his own punishment As soldier of the
pen, Bennett was yigilant and prcsevering.
Ills application to Office work would have
ruined any but Scotch constitution. At
times his health suffered extremely, but
the Herald never showed neglect. It was
spicy and fascinating while its master
was suffering from all the ills Of editorial
life. The Herald was Bennett, but al.
ways the cheerful, gay, triumphant Ben
nett, who secretly bore the penalty Of
success in silence. U.
BENNETT AT PRESENT.
lie is an old man with two elephants
on his hands. The one is the Herald and
the great house at Fort Washington, ten
miles out OF town. The first he would
have sold some time ago IL he could have
got his price. His son Is not a journalist,
and never will be one, and the paper is
conducted by manager, Mr.. Putnam,
who keeps it abreast with all public mat
tiers. Different parties have talked about
buying the Herald: but who has 81 ,000,-
600 to invest in such an enterprlseS The
Fort Washington property contains four
acres; and is immensely valuable; but 1t
would look badly, and, in fact, involve
loss Of position, TO sell ii, while 10 live
there is equally undesirable Hence it is
good for such man TO have an establish.
ment in town. Young Bennett, were he
not encountered with wealth, would he.
come distinguished as navigator. His
turn for catching and other naval matters
is no ailcctation. He hAs always had a pre-.
objection for ships and navigation general
ly; but while no enjoys prominence as
Commodore OF the catching fleet, his easy
position will prevent thai effect which
would lead 10 maratime distinction, Ben
mott is much broken with age, but has
held out wonderfully, considering the
hard work he has undergone, In this
feature he has only been Cqualed by Gree.
ley, and 1t may he remarked that Greeley
was the only editor whom he respected.
1t is true that he ridicnlel him, but this
was only IN clement In editorial conflict.
How much he respected Greeley may be
judged from the fact that he once pr0pos.
ed to him co.partnership.--
APuRTITER REiaasENcE TO NEWS
lhave said that US u news collector Ben,
net never had an equal. In that day there
was no telegraph, and editors were thrown
on their own resources, aud in this Ben.
net showed great fertility. The Euro.
pean news brought by tho steamer to
Boston was then conveyed TO this city by
pony express. The lriJune'S horses gave
out on one important occasion, while Ben.
nets came through. The question wns at
once raised, was there no special artificc
in this2 Again, q rapid line Of steam
boats piled on the Sound. Bennett got
the news from the steamers. When the
latter reached tho wharf, the extra Her.
ads were rushed oil to the eager commu-
nifty. Benefits amazing success, rs well
us his pungcnt pen, justified the then title
otthc "Satanic Press"
A GREAT FEAT
Ono Of his feats has never been explain.
cd, at least in manner satisfactory to the
public. Thirty years ago a very impor.
tant question arose between England and
America, and war was imminent. A
NEllinlL -t..hlr.aA