Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1873-10-23


Mr.. Edttor.-I see In your paper OF the 1871
inst, an answer under the name of "Composi
tor" to my commun ication in the Commercial
In reply TO IL would beg leave to state hat
| no intention OF writing a history of the vii
mington printers as be intlinates, but simply
incidentally togive some random recollection:
OF those who followed their business In THU
city, who came In the scope Of the discussion
that have been inadvertently drawn into.-
The mistakes In the names Of Miles and Croft
and the rest were simply typographical errors
We Will see how difficult IL is to be free from
them by reference to his own article where he
has amongst other inaccuracies the name Of
II: Csrnahan instead Of Al. Carnahan. But
VIII leave these simple errors, and speakot Other
matters In which he is mistaken-whieh will
snow that my first statements were almost III
every instance correct.
First he Is in error when he speaks Of 4. 7
N. Coolies as being drowned. He was alive
and well not more than three years ago In New
York, where he believe engaged In the oil
business. At any rate he was substantial citi.
zen, owned property, and his private residence
was In Brooklyn.
Again he is in errer when he says that VII.
liam y. Miles succeeded Mr. Naudain, as ress
man on the Gdzette.M Naudain was succeed
ed, first believe, by Mr.. Kerns or Harms, an
Englishman who afterwards went TO New Or
leans, and engaged extensively In the periodical
business where he failed. lie was succeeded
by Mr.. Jobson, who was at one time an ac-
tor. He by Mr.. Trolley who had his fingers
mashed by allowing tho form he was putting
to press to slide over them. He by Mr.. John
Henderson who was afterwards foreman in one
of the departments of the Ledger, and at pres
ent carries on business, am informed, In Phil
adelpba. He by a Mr.. John Lackey (brother
to Mr.. Lackey our former Levy Court Com
missioner) and he by Mr.. Miles. I think |
have placed them in correct order.
Upon the Sentinel which Mr. Naudain left
the Gazette to establish, Mr.. Streets was |
believe the first pressman, Mr.. G. Washing
ton Lowe, {broiher Of w. G.. Lowe, Esq, who
was man OF considerable literary attaihments,
especially as connoisseur, )and Mr.. Jesse Tin.
dali "a quaker) also worked off the Sentinel
and Republican when 1t was changed to the
latter name. When William s. Miles entered
into partnership with Messrs. Cannon and jean
dell, he at first worked 1t of himself, but soon
Afterwards employed Mr.. John Guthrie. Both
the Sentinel and REPUBLICAN until taken pos
session Of by Columbus i. Evans, (who COM
manded tho Delaware Company so CALAMITY In
the battles of the Mexican War; were pub
lished Li-weekly.
Again "ComposltOr" is In error when lie SAYS:
"Mr. Naudan did not fall he neglected his
business" and that "the gentlemen who owned
the concern, were Mr.. John Price, Mr. II. (M.)
Carnahan, DIR. J. w. Thomson and Mr.. John
III. Barr" The paper was carried on In the
name of MI. Naudain, and he was to incur the
loss If any was sustained, and to have the prof
It's, If any accrued. The paper did not paw
MIR. Naudain was unable to pay his debts, he
therefore left 1t in The hands of some gentlemen
In Wilmington who believe were the parties
above named, or some Of them. They had en-
dorsed for him, or supplied him with some
funds to enable him to buy the office, and carry
on the business, or went his 81 curity or assisted
him In some manner. The original office for
the publication Of the Sentinel, was purchased
by Mr.. Naudain, Of John Mcdowell u Dover.
1t formerly belonged to Mr.. Augustus Schee, a
well known printer who used to print tho state
Laws. The office had laid long time atDover
unused, and the widow of Mr. Schee, marry
ing Mr.. M. Dowel, caused Ii TO come into his
possession. When Mr.. Naudain moved it 10
Wilmington, he had to purchase some new
type and new press-as the Dover press was
the old fashioned ramlnage, worked by balls,
instead OF rollers. But it was purchased in the
namo Of Mr.. Naudain. He therefore failed
aud the alleged neglect Of business Is not proof
that he did not fail, but OH the contrary il
would be cause Of falling ii IL existed. But
think "Compositor" does him wrong, without
stating the reasons. Mr.. Naudain was a proud
high minded man, who would have paid every
dollar, if he had had the means to have done
so. But the debts came against him in such
numbers, that he was ashamed TO meet his
credtors, and so he staid away from his bust
ness TO get clear oftheir importantly.
Again "Compositor" was in error, when he lE-
sinuates that Moses Bradford was not at one
time editor OF the Gazette. He edited that pap
er, us have stated III my communication 10
the Commercial, when it was published in the
building thai stood where MIR. Pickles lower
stove store now stands. He afterwards edited
Tho Thurman lie was I halieva tic first adj
tor.
Again he says he never "knew roller boy of
the Gazette named Howard" Howard had
an existence nevertheless. He rolled on the
Gazette during the winter of 1889 and $780,
lie says he did know one named Hammitt,
and lntimales that Howard aud Hainm 1T was
the same individual. Edmund Hammitt did
not come to The Gazette until lato in 1870. He
aflerward carried On the blacksmilhing busl-
hess at Front aud Justison Street, AID lie and
his brother wera well known business men Of
our city,
Again he says he should like to SEQ the evil
dence Of ex-Alderman Vincent becoming con-
nected with the Gazette in 1889.
The evidence will be- found in the following
paragraph of his biography published in No. 4,
volume OF Hardness Magazine. The editor
there says:
"lhe Christmas present that Dover male To
Wilmington In 1899 was printers apprentice
to John Newton liarker, editor ahd Proprietor
OF the Delaware Gazette. The boys name was
Francis Vincent
Again believe that the same statement Is
made on the biography Of the eXAlderm an
Published in Alibme's Dictionary Of authors.
But not having that work before me, and not
knowing exactly where 10 find ii, | cannot,
therefore, be sure on that point. But Ilark-
ness Magazine is now upon my table, | there
fore WI tie from the bODk
A biography OF the Alderman has also been
published in the Swedish or German where lhe
same statement, lam Informed, is made, aud
translated and published in the New York Pc
riodcal. Mr.. VIM. &. Lowe an two or three
other citizens have seen it. Ties. statements
we've made before the publication of the para.
graph that caused this diclssion and therefore
there could be no reason 10 misstate.
LII relation to Mr. Hyland, until reading The
statement of Compassion, was unaware that
lie had ever been al the printing business be-
fore his engagement on the Sentinel. Ii he did
work at the journal, as Compassion thinks.
early in 1889, lie is undoubtedly the oldest
printer who commenced the business Ia Will
mington, now residing in tho city, with the ex-
ception of Mr.. Naf. If he did not ex-Ailer-
man Vincent comes before him.
From the above it will be seen that | was
correct in all my statements, saw probably
that In relation to Mr.. lIy!and. Most of the
present printers however thought as | did, pre-
vious to the publica, ion of "Compositor," viz,
that Mr.. Ilyland's first entrance into the bust.
ness was on the Sentinel. Composition him.
self evon does not appear to be certain on that
point.
In conclusion would say | do not Intend
what remarks | have made 10 he history of
the printers of this city. In a friendly discus
sion as regard the craft, took occasion to re-
call the recollection of some names that de-
sired Tot TO sink iuo oblivion. therefore
close my remark by mentioning one or two
more matters in relation 10 printers of The
State, that may not prove undressing. That
is the printer, whom "Compositor" supposed