National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-11-20
TYPE SETTING TOURNEY.
SKETCHES OF TIE DIFFERENT CON-
TESTAHTS.

| two errors which the unlnltated IN the atb uuu
mystery Of printing have naturally fallen into in
| regard to the great type-setting tournament to
take place in Washington the 9Th Of December
next. The "sticks" offered as prizes are not
| gold-headed and silver-headed canes. The COM
posing instrument used by printers is called
stiek" in their parlance, and, as far as we know
| q solid gold one, full newspaper size, has never
been made nor before offered as prize. Tho
intrinsic value will be very considerable, TO say
nothing Of the great honor that will attach to
the printers name who wins 1t.
| Messrs. James McCaferty and Chris Feehtig
are entitled to much credit for the energy they
have shown in pushing the tournament forward to
success.
Acknowledgement is made of n contribution Of
IS from Mr. Henry Smith, the weli-kuoWn cigar
dealer, 1905 Pennsylvania avenue, toward the
purchase of prizes for the coming typographical
| tournament. Henry's is fayorite resort of the
members OF the craft, and this assurance of his
regard wiz not be forgotten by them.
An earnest appeal is made to all printers who
propose to enter either the first second class to
come to the front at once and enter their names
This isTeally ;due to outside people, who for
many reasons may wish to form an intelligent
opinion as TO merits.
AnprinteTs wishing to enter can do so by calling
and leaving or sending their names and address
to either James MeCafferty, otiee Of TIE
| NATIONAL REPUBLICAN, Chris Fechtig, Of the
Il.
ofice.
In all the printing offices of the city this tourna-
| ment is the one chief topic of conversation, and
| though it would be interesting it is hardly the
| thing to point out at this time anything in par
ticular that is said especially about the merits Of
! the different contestants so far as their names
| are known, but this much may be said. It is o
pretty we'll settled fact that the printers are tax
ing broad views OF the whole affair and feel that
| as we'll as local. 1t has a national aspect. The
| five hundred printers here are representatives Of
nearly all the States, and it is quite safe to say
| that the States which will be represented in the
tournament have not within their borders type
settlers fast as those now working here who will
| contend for the hOnors Be that as it may, the
winner Of the gold stick Will be man Of whom
| his State or District may be proud.
SKETCHES OF THE CONTESTANTS.
Everything pertaining to this grand affair is
| of sharp and peculiar interest. The community
naturally wish to know something Of the personal
history Of these knights OF the sticE-these Dex-
tiers, Tom BOwlings LongfellOws, FelIOwcrafts,
| Jay GOulds, Joe Daniels Thad. Steyenses and
Harry Bassetts in the type-setting races.
SPENCER Y. BESNERMAN.
| This distinguished member Of tn great print
| ing profession was born in the city Of Philadel-
phia in ISIS, and fig consequently thirtysIx years
| Of age. In early life he was apprenticed to Mr..
| c. Sherman, the most extensive book printer in
| that city, and was educated by him in every
|
| one he was engaged by the firm Of L. johnson &
| Co., type founders, as salesman, which position
ne hSio Ior sE mopIRs S1en ne reslgned 70 lake
He left that office on the breaking out OF the war,
| and enlisted in the Baxter ZOuaves when, AFTER
nearly three years service, land suffering during
the latter part from typhoid fever in the hospital
| at Fortress Monroe he was detailed in the War
| Department, and enlisted in the regular army.
Shortly after the establishment of the Adju-
| tant Generals printing office he was appointed
| foreman, which position he finally resigned to
/ ,Aw,aN San Nhn 1mNNn
| venture lasted only six months, and he then
| found himself appointed to the position OF as
CITY, aud then in six months as foreman. holding
| the latter position for three years Resigning
this Ofice on account Of its facilitating effects
| upon his system, he was appointed foreman OF
the Sunday ChronieLe. In one year after this
| the prOprietors of these two newspapers dis
solved partnership, and then he wendell his way
! back to tie Daily thronicEe, where he is now en-
| plOyed as maker up" As a type-setter he is
| known to be one Of the fastest and cleanest in
Washington, and as q gentleman he is univer-
sally respected for sterling worth among his a.
| sOciates and friends. Mr.. Bennerman will con-
| tend in the first class.
FRANCIS U. sTIrT.
This conspicuous name in the annals Of the
"art preventative Of art, - is now silent reader
| in the Govern ment printing office. He has set
but little type in the last fifteen years, having
tcfncT Generals ONCE, and since then he has fol-
lowed the profession Of proOf-reading; but his old
record in Tennessee as rapid manipulation Of
friends he has entered his name as contestant in
| this race, and be will demonstrate to the new
generation OF printers that rapdity and correct
| ness once acquired is never lost.
Mr.. Stitt was born in Philadelphia, but early
in life emgrated TO Tennessee, and worked at his
profession in the city Of Nashville. He was
obliged to leave the State on account Of his devo
! tiOn to the Union, and he became q protege of
Abraham Lincoln, whose friendship he preserved
till the death Of the great President. BY an error
we are unable TO state this morning whether
not Mr.. Stitts name is entered in the first class.
WILLIAM W. M'CoLLUX.
Mr.. NcCollum is a native OF Baltimore, and the
| Monumental City has never given to the profess
sion OF printing gentleman more respected. He
was born there in 1876. and Is now twenty-elght
years ofage. At an early age he removed 70 Belle
iODte, Pennsy lvania, where he served his time
| as an apprentice in the office OF the Central
Press" Of which paper Wien Forney was editor
After this he worked ut the printing business in
the office Of King Baird and Sherman 4 Co.,
| Philadelphia, and in the Government printing
ONCE. He also held situation on the old ma
city, for three years and he worked on the Daily
| Patriot" Of Washington, up to the time Of its
suspension. He has also worked in Cumberland,
| Ohio. and in Charleston, S. q.
His name is entered IN the first ella SIS, and
| though he has never participated in Q similar
race before, lie has engaged in friendly contests
and has made q record of sixteen hundred ems
solid nCuparell in sixty minutes and it is no
common thing for him TO average from fifteen to
sixteen hundred ems FER hour all night long,
taking the run OF the hook" On one occasion
| Mr. McCOllum set thirteen thousand nine hun
the exception of fifteen hundred ems. which was
loaded. The characteristics Of Mr.. NcCOllum as
printer are steadiness, nerve, precision and en-
durance.
RICHARD A. N'LEAN.
This celebrated name among fast type settlers
is Of ecUrse, entered in the first class and If tho
opinion OF good many well judging men is not
at fault he will walk of with the golden prize
Mr., Mclean is a compositOr on the EreRiHg Star
and is about tWenty-seVen years of age. He
served his apprenticeship in the Evsling Star
NNnw Efnh ha ID rTV.N,F
and worked for period OF three years in the
EreRiRg Telegraph, and "subbed" in the offices
Of the Public Ledger and North American. In
1871 he contested in the office OF the Day, with the
noted George ATensburg, fol the tirst prize
awarded by Mr.. Nenamin-a silver composing
stick.
In this tournament he made a record Of 1857
ems solid nOnparell in one hour. Although be
failed in winning the prize this achievement at
once gave him a distinguished position in the
fraternity. After that he returned to Washing
ton, and since then has held q situation in the
Star ofhee continuously.
J.E. WOLFE.
Mr.. Wolfe belongs % the Government printing
office, and his name is entered as contestant IN
the first class. He was born at Hampton, Adams
county, Pennsylvania, in 1879, and received COM
monschool education. He served his apprentice
ship at Carlisle Pennsylvania in tire office Of the
"NoIUnteur." After that he worked on the Han
over Citizen Pennsylvania, the "WaYerly Ad-
vocate," New York, the ATHENS Gazette "Penn-
sylvGnia, and in the office THE "TOw-nda Item,n
PEN ylyania; he vas foreman Of the Gazette,
newspapers on the first hand-press Brick Pome-
roy eve owned.
Mr.. Wolfe came to Washington in December,
1s73, and since then has held q position In the
Government Printing Otice, in the "piece depart
ment." There Long Primer is used hence he has
had practice in setting Nonpareil but he enjoys
splendid reputation for getting up some OF the
best bills ever known in this city. Mr.. Wolfe is
married man, and is greatly respected by all who
enjoy his acquaintance. He Is one of the modest,
silent ereepeTs, but he will in the race like
vine.
H. A. FoRsEMAS.
Mr.. Foreman, whose name Is entered in the
seeond-clnss, vas born in 1850 at CircleVie Ohio.
He came to Washington in 1862 and has been
employ ed IN the Government Printing Once ever
since, and is row engaged I'm the document room
OF that institl ion. He served bis apprenticeship
n Appleton, Wis, in the Office Of the Weekly
Cr6scC-t. He then worked on the State Journal
at Madison, Wis for two years. Mr.. FOTseman
has most excellent reputation as fast printer.
PRANK A. N GILL.
Mr.. NcGill, whose name Is entered in the sec
ond class, was born in Philadelphia, February a.
1850 and he was educated in IT'S public schools
HI commenced his apprenticeship in 1858 with
Mr.. q. W. SERVER and finished &c on the "Consti-
tutioDal Union" Of this city. Thos. B. Florence
editor and proprietor. He worked for a short time
in Philadelphia, and returning 70 Washington
has worked for the last three years on The Ma