The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-05-08
THE NEW HUMoRIsT,
M. Quad, the Funny Man of the de-
troit Free Press"

Lewis, the funny man of the Detroit
T 5 ifess, was going down the Ohio, In
1867, on the ill-starred Magnolia, to Mays
vile, Ky. to assume editorial charge of a
paper there published. He found himself
one day somewhat in fragments, with a
brandnew frescoing of coal dust on his
face, large bolt-hole in the hack of his
skull, one eye apparently out of business,
and his body in rather perturbed condi-
ton. The cause he found to have been an
overaccnmmulation of steam in the Mag
nolia's boiler, with probably too heavy
negro as weight outhe safety-valve. This
pyFotechnical exhibition happened Just op-
miles above Cincinnati, in 1867. Mr.. Lew
is was carefully collected, and the debris
taken to the Cincinnati hospital, where an
intelligent jury was unable to decide wheth-
er he had received the benefit of the four
teenth amendment or not, on account of
the accumulated and inlaid coal dust that
blackened his skin. Finally his coffin was
ordered and preparations made for turning
him under an Ohio sod. But his friends
found him out and insisted on his remain
ing alive for at least term of years. TAX
ing long lease of life, he YEARLY began
ASOONSiluS, d tOuS dHu LcuiUuS pEOC6SS, at
times of doubtful success More than
three months passed away before that left
eye was able or willing to count the panes
IN an opposite window, SO busy was it with
the aches of a terribly tortured body. TO
diagnose the case briefly. Mr. Lewis finally
got about again aud took situation on the
Pontiac Jacksonidn, now defunct paper.
Being practical printer, Mr. Lewis often
stood at the case, and one day his brain
conceived a notion which proved the food
tide OF his fortune, and NJ. Quad took it at
its flood. He set up an article entitled,
How it Feels to be Blown Up person
al narrative of an awful aerial Journey in
different directions, mostly sideways. This
was copied everywhere, and the nom de
plume of NJ. Quad was seen in all the
prominent papers of the country. Not
long after this magnificent description of a
horror had gone abroad, Mr.. Lewis was
engaged to write Gossippy letters from
Lansing, concerning the Michigan legisla-
ture. to the Detroit Free Press, then as
now the leading Michigan paper. The let
tiers were not founded on fact to great ex-
tent; fiction furnished the substance. and
IN consequence they became very popular,
and the Michigan legislators were credited
with numerous bright sayings to viii, b
they had no title. Then Mr.. Lewis came
relunctantly in 1869 to Detroit, and Joined
the local force of the Free Press, In this
position he has ever since remained, and
has grown in reputation with the Press.
Happily he is recovering from his injuries
The bulge 10 the back of his head is again
observable, the film in his eye is gradual
ly disappearing, and he walks without
either cane or spectacles. In appearance
he disappoints you. He has a very seedy
ensemble-perhaps truly journalistic air
that does not look as if it cultivated close
relationship with the bristles Of good Cos
we'll; rather full and blonde mustache
LIP that often moves under
the rolling of the weed beneath. His head