The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-11-05
HUDSON AND BENNETT.


AN INCIDENT OF PREsS-CoMPETITION TWENTY
FIVE YEARS AGO.
To the Editor of the Chicago Tribune:
CHICAGO, Oct. 26-The tragic death of
Fred Hudson recalls an incident in
the mind of the wri'er-who was asso-
ciated with Mr.. Bennett and Mr.. Hud-
son for five years-that showed the energy
of Mr. Hudson's character, and Mr. BENEFITS
shrewdness in making, as Bennett said he
would, the Herald 1.-the London Times of
America"
In 1871, after the Cunard steamers we're es-
tablished, to run at first from Liverpool to
Boston, the Herald formed an alliance with
the Boston Mail, then the paper of Mr.. Brad
ley. The New York Sun also arranged to get
its news through George Roberts, OF the Bos-
ton Times.
1t SO happened that the semi. monthly
steamer was signaled on Saturday afternoon
down the bay, at 2 o'clock. It was at the
time of the dispute about the Northeastern
boundary question" Public expectation was
on tiptoe, as Special Minister was expected
to arrive and treat with our government about
the disputed territory in Maine
A reporter from each paper boarded the
steamer some miles from the city. The ar
rangements of the Times were the most COM
plete. An arrangement had been made with
the railroad company running in connection
with the Stonington steamer to hold the train
at least one hour-the regular time of starting
being o'clock. The steamer got nigh the
city about AS, and the Times man, with a
single paper he got from passenger, got into
boat, rOwed ashore, where cab was IN walt
ing, and sped On for the train, just as it was
signaled to start. There was no other New
York train leaving until Monday night.
The messenger with this paper, containing
important news, exclusively of all others, got
early into New Haven, and chartered steam
or, arriving in New York at an early hour
Sunday morning. Mr.. M. Y. Beach, then
proprietor of the San, published at the cor
ner of Nassau and Spruce streets, where the
Tribune now is; and the Herald was located in
a small building in Ann street. About 8
clock A. M. the Sun put out bulletin, an
noun ,ing the issue of an extra containing
highly important neeos from England. The
Herald was all agog; what did it mean? The
Mail had arrived from Boston, but did not
contain the English news
1t sometimes happened that, when rival
paper got news exclusively, the others would
wait and copy, and say: lowing to our press
breaking down, we are delayed in publishing
the news in advance of all competitors" Mr..
Beach's bulletin was supplemented with the
AUTOBIOGRAPHY lllat, Ill oIutI W give lulieI
reports of the cotton market, the extra would
not be issued until IL NJ. This was done in
order to cut off other papers from copying
and sending slips to their exchanges by mail.
This was at the time of Acting President
John Tyler. who tried very hard to subsidize
the penny press Of the large cities. Ned Cur
it's was Collector of the Port of New York
On his way down to his Office in Wall street
he called on Postmaster Graham to get his
mail; but no English news was to be had
there. Next he called on Mr.. Beach to get
the news, in order to communicate the same
to the President at Washington. Mr.. Beach
gave it to him in confidence. Next he called
on Mr.. Bennett, in Ann street; said he had
gotten few items from the Sun, and "Wha!
had Mr.. Bennett to communicate
Bennett turned his peculiar eye on Curtis,
and asked him what he had received from
the Sum-" Curtis read from his notes: car
rival of Lord Ashburton, Special Minister
| from London to treat on the Boundary ques-
| tion-Arrival of the Overland NJ all from Chi
ma, with News of the Rebellion-A rise in
cotton of Id per pound-Fanny Ellsler, the
wonderful dancer, passenger" etc, etc.
| Bennett read it over, aud replied Well,
that's all I've got" As soon as Curtis back was
out of the door, Bennett noted down each item
and handed them to Hudson, who added sew
eral paragraphs from an English newspaper,
aud doubled-leaded, about three-fonrths of 6
column. Hudson summoned the printers,
and bulletin from the Herald announced al
extra ALSO But Beach knew it was all bosh,
he said, as he had the news exclusively, ant
went on TO set up whole page Of the Sun, tt
have good extra By II o'clock the Herald
was ready, and the city was flooded with ex
ira HerQlds, containing the gist Of Beach
news, and when the Sun got ready it didn'
sell a thousand copies. Hudson sent off hi
exchanges; and, in q week or less, New Or
leans papers came back with credit to the en-
trprise of Benefits Herald!
| Hudson announced on Monday that Gear
rier pigeons we're very useful, beating the fast
est trains, as exemplifed yesterday" As ye
there was no telegraph.
Mr.. Beath called on Mr. Bennett to arrang
with him to run an express in unison and tn
following conversation ensued:
! : Mr.. Beach-"Good morning Mr. Bennett
I've called to see if we can't arrange to ge
our news together from Boston for my ex
press cost me over $500, and you get the beneti
of it, end have beat me all hollow. suppos
We must own up that you are the leadin
journalist of America p
Bennett" Well, l don't know about that
You, Beach, are the greatest fnancier in tn
country. I've broke up the United State
Bank and Safe banks; bat, damn it, can
touch your bank at Ulster Beach had kin
OF sshaving-mill at that place. Sometime
you beat me, and sometimes l beat you. W
are both on the same tack against the Wal
street press. I'll sac about it; I'll see abou
it." E.Br.
Blackman's Commercial College, 131 Carondt
let. Terms reduced. See advertisement.