New-York tribune., 1878-02-16
NEWSPAPERS IN 1916.
nIn.TIME ENTERPRISE.

on
in THE TRInUNK,-bnngs vividly to memory one OF
Tho oorlcst fcots of newspaper enterprise in this
country. in which he was engaged The public has
e;,,oo tLon baco,ne so accustomed to undertakings
of the kind on larger scale. that it has well-nigh
forootten the VOYAGE of the pot-bOat William >.
Romer: vet the latter was one OF the great sehsf-
tons of the year in which it occurred, and certain
incidents connected with it were remembered ior
long time afterward. AS an illustration OF that en-
orgy and fertility of resources to which HE IRiB'
,<r owed its early success the story deserves to
he rctod with the addition of some important par
ticnlars which could not very well be given at the
t1mc II is, in fact, necessary contribution to the
history of journalism in America
Early in 1876. the Oregon question, long post
poued. finally forced itself upon the attention OF
both Goyernments. and seemed. for a time, to as
sume a threatening FORM. Mr.. Pakenham, the Eng
clish Envoy at Washington, was naughty ana IN
considerate diplomatist, ana there were then al
most az many dcmagogues III Congress, ready 10
hurry the country into unnecessary war, as there
are now in favor Of dishonorabc :niiatlon. There
was only one steamer month, each way. across the
Atlantic and. although the sailing packets some
times made fast trips, yet an interval of twenty to
twepty-Gye DAYS without mails from England was
NOT uncommon. Hence every arrival WIS looked
for DAYS in advance with good deal ot anxious
expectation Extras were Immediately issued by
the principal papers of this city and Philadelphia,
and the struggle 10 get them bbt ihio thc stIee'
gave rse to an active rivalry of enterprise, especi-
ally between The TRIBUNE ana Ire Hodid. such as
the London journals only learned to practice twenty
wears later Ii was the habit OF the newsboys then,
10 station themselves midway between iEE lRiB-
I,NE and Herald Offices aud carefully watch both in
oIdcr to make n mad rush for whichever was first
ready to supply them.
The steamship IIibernia which reached Boston on
the Odd of January, 1916 after passage OF eiGh-
teen DAYS. brought the first news of the reception IN
England Of Pr, sident polk's Message to Congress,
i'm which he discussed the subject Of the Oregon
Boundary. A. the same time IT brought news That
Sir Robert Peel was again Premier, with ciangeof
Ministry. which was very favor4bly regarded herc'
The railroad communication with Boston was lin
Ited to line between that city ard Worcester ana
another from New-llaven to Hartford. The repre-
sentatiyos Of TIE TRIBUNE aud Herald had each a
locomotive ready when the steamer arrived. The
latter got of five minutes in advance but the two
reached Worcester nearly together. Thence TIE
TRIBrNES mails were dispatched by relays oi horses
10 Hartford where a special locomotive for New
Haven was waiting. Scventy-fye miles more on
horseback brought the messenger TO th's city, ana
the news appeared nj a. IN. on the 2ith, to me
UcralTS alnazemcnt and defeat. Sometimes. OF
course the luck was the other way; but every vic
tory of the younger paper told upon the public.
Mr.. Thomas McElTath, publisher and part owner
of THE tribune. conceived The idea of dispatrhing
n fast-sailing boat TO England III the hope OF secur
ing an entire monopoly of news, which might prove
to- be- OF the highest Importance. Entire secrecy was
absolutely necessary, 10 prevent similar device on
the part OF a rival journal Congress had called for
lao. .lsl.t IL. IN
the House Of Representatives had lasted long
while. and there were indications that 1t would
soon close. The talk in London both in the Clubs
and the news apcrs had bccu arrogant, and more or
Ices belligercn the Nuto ia Congress in closing the
debate would serve rs evidence OF the temper oi
that body and the manner OF ~ reception III Eng
land would 40 far toward determining the chances
OF settlement Of the difficulty. by peaceful asbitra-
ton Mr. McElyath IL gagged the piiut-bust William
J. Romrr 100 tons--thcn considered tie hccteSt 81
the squadron. The Other preparations were sAh-
fy made. and all was ia readiness Tor the Vessti 10
sail as soon as the action of Congress might permit
This Was finally reached ON Monday. February TO-
when the House Of REPRESENTATIVES, by vote of
1G3 TO Jl requested the President to give notice to
Enalamd Of the termination of the former Convcn-
tion with regard 10 Oregon, adding resolution in
favor of negotiations ior an amcable settlement
As soon rs the news was received 10y telegraph from
Washington the boat was ready To leave.
II Was. # course. impossible 10 conceal the Tact
that the William J. EOmer was prepared ANA proyis-
toned Cor an ocean voyage. She became an Object
df deep mystery go the press, and then 4" iha pubic
The UgaId announced that she had been chartered
by the British Legation at Washington. to carry
over a bearer Of dispatches and the other papers
were equally certain that Of her passenger WIS
to BE- Nr. Charles Melnngaw, special and conf
q. tN.s sFft
Again. IL wa stated that SIZE was TO sail with scaled
orders not 10 be broken until she bad reached dis
tanoc Of 800 mile, from Sandy Hook At noon
on Monday. February o. when she left her wharf on
thc Easi River side aud hovc-to of the Battery, the
news rapidly spread through the lower part OF The
CITY and quite n crowd ofpcoplc collected to watch
her movements. Two passengers were put on board,
one Of them being, according 10 The Herald of the
next morning, "a special British messenger, who
arrived with the Southern mail"
This mysterious individual was wrapped in
heavy pioi-coat, and wore "glazed cap' with
yizor well drawn down over his face. For weeks
afterward, there were many speculations about
"The Man in the Glazed Cap" as there ever were
concerning him with the Iron Mask. Nevertheless
the simple truth was that he was Mr.. Monroe r.
Gale, assistant foreman III THE TRIBUNE composing
room. who WAS charged with the duty of taking
out and bringing back the news. Captain James
Mcclure commanded the vessel, the late Mr. Wilkie
was first mate, James Conner, second mate, and
there were four seamen and cook At IN. rs
the pachet-sbp Patrick Henry moved down the
bay, in tow of q tug-boai the little William D.
Roncr darted past her, spread her wings through
the Narrows and at Sandy Hook was leading By
two or three miles. Az she disappeared i'll the sea-
mist, there were high hopes in The TRIBUNE office
that she would make thc run to Ireland III fifteen or
sixteen days, and return with at least three weeks
arrears of important news.
with the first evening however. the trials Of the