Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-04-25
Edison as a NewsbOy.


The following characteristic sketches
of the early days of Edison are from the
advance sheets of his biography, now
being written by Counselor Edwin NJ.
Fox, Of this city, who for several years
past has been an intimate friend of the
great inventor:
About this time young Edison con-
ceived the idea of starting newspaper
for circulation among the train hands
and passengers generally. A spicy
sheet, telling of the daily life of con.
ductors, brakemen and employees, Civ
ing the latest news from the seat of war,
as clipped from the Detroit papers, and
serving up the general gossip of the
stations along the road, was his con-
ception OF what the paper ought to be.
His service of ten months on the train
as newsboy was his experience, and
dozen pounds of old type his capital
stock. Soon the new paper made its
appearance. 1t bore the distinguished
title in large black letters, The Grand
Trunk Herald. Its salutatory told of
its fearlessness in politics and its fair
ness in everything. The editor welcomed
all contributions, literary or otherwise,
particularly otherwise. According to the
hopes held out, the fedgling was to be
the long felt want in the world Of jour-
nalism. 1t was to 30 overflow with i'm
portant news that even the least curious
of passengers would feel compelled to
disgorge the penny necessary for its
purchase. In time its circulation was
to extend far beyond the limits of the
State of Michigan, and thousands of
eager citizens would daily await its ap-
pearance with feverish impotence. For
the first few weeks the founding fell
rather tame on the unappreciative COM
munity. The largest Of type seemed
no inducement to purchase. People
looked disdainfully at the diminutive
sheet, In vain the editor and sole pro-
prietol yelled its merits through the
cars. The passengers were not to be
cajoled or deceived.
After few weeks, however, there
came a change. Edison hit upon some
railroad topic Of general interest, and
the demand for the new paper began to
increase. People talked about it and
the coppers flowed fast into the hands
of the ambitious young journalist.
Some exciting war news also at the
same time TRANSFERRED, and the Grand
Trunk Herald came in for its share of
the enhanced circulation of papers gen.
orally. But, alas there came O day
when the paper was forced to suspend.
It was not because of financial troub les,
for the expense attending its publica-
ton was only nominal, as young Edi-
son wrote everything and set up all the
type himself, doing the work at odd
hours which he snatched from his regu-
lar duty as train boy. The disaster was
rather inglorious in its character.
1t came about through man named
Bockus. Mr.. Bockus kept store in
Port Huron, and was pretty well known
in the place. In an unguarded mo.
ment young Edison wrote something in
his paper which touched the dignity of
Mr.. Bockus, and Mr.. Bockus vowed
vengeance against the offender.
Edison little suspected the impend-
ing danger. The ire of the angry Mr..
Bockus was unknown to him. He pur-
sued the even course of his way in ap-
parent safety, chuckling at the hit he
had made. The day of disaster came at
last. Edison was standing near the
depot waiting for the locomotive to
steam mp. HE did not see stout and
wrathful-looking man stealthily walk
ing up behind him. He did not know
at first whose was the heavy hand that
alighted on his shoulder, and whose
the voice Of thunder that shouted in his
ear, I've got you now, you young ras-
calf He had no time to apologize and
ask questions. The river flowed near
the spot, and toward it Mr.. Bockus
ruthlessly dragged the frightened ed.
ltor. A shout, q short, sharp struggle,
o splash, and the editor and sole pro-
prietor of the Grand frank Herald was
foundering in the water. Fortunately
for science the news lad was q good
swimmer, and soon he was clamberipp
up the pier wetter but a wiser boy.
The Grand Trunk Herald never again
appeared. From that day forward Edi-
con turned his back upon journalism.
The duties of the editorial chair were
more than he cared to bear.
Not long after the inglorious down
fall of the short-lived paper there &C.
CURED an incident in the train life of
young Edison that even to-day is re-
called with smiles by the old train
hands. Among the passengers one
summer afternoon, on the train from
Port Huron to Detroit, were four young
men. apparently the sons of wealthy
fathers, travelling for pleasure. They
laughed and told stories and enjoyed
themselves as best they could. Evil
IDENTIFY they had plenty of loose cash, for
on one or two occasions in their hilar.
ity they exhibited large rolls of bills.
During one of their boisterous par.