Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-11-24

The Suppression Of the Chicago
Times by Burnside in 1868.

Chicago Newspaper Union.l
An account Of the incidents con-
nected with the suppression Of the
Chicago Times by General Burnside
in 1868 is going the rounds, in which
the fanciful statement is made that
Mr.. Storey took a bundle Of twenty
five papers and climbed out upon the
roof, and by means Of the adjoining
buildings reached the street, with the
remark that he never lost an edition;
and also that the pressman took a
hose and declared that he would
scald anybody who should interfere.
Anybody who knows Mr.. Story we'll
will not need to be informed hat he
did not wait till the quarters were so
close before getting copies out of the
Office. The writer was a compositOr
on the paper at that time, and can
give a more accurate account of what
took place on the night in question. 1t
was we'll known in the office that the
commandant at Camp Douglas had
orders to send a detachment of troops
to take possession Of the establishment
and stop further editions Of the paper,
and it wal known that the guard
would leave the camp about midnight.
Every man in the building knew the
principal facts Of the situation, and all
iabored hard at whatever work was
given out. Takes we're short, and
everything was kept closed up. Two
men, mounted on feethorses, watched
the entrance to the camp, and when
they saw the soldiers emerge to begin
their march to the Times Office, some
four miles distant, they made off as
fast as their steeds could cover the
ground to carry the news to the old
man" At once the order was given
to "close up and in a very short
time the press a running at high
speed, printing an edition of the paper
which was unusually Outspoken in
tone. As soon as a small pile of papers
had accumulated at any fly they
we're promptly seized by someone and
carried to a place of safety near by.
70 this labor everybody gave a will
ing hand, so that, when the guard ar
rived a large part Of the edition had
teen printed and conveyed out of the
building. The press was then ordered
to be storDed, and further proceedings
prevented.
1t was remarked that Mr.. Storey
was In an unusually spirited mood,
mingling with the men with a famil-
iarity never before noticed. He knew
the affair would prove a good adver-
tiscment for the paper, as it certainly
lid. The following evening IN i'm
mense meeting was he'd in the court
house square, at which resolutions
fercely denouncing the suppression
we're adopted. Excitement ran very
high, and fears were entertained of a
counter movement against the Trib-
une. That Office was barricaded to
the ceiling with bundles of printing
paper, and inside was said to be alarge
and well-armed guard Of determined
men. AT the meeting there were
present many who had come in from
the surrounding country, armed and
resolute, to see the Times through"
The Union League was in session, and
at short intervals received reports oil
the state Of affairs in the square from
special messengers. Conciliatory
speeches we're made, and promises
given Of efforts to secure a revocation
of the order, by means Of which the
immense crowd we're restrained from
violence. The next day President
Lincoln revoked Burnside's order,
and the Times resumed publication.