Morning journal and courier., 1884-01-03
Journalism in DeadWood.
Difficulties Under Which the Black Hill
 Editor Laborss

Difficulties Under Which the Black Hills Editor Laborss
 LDesdwood Lstter to Minneapolis Pioneer Press.]
 Journalism in the Black Hills is not always
 the most pleasant occupation to be followed
 1 remember, several years ago, when Dead
 wood, "camp" and not city in any sense, was wild and often lawless, and all nights
 were hideous, that an election was held, the first. believe, following the organization of counties. Two tickets were in the field-a peoples" and the regular Democratic. The Times chanlpioned the former and the
 Miner the latter. The editor of the Times
 had graduated from one of the largest met ropolitan offices in the East was young, en- ergetic and possessed ''sand" He dished it
 up for the boys at lively rate, and as 8 re-
 suit much bad blood was speedily manifest. cd. As the campaign progressed proceed
 ings became more and more interesting, as ''shot' after s'shot" daily passed between the rival organs until ths climax was reached
 a day or two before election, when the
 Times came out with doubls-leaded article
 alleging that the opposition ticke: included
 government defaulter, an escaped convict
 and one other whose particular deprasity as
 alleged cannot now recall. The paper de-
 ciared it's statement absolutely true, as it WAS
 prepared to demonstrate if necessary. No
 names were mentioned, and therein rested
 the aggrava.ions or particular ofFepse of the
 article, inasnuch as esch one of the eIght-
 
 ted the reflections to himself and felt called
 upon to resent it. Scenting var, the editor,
 i'm msdiately upon the appearance of the sheet, passed down the rear stairway and
 proceeded to his hotel, but was there only
 minute or two when ho was summoned by messenger to ths office. He complied with fear and trembling. and found the sanctum in the possession of g set of the widest most boisterous and demonstratiVe set of men he had ever met. They were mad clear througk, and no sooner espied tue sbivering scribe thsn they proceeded with their con- pliments. They had called, they said, to clean out the ofice-to teach the miserable quill l-driver that he could not insult them with inpunity, anything elsa; and they 1 were proceeding with their work when the 1 appointed sheriff Bullock, the peoples non- inee, and a posse crowded into the room, firearms in hand and after much parleying, but no violence, dispersed the mob. All night long, and for several days, the office was barricaded with bundles of print-pepsr while competitors worked with shotguns and rifles conveniently near their cases in expec- tation of attack. Such was never made, and in time the whole affair blew over.
 was reminded of this incident a day or two ago by an occurrence that is now the talk of the town. and has given rise to a controversy and bickerings that many days will not heal. The editor of a Deadwood \ daily took brief vacation-for the benefit or ms DoaLtn, preSuHS-SupDIy1RS LIS VE- cancy with 8 sub recently from the East who, although 8 good journalist, scarcely understood the customs of the country or the proprieties of the efice, as evidenced by the appearance in the very first issue of the paper under the temporary regime of Q strong article against gamblers and gambling -one of ths not least important ''industries' of the city. It WAS neither g vindictiVe nor personal article, nor one of particular local application; but 1t vas sufficient to raise the ire of the sporting fraternity, or at least of 8 certain feg, who promptly declared an in- tention of boyeotting the office and of never forgiVing the parties responsible for the dis tasteful publication On the following day 6 column communication appeared in 8 rival sheet, over the signatures of prominent gam blers, ansthematizing the paper and proprie- tors that had given ofense, and attempting to justify their 'sbusinsss'' by comparing it's character now with what it was in early days, when s'the camp was infested with sharpers, and where all games vera crooked; j" and de- claring that card playing was no worse than church fair lotteries and kindred enterprises. I This short-sighted alusion aroused the ill., will of numerous old-time sporting men, still residents of the city, and the clergy. The former arc more indignant than the class first offended. In fact, there IS 8 breach in the ranks that will not speedily close and rich developments are expected. number of communications from the clergy have ap pearsd, with more to follow. In short, there | is var all along the line, and alI growing out l of little indiscretion upon ths part Of @ | generous brother of the quill, who he'd kind l lv volunteered his services for the occasion,