The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1889-04-11
FIGHTING EDITORS.

FIGHTING EDITORS.
THE ATTEMPTS TO ASSASSINATE
NEWSPAPER MEN.
The Escapades Of Fiery Editors Recall
ed by the Murder of Capt. Dawson
Duel Between Two Noted Journalists,
The murder of Captain Dawson, the
editor of the Charleston Neacs and
Carrier, suggests the fact that since
( newspaper became an active and
: aggressive force in society there has
been q remarkable list of tragedies
affecting those engaged in this bust
ness.
Among the earliest of these was the
assault upon the abolitionist Loveioy.
He was of intense conviction, and pos
sessed of great moral courrge, and he
advocated in his paper, which was
published in Alton, ILL.,, the abolition
doctrines of Wendell Phillips and
William Lloyd Garrison.
The section of country in which
he lived was at that time intensely
pro- slavery in sentiment, and mob
of angry and ugly men gathered in
front of his office one light in 1885,
sacked the building and Loveioy was
killed.
William Lloyd Garrison was mob
bed in his office, the Liberator, in
Boston, and was afterwards dragged
through the streets in chains, but be
escaped with his life, although he had
a close call on one or two occasions.
Two of the most fiery editors
who ever wrote with pen dipped in
gall were James Watson Webb and
Mordecai Noah, the then editors of the
Courier and Commercial of New York.
Their warfare upon each other stepped
way over the line of personal criti-
cism.
1t was expected that it would result
ultimately in one of them shooting the
other. That is exactly what happen
ed, although not in the way of assas-
sination. They met on the field OF
honor, exchanged shots, and Webb
was wounded so that he was lamed for
life. Webb was tried, convicted and
sentenced to prison, but Governor
Seward pardoned him.
Of the tragedies, both in off.hand
duels on the street and formal meet
ings that editors in the south and west
have experienced there are almost in.
numera Die records. Prominent among
them were the comparatively recent
meeting of Editor Elam of the Rich
mond Wing and Editor Burke of the
Richmond Dispatch. Both were train
ed duelists, and Elan carried wound
in his jaw which he had received in 6
previous encounter. In his meeting
with Burke, about four years ago
Elan was shot through the hips, re
ceiving an uncomfortable but not very
dangerous wound.
| One of the most celebrated and sen
sational of all the tragedies that have
occurred to editors under editoria
roofs, was the murder of Albert s
Richardson by Daniel Mcfarland il
the old Tribune Office. Mr.. Richard
son was one of the most eminent news
paper men Of his time.
He had been brilliant war CORES
pondent for the Tribune and had pub
lished a number of extremely interest
ing books. Mcfarland was a bril-
liant but cratic lawyer of New Yorl
one of those men Of whom it va
said that he would have made grea
name for himself if he had kept sober
His wife was a bright woman of ;
literary turn, whose maiden name wa
| Abbie Sage. She had separated iron
Mcfarland on account of his habits
and claimed to have had a divorc
from him. Richardson had befriend
ed her, and Mcfarland believed h
had done so in altogether too friendl,
a manner.
| One evening, fired with rum an
passion, he entered the office of th
Tribune and loitered around unit
| Mr.. Richardson came in. Ther
leaning over the counter, he fire
at Richardson without saying a wort
and the wound was mortal. Richard
son was taken across the street to tn
Astor house, and died after lingerin
day or two. Mcfarland ives arrest
ed, tried, escaped conviction and wen
west, where he lived broken-d -dowI
neglected man.
The death of Henry J. Raymond
the famous editor and founder of th
New York Times, was ascribed to a
attack of apolexy, but there has a
ways been a mystery about it.
The most recent case of murder
editorial office was that of Mr. Shepar,
the editor of the New London Tel
gram. This occurred about yes
ago. He was shot at by man of III
sound mind, without any grievant
whatever, and wholly irresponsible f,
his act. The editor died within a
hour or so, and his assailant was col
; fined As a lunatic.
When Cassius M. Clay was runnir
, his abolition paper in Kentucky,
always laid revolver on one side
, his desk and bowie on the other, an
J his desk was always placed SO that |
could get the drop on anybody wi
came in the room. Mr.. Clay w
l,,t bp.t