Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-09-29
JERSEY JOURNALISM.
A Publisher Who Was Determined to
Print a Wideawake Paper.
THE DUNELLEN ROCK WAS FUNNY,
But Somber- Minded Men Entered NHmer-
ous Libel Suits and
DROVE THE EDITOR OUT or THE TOWN
CORRESPONDENCE OF THE DISPATCH. J

| AhENTON, september Zoi-NeW Jersey
has an editor who is entitled to rank with
the editors in Fargo. Deadwopd, Tombstone
and the Western towns whose journals have
become famous. His name is Charles E. A.
McGeachy. He left for ptrts unknown
some time ago, but his memtry is fresh in
the minds oil number OF citizens in the
central part of the State. Duhellen, on the
line OF the New Jersey Central road, was
the town where he planted himself. He
hired shanty and started the Dunellen
hocS The first page consisted OF big
black ink mark, which was supposed to be a
map OF the town. The paper was set up in
the shanty and taken over to New York to
De printed. Occasionally a column of type
would fall out during transportation. II
an advertiser found a white space where his
column advertisement should have been, he
Knew what the trouble was.
Everything about the Rock was original.
A 6ig dog named j ack was Kept around the
oihce to take charge OF tramps, aud the town
nlagnates whU thought they knew more
about running the paper than McGeachy
dld. The news columns and editorial policy
Will always be remembered. "Write lunuy"
Was the standing rule OF the office. Later
another rule was added: "Sting somebody
every time you get a chance" Truth was
thrown out OF the window, and sensation and
humorous extravaganza had lull play.
When nobody else was handy Mac" stung
himself and his reporters to make his col
umns lively. The widest statements were
permitted in the chronicling OF local hap
penlngs. provided they were funny.
NEWS THAT Is NEWS.
This is how local events were chronhled:
Colonel Sam Van. Artsdale has amlssed
wealth enough 10 add pleasing twostory
wing to his dwelling.
I'VE hear of very happy engagement
quite distance around the corner, after a
brief Greco-Roman tussle about it Par
ticulars on receipt of a postal card to sither
dove.
"Dr. Endicott's little mare can nowmake
her mile in tour seconds better time She
has been clipped by Prot. Cumbact, and
consequently can cut the air with les fric-
ton.
"Hon. A. L. Force, OF the Constitutional
ist, visited the Rock Office Wednesday.
Nothing has been missed from The Office
since he left except our spectacles.
1.-THE voracity with which a newly mar
ried pair kissed each other adieu1 at the
depot last Wednesday morning wal enough
to cause the unseen stars to pier forth
through the blazing sunlight and scream
Scat
Hundreds were turned away from the
doors of the Green Brook schoolhouse We'd
nesday evening, assembled to h@r P. S.
Bergen's silver-tongued "Wlcome to
Spring." Over 81 800 was taken in at the
door.
Theatrical circles in Roselleare stirred
unanimously over the disappearance OIL
Will Sultzer of the dramatic club. The
cruel rumor that a servant girl S also miss
ing is unfounded, for our reporter last night
counted all the servant girls ir town and
finds the total toots uD correctly
OPPOSED TO EVERYTHING.
Politically, McGeachy seems to be on the
fence. He attacked both paFties without
stint. If he had anv preference, it was for
the debris OF the Greenbaek p@ty. He was
alsoopposed to license. Hesaidthe Republic
would be knocked into bits if lhe Dunellen
tavern was permitted to sell lieuor.
The ROCKS circulation took a sudden rise
when new department appeared on the
first page under the head of "Rock
Candy" These are some of theitems
"Plainfeld.-It is a boy, and when he
gets married his wife will orderthe bills to
be sent to F. T. Marsh.
"Dunellen.-Paul Kratzel, or enterpris-
ing shoemaker, has the youngest customer
in town, one, too, who will patronize him
exclusively for years to come, we nope. She |
began her account Tuesday morning.
"SOmervile.-0ne swallow does Lot make
a summer, but one little Robin has made |
spring weather for East Somerville. Isn't |
so very little, either; II q avoirdupois gross. |
"Dunellen.-Mr. Carter will take $40 for |
1t, regardless OF what veal may he worth Tor
the next 80 days There isn't prettier calf |
on Prospect avenue. 1t is just week old |
to-dav."
Perhaps it was some mysterious sense of |
affinity which drew George Francis Train to
send his family to Dunellen and then follow
himself. Certain it is, however, that he
found a congenial friend in "Mac," who
listened respectfully to the astonishing rev.
elation which George ALWAYS has in store.
and celebrated his departure from the vii
lage with reverent interview in the Rock
Georges hygiene theories seem to date very
far back, as at this time he assured his
editorial friend that he was living on bread
and water twice day and an apple once
week. Turkish baths and total alb
stinence from smoking, chewing, drinking,
swearing. cheating, lying and stealing kept
him in superb health. He refused to shake
hands with his friend, however, as the evil
dence OF old age on "Mac's" lace was too
palpable. In those days he never shook
hands with anyone over IS, as thereby his
own tremendous psychology was preserved
intact and was not impaired in the least.
At last libel suits began to crowd in en-
McGeachy unpleasantly frequent The Rock
gloried in them Tor a while, and then the
finances of the establishment became
affected Lawyers bills had to be met, and
consequently the paper was reduced to one
hall its original size. Judgments piled up,
disappeared. 1t is understood he has mar
ried an actress and gone West to manage