New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-04-10
THE TRIBUNE: 1S41-iS9O.
BRIEF SKETCH OF AN EvENTFUL CAREER
THROUGH FORTY-NINE YEARS.
LOUIS PROGRESS OF JOURNALISM SINCE
THE TRIBUNE WAS BORN ITS
An 1rs TRII,AfpuS

HE TRIBUNE WAC DUNN - lis
TRIALS AND ITS TRIUMPHs.
The Tribune enters this morning upon its iiftieth
year. On April 10. 1891, it will have passed
through the trials and triumphs of half century.
Before the dawn Of that day aifectionate and
lasting tribute will be paid to the memory of its
founder. Horace Greeley the glory Of American
journalism, will sit in bronze at the very doorway
where he entered for his daily toll and above the
stone steps that lead to the main entrance Of the
building in which the offspring OF his genius las
been domiciled these fifteen years. The statue. by
j. O. A. Ward, is of heroic size Mr.. Greeley. In the
evening time Of life, is represented as sitting in
low-backed chair. He had been reading The
Tribune, but sudden thought has taken his mind
of the paper, which drops upon his knee, where
it lies unfoded in his right hand. His left arm
Is lowered till it rests carelcssly on the arm Of
the chair his head is slightly raised he is in an
attitude of deep reflection The thought is
pleasant one if serious, for bis brow is unclouded
Looking backward through the vicisstudes Of
forty mine years the perspective grows rather dim.
Yet just at the vanishing point the morning of the
10th Of April 1s41 we see the birth Of a small one
cent paper Of the Wing school of politics-The
Ncw-York Trbune-wih the dying words Of
President Harrison as its mottO--" desire you 10
understand the true principles Of the Govern
ment | wish them carried out ! ask nothing
more The infant lives and does well, be-
ginning its career with 500 subscribers, pro-
cured by the excrtions of the founders personal
and political friends. The od-fashioned press,
set going at 3 o'clock, thumped away till long
after daylight, turning ont 5000 copies, of which
some 1900 were given away in the streets as
40 of Io onfarnrise II a huSy
and an anxious time about the headquarters Of
the establishment The editorial Office at
No. 80 Ann-st.-the building stands there yet,
lust back of Devoe & Co.'S pant store-while
the composing room was at No. 2, formerly
Barnum's Museum. now the site Of The Herald
Building, Mr. Greeley spent the night goina
from one place TO the other. He was the editor
and proprietor In the departments of literary
criticism, the fine arts and general news. he was
assisted by Henry J. Raymond. afterward Editor
Of The New-York Times and Member of Con-
qrcss-the only Republican in the House that
voted against the Civil Rights bill in 1866. The
composing-ro0m was in the hands OF the present
secretary Of the Tribune Association. the veneer
able Thomas " Rocker whose benignant features.
in a halo of snow-white hair. are bright spot
in the business Office at the corner OF Nassau and
Spruce sts Mr.. Rocker would not take $4,000
for the "reminiscences Of that night Inc entire
first PAGE Of The Tribune was given ~ to NJ
torney-Gencral Halls opinion on the case OF
Recorder Morris. and the whole article contain
ing some IL, 900 words. was set In pearl type
Your modern newspaper man would consider such
PAGE intolerably heavy Mr.. Rocker made
mp the first form and placed II on Ne
press The first impression was taken of by Da'
vid p. Rhoades. now president OF the New-iork
News Company. He had been with Mr.. Greeley
on 1.-THE New-Yorker" and The Log Cabin. and
was invaluable now as general director OF the
circulation OF The Tribune. The forms were so
arranged that one side OF two copies OF the paper
was printed at each impression. This Sheet being
turned over and run through the press again. pro-
duced two complete Trbunes. which OF course
had 10 be cut apart. The cutting was done By Mr.
Rhoades. who used big butcher-knlfe for the pur-
pose. Twenty-Five hundred strokes OF the knife
made 5000 Tribunes ready for distribution. The
work lasted from o'clock till noon. As Mr..
Rhoades cut he sold 20 the newsbOys. One OF the
first Of the latter to come for supply OF papers
called himself John Hoey, though he never
known TO the office by any other name than John.
lie is now the millionaire president Of the Adams
Express Company. Many years aferward. when
Samuel Sinclair was the publisher of The Tribune.
MIR KnOaieS was instructed 10 tn' eApIt>S coul-
panv with reference 10 shipping large bundles Of
The Tribune TO distant cities
"Why not send somebody who knows Mr..
Hoey ," said Mr. Rhoades He could accomplish
more than J.
Il thought YOU knew him." said Mr. Sinclair.
surprised.
Never saw him in my life that know OF.
Mr.. Rhoades replied
oloI, oil a a
Mr.. uoey came 10 the Office to arrange personally
about the shipment.
why. hello John.r Mr.. Rhoades exclaimed.
recognizing at once the face Of the newsboy TO
whom he had sold many thousand papers in years
zone by What are you doing nowadays"
Mr. Sinclair fastened to introduce the two
mon and Mr. Rhoades learned for the first time
that Newsboy John and John Hoey, head Of the
Adams Express Company were the same person
John" had chum in ls4l, with whom hS
used 70 share his weekly earnings. and that chum
always accompanied him to The Tribune Office
10 buy papers He was bright, clever boy, In
clined however. TO be spendthrift. throwing
nennies away where John saved. lie is now
known 10 all the racing world as James MCGOWAN.
His friends are legion, but he hasn't got dollar.
The advertising solicitor and general collector
for The Tribune on that eventful day, ana for
several years after, was known by the name OF
George Jones lie is now the Editor OF The
Ncw-Nork Times Two Of the composltors who
helped Mr.. Rocker in pearl and agate ana non
parcil. are still living One is Washington Dodge.
who has been at the case ever since
No /. Vol. l, was a four-page paper, containing
twenty columns OF matter. or local news there
was a mere trile The leader was written py
Greeley" Plain Talk to the Wings The last
page contained particulars of the death OF fresi-
dent Harrison a black border surrounding IT,
Jealous OF the newcomer, an esteemed contempt
rary, The SUM- strong and lusty, pounced upon
it 10 crush it before it could gain footing. Men
were hired TO thrash newsboys caught selling H.
Mr. Beach himself lending hand in street en-
counter. Tie public. crying Foul-play.' rallied
10 the support of the younestcr, cheered IL on
with advertisements and subscriptions. and a
the end of "A week The Tribune was established
None would have believed it, To look at the ac'