Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-04-10

reasoning a priori CHARLES z KISCAID
he would say that the announced results of
an election should be followed by ofncial
list of the killed, wounded and "missing," the
latter including those who ''took to the
woods
In fact, very few editors ever get hurt and
as 10 poiticians-well, activity in politics
seems almost equal TO a physical policy OF
life insurance There was Preacher-editor
Kalloch shot, but not killed, by De Young in
San Francisco; De Young shot dead by Kali
ioch's son; Editor Carruth shot by lands in
New Jersey, and dying after lingering year;
Editor Dawson, of Charleston, murdered, but
not for reasons connected with journalism;
perhaps three or four other cases. and finally
the recent shooting at Washiugton-really
not more than a dozen cases of political or
editorial shooting in dozen years. Threat
ened men live long" is proverb with good
deal of truth in it.
IL was not always So There was time,
and many living can remember it, when
shooting among editors and politicians was
alarIningly common. The civil war was the
era OF politico-editorial reform in this partic-
ular The hotspurs got satiated. Among
the last noted cases in the west was that OF
the once noted, IL not notorious, Maj. Moreau,
of Indiana. He had an unfortunate record.
He had won honors in the war, and then been
court martialed and dismissed under circum-
stances which left doubt whether he was
not the victim of persecution. He had been
Republican, and left his party on the re-
construction question. He was unfortunate
IN business and his creditors made serious
charges. His record as TO the fair sex was
also questioned. Withal he was violent
partisan and attacked unsparingly; so his
Eart hi oil ral a.
lated
After many encounters and many more
threats Maj. Moreau published a cruel attack
on fellow editor, ridiculing personal de
formity. The aSsailed man proceeded 10
Moreau's Office and emptied bulldog re
volver right and left; Moreau dived under a
heavy table while compostors and devil
went out at door or window, as was most
convenient Great damage TO fixtures, but
nobody killed. The place then became too
hot 70 hold Moreau and he went 70 Georgia
where he was killed by "A negro, under circun-
stances which cannot be detailed in = family
paper. He certainly had a brilliant career.
or all modern commemorative Mississippi
has made the blOodiast record in editorial
killings. Popular opinion would assign that
place to Arkansas or Texas, but both are far
behind Mississippi. The cheated term did
not last many years, but 1t was terrible.
There was time when editing The Vicksburg
Sentinel was looked upon as almost sure death.
OF nine successive editors eight were killed in
duels or street fights. DIR. James Fall, who
lives Tor did a few years ago. in New Orleans,
was long distinguished man as being the
only editor of The Sentinel who was not
killed, and he was shot in the leg in a duel
with Mr.. Robb, fiery politician. This shoot
ing epidemic began As early as 1928, in
what was called the Flush times" OF Vicks-
burg, and reached a furious climax during
the heated debates over the annexation of
Texas and possible dissolution of the Union.
Nineteenth OF the fights involved editors,
lawyers and politicians, though occasionally
gambler mixed in. A mob finally rose and
hanged the gamblers. Among the noted en-
counters was that in which s. S. Prentiss
put bullet through Governor Henry S
Foote. Almost every man and boy in Vicks-