The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-09-03
JOURNALISM IN THE BUSH"
Queer Method OF Getting Out q News
paper a Decade Ago in Australia

41SeF Aetuoo OF setting Gut a news
paper a Decade Ago in Australia
From the Philadelphia Inquirer
Sons curious stories were told yesterday
TO an Inquirer reporter by John Basczinski,
clever Russian En glishman, of his expe-
riences in the blush" of Australia, the most
unique being his experience as Journalist"
ON the big island" Mr. Barczinski, who Is
also remarkably clever artist. is now con-
nected with the Reading railroad, and this
Is the way he told his tale Of woe:
There is probably no more fitting ex-
ample OF the two sides of life, civilized and
uncivilized, than in Australia. The larger
cities TEEN with all the most modern IN
prOVenents, in the laying out OF the cites
themselves. in their buildings, in the. sanl-
bary conveniences, in all the progressive
ness which adds 70 the enjoyment Of Gull
tured and artistic life. But for simplicity,
Tor the most modest Of modest attractive
ness one must go the bush settlements.
the up country towns 1t was in one of
these that l made my debut IN the profess
sion Of Journalism
"Bulltown was town of some 800 inbab-
ltants, In the northern part of New South
Wales. 1t was the center of large cattle
station district-the market OF all sur
rounding squatters. Being fortY-five miles
q
OF but once a week, which, more often than
not, strung itself out TO once i'll two weeks.
IL depended largely on its own resources for
the circulation of outside news, with occa-
slonally glimpse from the outside world.
This was printed. published and handed
down to posterity through the medium Of
the Bulltown Badger. Outside of the
monthly cattle sales, there was no day so
greatly appreciated and looked forward to
as Saturday-the advertised day of publi-
cation. And there was a certain spice of
expectancy and doubt connected with this
dav.
1.-THE query was: Would the intelligent
citizen have the Badger to pore over on
sunday, or would he have to wait, as some
times happened, until the following Mon
dayi 1t all depended upon the amount of
'pr made when the type of the previous
weeks edition was distributed. Now, 'pi'
Is generally the result of carelessness, but In
this instance it was uniquely matter of
nerves Benjamin Bently Young, or. as
he was oftener styled, old Young was
proprietor, publisher, printer and oompos-
ltor OF the BddgeT-and | was the editor,
business ard advertising manager and staff
or reporters, all combined in the one person.
Benjamin Rently would open his eyes in
surprise could he but see the ingenious de-
vices and contrivances of a modern printing
establishment. His was of the simplest. A
duty as Office, workroom and home
THE press was Of the most ancient syle
worked with many groGnings and creasings
or both man and machine. Steam or water
power would have speedily ended the days
or the latter-even foot power was I'M
known to it. But even more remarkable
was, what l must call for better name the
case Around the room on nails driven
into the wall hung some 200 canvas bags of
type, each labeled according to its contents.
As soon as the matter was all in old
Young would squat down sailor fashion on
the floor and chalk out on the bare
boards rough plan of the ordinary
case. Then he would empty his bags into
| the allotted spaces and begin work. Years
| of practice had made him supremacy cailous
| to such tedious and wearying process, and
1t was remarkable sight to watch his body
| swaylng backward aud forward with a
| regular swing as he rapidly filed his
stick But, and nobody will dispute it.
| think, If this was remarkable feat more re-
| markable still was the accuracy with which
| he distributed his type, after the Badger
was successfully launched to ride the waters
| OF newspaper enterprise. If Benjamin
were sober, then the following weeks ed-
| ton would appear prompty-very few, in
| deed, of the metal letters would be thrown
| over the chalk boundary intended to hold
them; but Benjamin had fondness for the
| little brown Jug and, after too much
| over-indulgence, the chalk marks were Of
little account and "pi" was made galorel
benjamin had a milder way of putting
it-he was never drunk, only nervous
But this state of things could not keep up
| in growing country. The BGdqe7- held
its sway for five years, then a gold mine
was opened in the vicinity, railroad was
built, and with it came an influx of
strangers, An enterprising yankee started
an opposition paper, worked it on more
modern principles and from its first appear
ance the Badger was doomed. Old Young
hung on for time, but finally gave it up
and disappeared forever from Bulltown.n