The Portland daily press., 1890-09-26
The Newspaper Two Centuries Ago.


Yesterday was the two hundredth anniver-
sary of the first newspaper published in
America-and in Boston. The name of that
ancient and short-ilved journal-for the gov
eminent of that day saw to it that the press
should not wax too lusty-was "Publick
Occurrences" And the old-time editor
seems to have devoted himself with admira-
bic fdelityto living up to the title OF his
paper. "Pnblic Occurrences" was devoted en-
tirely to matters of public nature, without
any of that prying into matters OF d private
or domestic nature, which so consume the
space of some Boston papers of the present
time. In the very first issue the editor an
nounced the heroic purpose of his mission to
be the setting forth of public occurrences in
their true light; and to so conduct his paper
that something may be done towards the
curing. or at least the charming of that spirit
OF lying which prevails among u.s." Either
for this or for something else contained In
the paper the politicians of that day took
offense and the legislative authorities de-
sided that 1t contained reflections of a very
high nature" and soon suppressed the pub
LEGATION. Unless 1t be this reference to a
6ohOAot PAoNuNO Va sJihB III tuC CUiOuy " Is
difficult to conceive what there could have
been In the paper to cause its suppression,
In one of the Boston papers of yesterday, the
Herald. the old paper was reprinted in full.
The news of the day was set forth with
great caution If not with great fulluess 1t
was the time of the Indian wars, and there
were no lack OF stirring events, all of which
are set forth with tantalizing brevity.
"Publick Occurrences" like the Boston
papers of today. devoted considerable space
to Maine news. Although politically net
the picturesque State which she is today,
Maine was even then place of stirring
deeds that claimed the attention of Boston
and Massachusetts. Eastern Maine was
French possession where old Castine was
typical robber baron. For says "Publick
Occurrences" of the date of September 25th
| 1890.
| There lately arrived at Piscataqua one Papoor
from Penobscot in small Shalfop wherein b,
| had used TO attend upon the pleasure of Casteen
That Of Io Buf anf
Bristol to Virginia. having been so long at Sea
III they were pTest with want, put In at Penob
French seized her, and Butchered the Master
and several Of the men; but that himself VIII
1 w,
man, was more favorably used AM found a
length an advantage to make his Escape.
The now classic town of Brunswick wa
then In the hands of the more-humane Qet u,
hope) English but its quiet retreats wer,
disturbed by deeds even more exciting thar
the annual football match at Bowdoin.
From PLYMOUTH, Sept; %. We have an Account
mat on Friday, the 18th Instant. 10 the night GU
Forces Landing privately, forthwith surrounded
Pegypscot Fort IBrunswickl but finding no In
clans there, they marched TO Amonoscoggin
| There on the Lords-day, they kill'd and took II
| or l6 OF the enemy, and recovered five Eng Isl
Cap,iyes, mostly belonging to Oyster River; VIII
ADVISED ao that the men had been gone about tel
and the French Indians; where they expected +
make up Body Of 800 men, and design frs
against Wells OF Piscataqua.
Nor was our own lovely bay here the quie
summer resort that it is today. Boston tour
lists who cared to sleep on shore in those
balmy September days needed sheet iron
caps If they expected to find their hair or
their heads in the morning. So Boston
tourists generally slept afoat, surrenderine
to their friends the comfortable couches
ashore. For, says "Publick Occurrences"
While our Vessels where at Anchor in Cascot
Bay, our Auxiliary Indians lodging on shore, ant
being too careless in their Watch, the Enem,
1 made an Attaque upon them. The English forth
| with repalr'd to their Relief; but were sorel,
| CALLED, by an Embuscade of indians. The Enemi
soon quilted the Field. escaping with thei
| Canoo's whereof ours took several. In the Sur
| prise, we lost men, and had about 20 wounded
the blow chiefly teli on our dear Erie nds, the Phi
mouth Forces, Id being kilrd and wounded Q
Captain Southworth's Company.
Then. as now, Maine was surpassingl,
Interesting state; and it is a pity. on this &C
count, that "Publick Occurrences" did no
live long and prosper to chronicle it all.