The morning call., 1891-07-19
COULD USE EITHER
PENS OR PISTOLS.
FTUndl'S Story Of Fighting Editors Of
The Alta-Calif0Tnia,
Reeollections Of old-Time Journalism in San
Francisco-The Cotter-Nugent Duel.
The Death of Gilbert.

The demise of the San Francisco Alta
California, the Oldest newspaper of the
Golden Gate State, few weeks ago, and
for many years the most powerful and at
tractive, calls up many "reminiscences, one
Of which is the fact that ii took a stand in
favor of the first vigilance committee by its
printers '.jef1ing." writes Major Ben c. Tru-
man to the New York Times. John Nu-
gent, who, before going to California, was
Washington correspondent of the New
York Herald, was the editor and proprietor
OF the San francisco Herald. which in the
early days of San Francisco was the best
money-making paper on the Pacific Coast.
The Alta was owned by an association of
printers, who Just managed to make both
ends meet 1t was known what course NJ
gent would pursue. He was an out-and-out
'law-and- order" man, Democrat from the
word 60 aud a virulent opponent of vigi-
lante methods. The printers upon the Alta
were about equally divided, the majority
being opposed to the methods OF the COM
miItee. however. But one of them, with a
little Talleyrand in his make-dp. said:
Now is our chance to forge to the front.
Nugent will oppose the vigilance committee,
but the people are with it."
But" cried another typo, "trere is a
leader already on the galley, denouncing the
vigantes."
Il move that one from each side jeff
whether we come out for or against the COM
mittee, suggested tho foreman.
This was agreed to. and the em quads were
got and the "jeifing" commenced.
In a few moments the contestclosed, those
IN favor Of sustaining the COMMITTEES being
the winners The next morning the Alta
came out virtuously for heroic measures,
thn
There were two sides. but one was like a
pigmy looking up at the pyramids. There
was only sickening minority. II was the
grasshopper in the turkey gnbbler's mouth.
Nugent was known to be as true as steel to
his principles and to his friends, but whole
brOadsidPs of big advertisements went from
the Herald to the Alta. The latter was en-
largrd and became the organ of the people,
and the chiyalrous Herald sickened and
died.
MADE MANY MAN RICH.
The Alta went Oh and upward and made
many man rich. One of its proprietors
made over 81. 100000 and lost it all in stocks,
and afterward borrowed 100000 from Le-
land Stanford. He died few years ago
total wreck, and his paper was resnscitated
by James 6. Fair, tile Central Pacific Rail-
road Company, some friends OF Justice
Stephen j. Field and man named Nc
Laughlin, and for about eight years the dear
old Alta bad eked out precarious existence
by getting a little out oil the railroad, the
water company and the Sharon estate, off
and on, until. all forsaking it on account of
its loss of circulation and lack of power and
influence and generally turgid ways, it died
a solemn and almost unnotced death.
But 1t bad been great paper in its day
and made many millions of dollars. 1t had
two of its editors killed in duels. II fol-
lowed Broderick. Baker and Starr King to
their graves. 1t stood out for the Union all
through the war, and died at the age of 40
years. During the last i've years it had
been edited by man named Irish, who has
thrown just so much time away, as he re-
eelyed only small pay. yet is one Of the most
delightful writer's upon the Pacific Coast,
lnd by far the foremost orator.
Poor John Nugent. ! knew him we'll. He
lied long time after his Herald. He was
chivalrous and liberal, hot healed aud
kind, and was as fond Of looking upon the
wine when 1t was red as if it were a more
subdued color. In 1852 Nugent made Sc