Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-06-27
AN OLD GEORGETOWN PAPER.
Two Brothers Who Differed in Politics and
How q Paper Was Run.

How q Paper Was Run.
The article in last saturdays STAR on the old
newspapers found in town has brought back to
the minds Of some Of the citizens many anus
ing incidents connected with the publication Of
later papers. In 1851 the most important paper
in town was the Georgetown Adrocate, .
strong Wing Journal, whose editor, pro-
prietor, business manager and collector Of
subscriptions was Ezekiel Hughes He is
spoken of by those who remember him well as
a tall. ungainly man, with high cheek bones.
and intelligent, but very eccentric. He had a
popularity Of buying up all the old type that
he could possibly get hold Of 10 use on
his paper, often going to New York. Phila-
delphia and many Of the northern cities
for for it, when the cost Of reaching
actual cost Of the type would more than exceed
the cost for the same amount Of new material
As consequence Of buying and using the mis-
cellaneous lot there were never hardly two
columns printed in the same sized type. and as
good deal Of it was much worn and unfit
for use at all. very often nothing but a
black dot would mark the place where
b or Q should have been. Ezekiel
had brother, likewise intelligent, but eccen-
trio, who was . surgeon and doctor Of medi-
many were the heated political arguments the
brothers had. One day Ezekiel heard there
was to be sale Of old type in Baltimore. and
though his Office already contained enough to
run three newspapers he set OF for the scene
OF the sale. leaving the doctor in charge Of the
SS ay. "A''A "'' % '''a'0 o" 'A' ''A'''s
THE WICKED BRorHHRs JOKE.
This Is what the doctor had long been wait
ing f.. Some editorials denouncing In the
strongest terms the democrats and their
theories had already been written by the
proprietor and were ready for setting mp.
Hardly had Ezekiel left the Office. which was
then on the corner Of High and Gay streets.
when his brother so "doctored' the editorials
that when the paper came out the following
day every individual whig in town was assailed
and the whole whig party denounced as band
OF traitors and a political crowd without honor
or honorable intentions.
throughout Maryland one soon fell in the hands
OF the old type printer. They say he was about
to dine at the house Of friend when he first
became acquainted with its startling contents,
and, neither stopping to dine nor to bid his host
goodbye. he rushed like q mailman, with the
paper in his hands, down to the station and was
soon on board the train bound for
home. Unexpected by his brother, he rushed
into his Office, seized the forms containing the
objectionable matter, dashed them to the hoor
and within short time had an extra edition
out explaining the whole affair and calling the
democrats everything but gentlemen. Shortly
afterward the doctor received an appointment
as surgeon at the United States station at
Pensacola.
In command there was q certain Gen.
Twiggs. Their dispositions not being con-
genial to each other it was not long before the
doctor and the general were at loggerheads.
One day during a dress parade Hughes, think
ing he would ridicule the general be-
fore his men, rode out in full view of
them all on little long -eared jackass that was
noted sfuhhOrnnoss hafu
kick and cut yelled out: whoa, Twigg. Get up,
Iwigg' For this contempt to his superior
officer the doctor was severely reprimanded,
and finding army life unpleasant after this he
resigned his position.
One of these brothers was q skilled stenogra-
pher, and he was constantly taking notes on all
subjects and things, only to place them in his
pockets until they we're filed, when, without
using them, they would be thrown away.
THE sTENoGRAPHER ARRESTED.
One day during the early months of the war,
when almost every stranger was suspected Of
being a spy, the stenographer was leaning
again. one of the brick columns of the old
Marsh market, now known as the Center
market, absent-mindedly making his dots,
dashes and curves, when he was suddenly
seized and arrested by detective belonging to
the secret service division of the United States
and taken to the old Capitol prison The
charge against him was that he was suspected
OF being spy and taking notes for the con-
federates.
The paper containing the stenographic signs
was sent to the War Department to be inter-
preted. Owing to the stenographer having
used some signs Of his own invention it was
after much difficulty that they were finally ex-
planned. 1t was then found that the notes con-
tanned simply a description of white spitz dog
belonging to q resident of Georgetown, that
had given birth to a litter OF four pups, and a
recipe for making Virginia corn pone. On the
following day ''the suspected was released.
The Georgetown Times, published afte- the
war, was also edited by man named Hughes,
though OF no kin to the Adrocdtes proprietor.