The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-06-14
THE PIONEER PRESS.
Bits of History About Early
Coast Newspapers.
THE OLD "cALIFoRNIA STAR"
First Newspaper Published in San Fran
cisco-An Editorial DueI-Thou-
sand-Dollar Leaders.


matters pertaining to the early settlement OF
Americans on this Coast are perused with IN
tcrest, and many have expressed q desire Tor
more OF my "reminiscences, chapter Is here
added to that previously published.
The first newspaper issued in San Francisco
was called the California Star, and not the Atn
California, as some readers suppose. Ed Gilbert.
the first congressman elected to represent the
Golden state, was editor of the Star in 1919 and
until his election in 1850, soon after which event
he was murdered In aso-called duel. The Wing
party there was then no Republican parity
carried the state in this first election and the
Democratic minority sought revenge by murder
ing the peoples representative. willing in
strument was found in the person OF General"
Denver, dead shot with pistol or rife Gilbert,
originally practical printer from Albany, y. Y,
was a stranger TO the use of deadly weapons OF
every kind, and fell easy victim to the muir
derous proclivitIcs of his political opponents.
T. C. Kenble succeeded him as editor of the
Star
Early In 1919, when the California gold fever
was at its height in the East, Moses Y. Beach,
then proprietor of the New York san, chartered
and freighted ship for san Francisco. A com
plete newspaper outfit, including large Wash
ington press, comprised a portion OF this
freight. This printing material was presented
by Mr.. Beach TO Reuben c. Moore, who accom-
panied IL as passenger, via Cape Horn. After
very long voyage, during which crew and pas
Eengcrs were glad to catch and eat the rats on
shipb0ard the vessel reached her destination
near the close of 1870. This was far the best
newspaper plant that had yet reached Caliior-
mia. and the proprietors OF the Star. when they
learned of its arrival, took immediate steps to
secure 1t. They gave Mr.. Moore third interest
in their established paper, which was then on
good footing and making money, in exchange
for his material. The hrfa then consisted OF
Gilbert. kernble and Moore. AZ the end of eight
he sol IN is for
turned to New York. got married, lived high for
two or three years and returned to California
strapped In 1853. Like so many of the argonauts
in his brief California experience he contracted
extrayagant habits aud lost all idea of the value
of money. lie did not succeed in making
another "pile." though be survived thirtyfve
years.
Soon after Moore's departure Gilbert was
killed. This left Kemblc in sole control for
some months The title of the paper
changed about this time. Near the close of 1850
Edward Conner appeared on the scene with
power press, with which he purchased an in
terest and became the partner OF kemble in the
publication of the Alta California. Conner was
practical pressman, in which capacity he had
served some years in New York city.
The succeeding two years were uneyentful, so
far as the AtG was concerned In the interim
several sydney cutthroats were hanged by
vigilance committees, the city was nearly de-
stroyed two or three times by ineendiaries, and
merchants suffered the vicissitudes and muta-
lions natural to the unsettled state of things
then existing. During this period il was either
ga feast or famine with the people of San
Francisco. Now, Mr. Kcmble was both hand
some and proud, but there were times when his
pride could not be gratifed. In 1851 there was a
dearth of boots and shoes, and for six months
none could be had at any price which would fit
suit men who were at all fastidious. For
some weeks Kemble, whose attire was usually
faultless, fashionable and costly, was compelled
to wear soleless boots, while diamonds glittered
on his fingers and 81 600 diamond pin adorned
his shirt bosom. The most inferior boots tnone
of which, however, would fit him) were worth
$50; of a better quality sold for SEQ and up
wards.
In 1853, under previous arrangement with
his partner, Mr.. Conner took trip to New York,
10 be absent some months. During his stay in
the East he visited all the popular places of re-
sort, scattered his gold with a lavish hand, and
returned to San Francisco in September, after
spending some $4,000 or $4,000. ON his return,
Kemble Immediately prepared to leave for Eu-
rope, where he proposed TO combine business
with pleasure by writing letters for the Alta de-
seriptive of the countries and scenes he visited.
He started with coin and drafts amounting to
$4,000; before quitting Paris he wrote for an
additional sle000 Having visited all the lead
ing cities OF the old World aud made quite a
protraeted stay in Turkey, Kemble returned late
bankruptcy. quarrel eusued between him
aud his partner, which ended in the sheriff tax
ing possession and selling the property under
the hammer, as stated by the writer in last Sun
days issue.
ON tho departure OF Kemble FOR his European
tour, Charles r. washburn assumed the editor
ship OF the paper. This was on the eve of the
senatorial campaign in which David c. Broderick
figured so eonspicuously. Mr.. ,Washburn was a
comparative stranger in California, but he soon
acquainted himself with the condition of politi-
cal parties and their respective candidates
Through his agency the Alta received $1,000 for
four editorial articles or 81 600 for each article
one column in length, in support of Broderiek
He assailcd the opponents OF his candidate with
all the yigor OF which his pen was capable, but
was not content with newspaper war IN which
no blood was shed He seemed to think some
thing more was necessary 10 earn that $1,000.
Colonel Washington a giant in stature and
breadth of shoulder, with form of perfect
symmetry. then edited the Placer Times aud
Transcript in the columns OF which he opposed
Broderick. Mr.. Washburn, apparently in the
hope of preeipitating duel. assailed this man S
character in offensive terms. challenge fol-
lowed Washhurn promptly accepted and
named rifles. Colonel Washington escaped with
out a scratch and Mr. washburn was carried
home in a hack, TO have bullet extracted from
his shoulder His thirst for gore was satisfied
This ended his connection with the Ala Cali
Joratd.
Broderick was elected to the United States
Senate year or two later, occupied a seat in the
chamber of that body during short session. re-
turned TO California after the adjournment and
murdered by Judge Terry in much the same
manner that Gilbert was in 1850.
In 1855 and part of 1850 the .4Ra was owned
and controlled by the printers employed on the
paper. During this period the editorial work
was performed by several obscure and iudffer
cnt writers whose style was more fluent than
fOrcible. one editor and compiler and one local
reporter or iteniEer usually suficed to do the
brain work In the spring OF 1850 a stranger,
who gave his name as Wright, strolled into the
counting room, represented himself as being
hard up and begged TO be employed. He said
be had had some experience in newspaper work
in the East, but nothing further could be learned
oI him. More in charity than from necessity he
was engaged al 50 q week 70 assist in gathering
local items: he was profuse with his thanks, and
started ont in pursuit OF the half column or
more which he promised tn furnish. About twi-
light he returned, sat down table and in little
more thSn hour finished the task assigned
u him. When his manuscript was examined
II was found 10 consist of slf-a-doxen items
written IN excellent style. with s slight infusion
OF hUmor. His first effort was highly Sstisfae-
tory. For souJe days Mr.. Wright furnished
genuine items OF news, ehrouicling actual oc-
eurrences in and near the city: by degrees be
substituted events that existed only in his fer
tile brain These were OF 8 character so humor-
Gus and entertaining that they soon became the
best feature OF the paper, and contributed not
little TO its popularity. But il was too good
thing 10 last Three mouths was as long IS
Wright could keep sober enough to work Grad
ba a.