Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-12-26
GEN. SWANS GOLDEN WEDDING.
His Career Recalled .. = Newspaper Re-
porter, Editor aud Publisher.

His Career Recalled Ne = Newspaper Re-
porter, Editor and Publisher.
Gen. James Swain OF Sing Sing. n. Y. and
his wife quietly celebrated their golden we'd
ding today. The couple were married on
Christmas evening. 1912, Christmas in that
year also falling on Sunday.
Gen. Swain hiss had a remarkable history.
He began life after leaving school o. an apprea-
tiee IL printing ofsce IL 1854 Horace
Greeley worked with him Later Gen. Swain
and Mr.. Greeley went into partnership. bat
dissolved in 1870. The firm was known as
Horace Greeley Co. They started the log
Cabin and we're co-editors osit
When the Hrtbzne was started Gen. Swain
continued with Mr.. Greeley and then left 10 60
into the printing business He opened az once
at the corner Of Barclay and GreeaSich streets
New York. Gen. Swain soor drifted back into
literary work and edited the life and letters o,
Henry Clay. he came TO Sing Sing to reside
IN is4S BE purchased the Hudson Rir.r
Chronicle from Edward @. Sutherland and
edited and published q unit, Is&9. when he re-
turned to the Tribune, this tine a. a proof
reader. from which pesi;.oa he advanced 10 city
editor.
During his connection with the Tribune q
strong Attachment sprung up between Gen.
swain and Henry J. Raymond. when the New
York Times WAS started Mr.. RAYMOND made
Gen. Swain the city editor. He continued with
the Tunes IL diferen; capacities urtl Mr.. Ray
mond died
While city editor Of the Times he initiated
the ''correspondea, system" now 90 erten-
sively used. and for time was the Albany cor
respondent Of the Times During the 'Fre-
mont campaign" II 1858 he started the Free
STATE Advocate, political paper. This was fol-
lowed by another venture, the Albany S,o;es-
man.
In 1860 he came to Washington &c correspond
ent at the national capital for the New York
Tunes. While at Warrington he became closely
related TO President Lincoln, and was one Of
the Presidente warr.est friends. IL 1861 be
raised a body of cavalry known as Scottt 900
and was chosen colonel OF that BODY and went
to the front in command IT. 1895 he Was on
Gov. Fenton's staf, and from this earned his
title of general
Gen. Swain was the arst man who sent
dummy dispatches over the telegraph wire IN
order to hold IL for his exclusive use ard thus
shut out other correspondents Thi. occurred
while he was connected with the Tribune. the
occasion being the opening Of the Erie railroad
through TO Dunkirk. be and Bayard Taylor
were working together ard there was but one
wire available FOR press matter. Gen. Swain
saw that unless something was done thew might
be shut OUT and in order to hold the wire he
gave the operator copy OF the Bible 10 send.
The operator was norplussed. and wanted to
know what part OF IL TO send. He told 20
begin at the first page and send straight
through. When General Swain and Bayard
Taylor had their copy ready the Bible was in
terrupted long enough 70 send the Tribune
message, and then the Bible WAS resumed. In
this way the Tribune secured beat
AT another time Gen. Swain and Henry j.
Raymond went 10 report great celebration at
Plymouth Rock. There were no telegraph wires
In those DAYS, and TO save time a composing
room was improvised on the steamer in which
the two were to return to New York. On the
way down they wrote up their story and by the
time they both reached the pier in New York
the matter was all up ard locked ia the forms
These were quickly loaded upon truck and
hurried to the Office and run of Several
hours were thus gained upon the other papers