San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1893-07-06
LOOKING BACKWARD.
What a San Antonio Paper OF 1855
Reveals on Critical Examine
ton.

ton.
On our table today lies a copy
of the San Antonio Ledger for Sat
urday, May II, 1856; over 81 years
ago. 1t is we'll printed, but is
printed on common manila
wrapping paper, and is only
single six column sheet. The pub
Usher M. Bourke, or "Mike
Bourke," as he was Familiarity call
ed, apologies for this by saying
that it is the only paper that he
could get and asks the indulgence
of his readers, until the new supply,
then on the way, could be received.
The front page is filed with read
ing matter and the back page is
crowded with Observation-Disclosures
<'displayed," as in the present day
but modestly capitalized after the
manner of the English press.
In that issue is various news
notes, the main being the death of
General Rusk's wife, the Panama
Riots, the finding of a II year old
girl in the river, the fact that
Mayor Burke and his gang were
arranging to build that huge fraud
the San Antonio and Mexican
Gulf Railroad, the murder of
Valentine Gonzales at a fandango,
and other matters of general inte-
rest.
The latest news from New York
is dated May 3, received fourteen
days afterwards, whereas now the
LIGHT gets it on the same day.
Odd Fellows advertisements are
there, and we have S. w. McAllis-
ter date recorder) n. g.; A. Heu-
singer V. G.. C. l.. Davis, Secre-
tary; f. Moke, treasurer. In the
Encampment there was L. d.
Smith, c. P; M. Bourke, H. p:
S. w. McAllister, S. W.; Job Ball,
Scribe; and c. E. King, treasurer.
Advertisement of candidates for
Office are there. G.. l.. Lege and G.
A. Nelson are out for district clerk;
J. M. Smith and j. A. G. Navarro
Jr., for assessor and collector, John
Dobbin, w. G. Tobin, Dan Murphy,
w. B. Henry, Robert Weir and
w. Edgar for Sheriff.
J. NJ. DeVine's official advertise
ment, as mayor, appears in this is
sue and he has big advertisement
of his drug firm, j. NJ. Devine &
Co., that was of course before he
was assassinated. John l.. True
heart sOlicits trade as land agent,
Mako Debray and j. A. Quinters
want business as Interpreters and
translatOrs; Bellengen and Lincke
ask the citizens to patronize their
bar room, Sam Smith, father of
Thad Smith, signs official notices
as county clerk. S. Hall, owner of
vast property lon Market street,
who subsequently suicided, cor
daily invited the people to come
to his baths. The Vance Bros. has
a big advertisements has f. Moke,
father of the Moke boys. Penten-
reider and Blersh to invite trade,
and alas Pentenreider's widow is
now in the Southwestern Lunatic
asylum, on the outskirts of the
city.
julius Berends, who founded
Mic Tengg'5 business, and who
died recently in Germany, has al
so good advertisement. HUGH,
the lumber merchant, has an "ad"
there. His widow is now Mrs.
Scheimeyer. Scheihagen & Schmidt
advertise well giving their address
as Calaboose street, by which
name Market street was then
known, the calaboose being then
located there. Cans & Koenigheim
were out with a big advertise
ment for their clothing store.
CAM is dead and Koenigheim was,
till recently, a pawnbroker on the
Main plaza. The late Major Sittle
was then, as his "ad" shows, a
grocer and wine merchant. Charles
Hummel, ST., is there too with an
advertisement calling upon his
customers to call fCr. reps red
weapons, settle their accounts and
offering his stock for sale as he
proposes leaving the city. Mcleod,
Giraud and Allsbury have a big
offer of lands in city and county.
In those days Sam S. Smith, J.
ID. Devine and f. Giraud were the
Democratic executive committee,
and Henry l.. Radaz was a county
officer and prominent politician
in fact the Cassiano of his day.
What a contrast, is here pres
ent. The Ledger give II column.
The LIGHT gives 20 columns daily,
its outside news was 14'days late
whereas the LIGHT gives it on the
same day. Its local news was
meag%e and would not furnish