davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-06-09

county, New York, and there young
Severance spent his youth upon a farm
among the hardships of pioneer life,
educated in log schoolhouse and by
the books of the small village library.
At the age of 16 he left home, and for
five years was in the neighbOring town
of Peterboro learning the printer
trade Then, seeking employment as a
printer, he drifted from Albany to the
city of New York, thence to Philadel-
phia, where he found work. Toward
the close of 1920 he went to Washing
ton where he obtained employment on
the National Intelligencer. A year
later Russell Eaton came from Massa-
chusetts to work on the same paper,
and the two young men boarded to-
gether and became fast friends.
Although they had resolved to post
pone the publication of the paper until
the presidential question was settled
Eaton & Severance nevertheless issued
their prospectus during the winter of
1924 and had it extensively distribu-
ted through Kennebec county and otf er
parts of the State where a circulation
might be anticipated. They themselves
remained hard at work in Washington,
saving all they could by close economy
to gain means of purchasing type,
press and material needed in the publ
cation of the paper. In September,
1924, they left Washington and went to
the home of Mr.. Severance's parents in
CaZenovia, N. Y, where they enjoyed a
much needed vacation for few weeks.
From Cazenovia they went to New
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-06-09

the local news column was considered
of much Importance. Display neao-
lines were not used until many years
later.
As an advertising medium the Jour-
nal was early appreciated. and after a
fay numhera the advertisements oc-
cupied more than a page. The Angus
ia marine list is curious feature OF
those times, and it seems strange to
us to find the announcement OF the
Augusta and Bangor stage nne. Inc
stage left this city every wednesday,
and Saturday at 4 A. M. and reached
Bangor the same evening. Lottery
advertisements appearedin every num-
Der.
EARLY CHANGES AND ENLARGE-
MENTS.
Thus the Journal had it's beginning
and such were the first papers that
were laboriously worked off on the lit
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-06-09
STORY OF THE JOURNAL.
The History Of Three Quarters Of a Century
of Prosperous Existence.
An Outline Of the Beginning and Progress, the Past and
Present Of the Kennebec Journal.

While in Boston, in the summer Of
1923, Mr.. Vose met Russell Eaton,
young man engaged in the office Of
the National Intelligencer of Washing
ton, who was briefly visiting in the
city. Learning that Mr.. Eaton was a
man Of energy and a thoroughly skilled
printer, Mr.. Vose proposed that he
should come to Augusta, examine the
ground, and if prospects would seem to
warrant it, establish a newspaper. In
response to this invitation, Mr.. Eaton
came to Augusta, conferred with many
of the principal citizens in regard to
the subject, and concluded that the
field was a good one. He returned to
Washington and laid the matter before
his intimate friend and fellowworker
in the National Intelligencer office,
Luther Severance. The two ambitious
young journeymen printers talked the
matter over, and the result was that
a partnership was formed under the
style of Eaton & Severance" for the
purpose of publishing a paper in Au-
gusta.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-06-09

for and business manager Of the Ken
nebec Journal, and as such he re-
NAMED until 1885, 1t was not long be-
fore the absence Of Mr.. Eaton was feit
in the business department. Mr.. Sew
erance, who will always rank as one
of the greatest editors of the country.
was so entirely devoted to the dis
cussion of the great political
questions Of the day. that even II he
had possessed the tact he had not the
time to manage the financial concerns
of the establishment. At sundry times
he found himself involved In very con-
siderable pecuniary embarrassments'
and at no time did he make the paper
pay.
At the beginning of the XVth VOL
ume, 1889, he sold one-half OF the paper
to John Dorr, who came from Belfast
where he had conducted the waldo
Patriot" during the presidential cam
paign of the preceding year. Mr.. Dorr
was a shrewd, practical business man.
who at once introduced into all the
business departments Of the paper d
rigid and systematic economy, ana by
his unwearied attention soon had the
Journal again on the high road TO
financial success, and made 1t profita-
BILE to both proprietors. Severance a.
Dorr'' continued the firm name Tor
dozen years, and the association was at
all times one of mutual respect ana
confidence.
In the meantime the popularity OF
Mr.. Severance was becoming so great
among his fellow citizens and his abil-
ity was becoming so widely recognized
that he was not allowed to remain
quietly at his desk in the editorial
rooms. He was naturally politicai
leader, aggressive, fearless ana Drill
liant, and the editorial battles i'm which
he engaged soon brought him INTO
prominence, resulting in "A wider held
of political action. In 1885 and again
in 1896 he was elected to the Maine
Senate. Three times in 1899. lS40. and
1892 he was chosen by Augusta to rep
resent il in the Maine House of Repre-
sentatives. Then there was opened To
him an enlarged opportunity OF exhiD-
ting his resources as "A political "coho-
mist and his sagacity as a legislator. In
July. lS43. he was nominated for Con
gress by the Wings of this district.
The congressional canvass was one OF
great excitement and feeling, and the
Journal. the only Wing paper In the
district did not go into the campaign
with less energy because its editor was
at the head Of the ticket. At the first
election there was no choice. but at the
second trial Mr.. Severance triumphed
over his competitors by a majority of
coo votes. and became the first citizen
of Augusta to sit as a member of Con
;.- .r int Ia
the only other Augusta citizen I" go
to Congress as the representative OF
this district was also n k"nnebec Jour
nal editor. James q. Blaine. while 1t Is
safe to predict that the next represent
alive of this city and district In Con-
gress will be Hon. f. c. Burieigh. own
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-06-09

er of a controlling interest in the Jour
nal. In 1S45 Mr.. Severance received an
unanimous denomination and was
again elected by good majority.
Editor Severance earned wide and
enduring fame in Congress, and when
his second term expired in 1S41 he was
for the sixth time elected to the Maine
Legislature. In 1S4S he was delegate
to the national Wing convention. Dur
ing this decade of political activity he
was never negligent of his editorial
duties on the Journal and never let
the paper suffer for need of his fertile
and forceful pen. When General Tay-
lor became President, the friends of
Mr.. Severance urged him to ask some
thing of the new administration. For
a quarter of a century he had been
constantly engaged as an editor, and
though often suffering from i'll health
he had at all times performed an ex-
traordinary amount of mental labor.
A change of scene and employment
seemed to him desirable and even nee
essary, and it was with pleasure that
he received from the new adminiStra-
ton his appointment as United States
commissioner to the Sandwich Islands.
RETIREMENT OF MIR. SEVER
ANCE-NEW OWNERS.
Having received this appointment.
Mr.. Severance at once made prepai a
lions to set out for the distant theater
of his official action. In the issue of Au-
gust Is, 1850, he took formal leave of the
potronc of no Journal that great cir
Gle of friends formed by 25 years of
association. For three years he per-
formed with success and credit the
duties of his position, but the mildness
and salubrity of the Hawaiian climate
did not restore his health In the
spring of 1854 he resigned and came
back to his Augusta home to die. I'm
til the very last he exhibited an almost
supernatural activity and vigor of
mind, and under the head OF Brief
Remarks" contributed constantly to
the Journal. The variety OF topics
which he selected for these articles,
and the amount of information which
he exhibited in discussing them showed
that to the last he was strong in ideas
and fertile in mental resources. so
rapidly did he reduce his thoughts to
language, that for single NUMBER OF
the paper, December l, 1854, ne contri-
buted so foolscap pages of manuscript,
all expressed in his most terse and Wig
orous style.
Luther Severance died January 20, 1875.
and every mark of respect was
paid his memory by the Legislature Of
Maine, then in session, and by his
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-06-09

fellow citizens Of Augusta. 1t was the
close of a noble and useful life. Our
city. our State. and our nation have
many reasons to be proud OF the great
man who founded the Kennebec Jour-
nal, and to keep his memory green.
When Mr.. Severance went to Ha-
wall in the summer of 1850, he and Mr..
Dorr sold the Kennebec Journal to
William III. Wheeler and William H..
Simpson. The latter took charge OF
the business management. and Mr..
Wheeler, an able young writer as
sumed the editorial chair. 80 well filled
by Luther Severance for quarter OF
century He had been educated In the
Journal office and had drunk In Its
spirit from the productions Of his pred
ecessor. The issue Of September IL. 1850.
was the first under the new owners.
Mr.. Dorr remained in the office for
some years as clerk and bookkeeper.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-06-09

for greater pecuniary reward than
teaching in a blind asylum afforded.
all urged him to become Connected with
the leading paper of Maine. Mr.. Dorr.
with the other people of Augusta, had
become somewhat acquainted with Mr.
Blaine on his short visits to this city,
and had concluded that he was just the
man wanted by the Journal. He pre-
scented the matter in such light. dur
ing their journey, that Mr.. Blaine at
once took it into consideration
and consultation. There was but
little hesitation, and he very
soon came to Augusta. having resigned
his position in Philadelphia. and opened
negotiations for the purchase OF an IN
terest in the paper. At that time MI.
and Mrs. Blaine lived at Mrs. Blaines
old home, the Stanwood mansion on
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-06-09

The short administration of Messrs
Simpson and Wheeler was prosperous,
but was not marked by any great
changes or important incidents.
ON June y. 1853. Mr.. Wheeler sold his
half interest to his partner, Simpson,
who continued the sole proprietor and
publisher. Mr.. Wheeler. however. re-
NAMED with the paper as editor about
a year longer, and then. with the issue
OF May u. 1854. he was succeeded in the
editorial chair by Joseph Baker of Au-
gusta, then and for many years later
a prominent leader of the Maine bar.
and the father of Hon. o. ID. Baker of
our city. Mr.. Wheeler removed to
Bangor. where he and John II. Lynde
became the publishers and editors of
the Whig and Courier.
At this time there occasionally came
to Augusta. which was the girlhood's
home of his wife, a young Pennsyl-
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-06-09

vania school teacher. His name was
James q. Blaine.
JAMES G. BLAINE, AND THE JOUR
NAL.
1t was on the railroad train when
Mr.. Blaine was returning to Philadel-
phia from visit to Augusta, that he
was joined by John Dorr, who was still
connected with the Journal, and then
and there the idea of entering Maine
journalism was first presented to him.
1t seemed just the opening wanted by
the ambitious young man. His decided
taste for writing and his eagerness to
have a hand in the great political con-
tests of the time, as we'll as his desire
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-06-09

In 1923, when Augusta had been sew
eral years without newspaper, the
feeling became strong in the growing
town that one must be established.
The business and social interests of the
town demanded it, and moreover, a
movement was on foot to make Au-
gusta the seat Of government of the
newly formed State of Maine. A pub
lie meeting was held, at which large
number of the leading citizens We're
present, and a committee consisting of
Robert c. Vose, Judge Bridge, and
Reuel Williams, was appointed to carry
out the wishes of the meeting and Sc
cure the proper persons to undertake
the enterprise. The business of the
committee was chiefly committed to
Mr.. VOse,
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-05-21
BOYDTON.
Charged with Arson-Personai-
Newspaper Consultations.

ROYDTON. VA, May 2o.-(Special)-
Constable w. IL. Saunders Of Chase City.
brought TO town late yesterday afternoon
and lodged I'm Jail one Rosa Barnes (col-
ored). charged with feloniously burning a
dwelling-house of Mr.. Junius oliver, near
Chase city. The fired house was occu-
MED by a colOred tenant.
George Pulliam, a colored boy. who re-
sided near here and is suspected Of
lunacv was committed TO jail yesterday
nv the authority of Justice Digger
Mr.. r. A. Jones. of this place. i'm re-
snonse to an invitation by wire from Mr.
Harrison Dulles and party Of Philadel-
mia went TO Chincoteague AccOmac
county. yesterday to join the Philadel-
nhians In a season Of hunting and fishing.
Mr.. Hunter Finch of Chicago, IS here
this week on visit to relatives and
Mr.. W. \. Bryson late Of Richmond.
has lust returned home from that city.
whittier he has been on business the past
week
The Boydton Chronicle and GAINESVILLE
Mascot have been consolidated. and will
appear this week from this place as the
Chronicle Mascot. with Mr.. NJ. l. King
as proprietor and manager. The paper
will IN future. as I'm the past. be con-
Quoted as a Democratic journal
BEGINNING next Monday, the rector
Rev. r. NJ. BOyden, assisted by the Rev
W A. Barr. Of Suffolk. viii conduct a
mission al the Episcopal church here.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-05-21
THE RICHMOND DISPATCH-FKlDAY, MAY Il. 1897.

this place. and from other points on ,r
Peninsula I'm large quantities. the Aua'"s
EXPRESS Company has been running !"
special train from here for the last ~"
davs to accommodate the berry shlpi'lelles.
and avoid delay to the regular passe"s'
trains. ,,., .tcen-
a special train of three Pullman slv ,tz
ers from New York, arrived NJ. NJ. 80
morning about o'clock with sixty y" -
songprs en- route for the coal regions Vi
Virginia on "A prospecting tour. e.ortire,
The phosphate-factory OF 1'e cn,n'
Rrothers' of this city. which was co,i,
menced several months ago OH ' 800
Island about, two miles from mere.
was completed this week, ana put
into operation. Mr.. John CroWi!, WIZ
has been operating phOsphale-i"r,, ~,
on the Western Shore. mas peeH i'''"0
manager of the above factory. III, 80,
party of picnickers met Win qu,.e a. g.
accident on Monday at Arlington bedSn'
ahout seven miles below here. The party
occupied a large Dayton. ana atleilp..or 80,
10 drive along the beach near the VIZ
N low tide. when the team suddenly ~
can TO 90 down I'm a spot of quicksdIu..
Rafore the team could be turned toWaly'
tho shore the horses became frightened,
and took the Dayton into about -FOUR lecS
Of water, where they sank almost OUT ~
sight The vehicle was also almost SUI
merged. Fortunately. schooner VIZ VIZ
anchored near by and the ere" saW -, ~
unfortunate party. and rescued them III
boat. They afterwards succeeded III 60 So
ting the team out Of the sand. NO GU,
age was done. except that the young peo-
NE were severely drenched, and nan 70
90 to a farmhouse near by TO dfy Ihet t
Clothes. The party arrived mere @DO~'
$40 In the evening.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-05-21
WILLIAMSBURG.
Council Action az tn Bicycies-|isit-
cd the school.

WILLIAMSBURG. VA, May D.-(Spe-
,ial THE city Council last night
amended the ordinances Of the city so
as 10 prevent persons from hereafter
riding bicycles on the sidewalk me
meeting was largely attended by clti-
Zcns. several Of whom addressed tne
Council against and IN favor oil tne
amendment Considerable interest was
manifested en- the outcome OF the mat
ter and after the vote was taken the
subject was warmly discussed OF, the
streets Judge GIutcr. VINO Is holulnB
court. was an attentive listener 10 the
whole proceedings. The vote stood
our public white school was visited to-
day by Judge h. Il. Gunter, Dr. T.. o.
Booth. Senator Manly Bafnes; ana III, Ai,
j. Il. Spencer. IN company VITA Supeiih-
teudent RO. II. Armistead. Atter taxing
part in the opening exercises they were
Interested listeners 20 several ROTATIONS,
conducted by Professor Cnaties. the EN-
Client principal of the school. At the con-
clUsion of these Tecitatons the SCHOOLS
were thrown together in the assembly,
room. and Judge GEnter was Introduces
The Judge made a very interesting tdlh
on the subject Of education. and gave the
pupils some amusing experience or inc
manner of conducting the schools IN ye
Olden time. ..,,,
The first ball game played by William
and Mary this season was PLAYED on the
nome HfOuiia5 Af1lti'Ahs. lHC N'iA'7
team had for their opponents the crack
nine OF the williamsburg Athletic CiuD
The college was defeated, after an inte-
resting contest. The pitching OF Hugn
Jones. the batting Of Dahn, and the
fielding Of the Jones brothers We're the
features of the game for the Williams
burgs. The work of Hackley in the box,
and the fine playing OF Pat Coles were
the features for the William and Mary
BOYS. Score By innings:
1896 rs 9-Total
Williamsburg. 80 O3 3 022 T. 10
William and Mary.4 0 Il l o L -
Summary: Struck out-By Jones. 10; by
Hackley. g. BatteTies-FOr WILLIAMSBURG,
Jones and Dahn: for William and Mary,
Hackley and Coles. Umpire-Mr era
ham Nichol. of Washington.
Several hundred persons witnessed the
game which was one of the most eX-
citing played here this season.
At the last meeting OF Magruder-tWell
Camp. a motion was made and carried
unanimously that each comrade be re-
uuested to present to the camp his own
and any other picture of Confederate
soldier he might have from this section,
whether dead or alive. The OBJECT IS 10
place them on the walls Of the camp
hall with other Confederate mementoes;
Mir. Thomas Newman, y member of the
York county Electoral Board, was here
to-day ON business Tor the board
The arrivals from Richmond here to-
day are w j. Nhitehurst and W. +.
DOdsOn.
Mr. and Mrs. Henri M1uquin came down
from New York yesterday. 10 remain a
few days at then SUMNER home near
here.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-05-21
THE BICYCLE RACES.
An INTERESTING AND ExCiTIN"
MEET At PETERsBuRG.
Many Entries and Large Crow"
of Observation-Disclosures Wen
Represented, md Carries "" ''o
of the Prizes.

PETERsBITRG. VA. May 2O.-tSpe-
ciai1-The blcvcle-races held at the Ne"
Market race-course this afternoon. unuer
the auspices OF the Cockade City 'Cyci.
CIub attracted q very large assemblaee
Of interested SPECTATORS. among wnom
,,,e.yo nm, from Richmond. Norfolk. ana
other points. The weather was sP'e' 49,
and the track in superb cohui''on -
ladies were out in great iorce' anu ~
colors Of the several clubs rep
were freely worn-the white anu Diue
the Cockada City Club largely prepoi'o
rating. ,-.o-ost
The occasion was one Of great interest,"
ard tbera was some very fine ridlhs'
which vas literally applauded. the traeA
20 ono half mile i'm length, and IS one Oh
tho hest IN state. 1t Is almost as haru
and smooth as asphalt. IS wide ehous"
for all purposes. and neatly enclosed
The nve-mile handicap race, OF course
attracted the greatest attention ana III
terest as here was witnessed the best
riding and speed. 81
The races were all against time. ana
coueeguentiv there was no idsstnS'
though i'm some OF them much aiiiuse
ment was afforded the speC'"'o'S'
THE IAtf4S-
The races were as follows: -, I'll
FIRST race-nOvice. one mile NJ -
wards of Richmond, first G.. Il. Mchei-
mic of Charlottesville. second GeoIee D.
Richardson. of Petersburg, third lifle'
Second race-one half mile, open 10, 10
Co. " ~ I'VE. of Norfolk. first: W
j. Tienor. of Richmond; sgSonu' a. D
Hone. Of Richmond, third. line' ~ wi
,i.r,s of Richmond. first; o. c. Hope
Of richmond. second; George y. Itlch-
o,.leon ~ Petersburg. third; }. BashioIu'
of Norfolk. fourth. Time, 90. e.,., 90
In The fourth race the racers lalleu ~
make the mile in the allotted tiine, 4,u
the race was run over aiter w IN
races we're ended. The riders came All
~ following order at the irst race
Nve OF Norfolk; Ferguson Is lloi
courtney. and Hope, or Klc1tno'lu'
When the race was run over W. - -
RahiIv. of Petersburg. came IN nis1 "a, W
G. Houe. of Richmond, secohl, am To-, 40
Y courtney. of Richmond, time lliile'
Fifth race-Cockade City cycle C 5.,il
race-J. j. helms. first; W. l.. kahiiy'
second; W. l.. Spain, third 60
Sixth racc-nve-mile handicap open 70
the State-F. 4. Fry, OF Richmond. hiS ~
" / Tignor. of Richmond, second -
- Hone. of Richmond. third; p. NJ I'd
vords of Richmond, fourth; j. j. an
derberrv of Norfolk. fifth. Time, l2:oS
Hone Of Richmond. was the only
scratch rider i'm this race VINO VOL. -
nrize The Richmond riders Acquired
Themselves very handsomely, ana catrleu
of the majority Of the prizes 49,. ,.ictors
The prizes were awarded 10 the Elc1VlS
ot the Cockade cycle Club s room To-
night. where the visitors were hospi'"DiS
entertained.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-05-21
UNIVERSITY RESTORATION.
The Authorities of the Institu'i"n
Take Charge OF the Work.

CHARLOTTESVILLE May N-'ope-
cia'D-A trust deed has been gwen Dy
Langley & Co. contractors for the cree
tion of certain buildings in the work Oh
restoring the University. conveying 10
Tho authorities of the University all ma
chinorv building appliances loolS' ~
which thew OWE and which nave Deeh ~
use here. and the University setties WIN
the employees 10 date IN order thdl I'll .uc
work may continue without ueldS tto
conveyance is made In order 10 cover liie
amount of 1880 which has been ad-
varced by the University to pay the eli-
ulovees that the work may De coHNhuSu.
After relmbursing the University ne
ahova amount the residue in the nands
Ir. and John Is. Moon. Esq.-is 10 De ap-
piled I'm equal parts TO the setueWehl on
tho debts due James T.. philips anu
Warner Moore. of Richmond the totiner
amounting 10 $4,000 and the latter 10 Sz'sV5y'
ANY assets remaining after these SeCVllu,,
class creditors have been satlshed sntll
be distributed among the Tehiai IN
creditors OF the firm of Langley a ~
which consist Of MessrS. Charles T.. LtIis-
lev and Charles f.. Ashburner. IT. Inc
University authorities WILL uluer "
ausDiceS Of the contractors, push the
vvorl, of completing the buildings.
Three coops Of carrier-pigeons We're llpe-
rated AT the Union Station. i'm TINS cry
an Q o'clock on the morning OF the lbtn
instant. under the direction OF the staten
Island Flying Club. The Dirds arrived az
staten Island at Z. NJ. or the same
1av. traversing 2S5 miles I'm hours, %
minutes. and 10 seconds average speed III
Yards per minute, g65.l3. ,,,,..
b. f. Herring. near Advance MllIs,
died yesterday of paralysis. ne lull-i ~
will take place tomorrow. and the Durlal
will be i'm the family burying-grouhd' near
Advance NILS.