The herald., 1898-06-19
mid SHOT AND SHELL
NEWSPAPER ARTISTS WHO HAVE
TO FACE DEATH
HOW PICTURES ARE MADE
It Is as Risky as Serving Guns to Draw
the Scene of Bombardment
or Sea Fight


century ago, try to imagine newspaper
artist seated on the CORY deck of the Vic
tory making a sketch from life of Nelson
as he lay bleeding on the Quarterback Of
that renowned flagship, with solid shot Of
the enemy crashing through the sides and
the men in the tops picking off everyone
in sight. 1t requires difficult stretch of
the imagination, but it is true of our mod
ern battles that artists, the most skilled
that money can procure, are present to
sketch the changing Incidents, as well as
war correspondents to describe them in
writing
Drawn on the spot" or "sketched from
life" is not open to question in connection
with the naval war now in progress. The
artists are there, and anyone who doubts
that they brave death in the interests Of
the newspapers and magazines, and the
enc syndicate which is represented, shows
that he has not studied the fighting ma
chimes of today. There is no refuge on one
OF them where non-combatant is safe.
1t is not sufficient to satisfy the cravings
of the reading public for realistic illustra-
tions that pictures be drawn of ships at
anchor or steaming over the seas stripped
for action and with guns grimly protruding
from turrets. That variety of illustration
is familiar enough in times of peace What
is wanted is sketch of those same guns
belching forth their enormous projectiles
and those same ships half enveloped in
the smoke of battle, lurid with the flame
of exploding powder and breathing forth
death and destruction with every exhala-
ton from their massive sides. That is The
demand to which our war artist of today
must respond as best he can, and only by
exposing himself to the same missiles as
the combat atant is 1t possible of satisfactory
accomplishment. Running through the
lists of artists who are sending vivid illus
trations of naval fights, 1t is an easy matter
to single out the fearless men who are in
the thick of the row around Cuba and doing
their duty nobly.
During the civil war Frank Leslies name
became household word the world over.
He had large staff of artists and photo
graphers at the front. Pictorial journalism
was new in those days. Frank Leslie,
the pioneer in war pictures, is dead now,
and the work he laid down has been taken
up in the present war by his grandsons,
who supply the sixty-four leading papers Of
the country, among which is The Herald,
with war illustrations.
Our war staff of artists at the front in
cludes William Bengough a brilliant young
illustrator who won fame by his excellent
character work. This newspaper presents
today several of Mr.. Bengoughs sketches,
drawn at Tampa. Artist Bengough is only
waiting for the word to accompany the
troops to Cuba, there to continue his excel
lent work of pictorialy portrayng the
scenes of the war.
Next week there will appear in The Herald
a page picture drawn by J. w. Trowbridge
and furnished by the Leslie syndicate who
secured it from this we'll known illustrator.
Later on will be printed reproductions from
photographs by our special Photographic
corps at the front.
Who has not admired the work of that
sterling illustrator of marine scenes, Will
liam Hofacker. Mr. Hofackers work Is
we'll known to readers of this paper who
have seen the numerous half-page pic
lures from his talented pen that have ap-
peared in these columns. His sketches Of
the warships and scenes at naval battles Of
the present war have placed him in the lead
among marine artists of today.
Dan Smith and G. A. Coffin, the famous
illustrators, whose work was introduced
to the newspaper public outside New York
by the Leslie syndicate, are taking a prom
inent part in the illustrating of the scenes
of the war. Mr.. Coffin was the only artist
present at the bombardment of Santiago.
On board the yacht Simpson be busly
sketched away, his heart beating time TO
the explosion of shells and the banging Of
guns Dan" Smiths work will readily be
recalled by readers of this newspaper. His
most recently drawn picture, Memorial
day, 1885," was much admired. Collins work
has appeared frequently in these columns.
Like Dan Smith he first came into promi-
nence by editorial recognition OF the talent
displayed in the drawing of his marine pic
lures published in this and other papers
furnished by the same syndicate. His re-
cent picture Of the Alabama will be read
lily recalled. For many months illustrations
by Mr.. Coffin were published regularly in
the Sunday issue of this newspaper.
Among the clever and well known artists
who are sending war illustrations to Har-
per's Weekly are Frederic Remington, who
is with the army at Tampa; Carlton I.
Chapman who was present at the San Juan
bombardment Rufus F. Zogbaum, with
Admiral SIMPSONS fleet; T. de Thulstrup,
with the volunteers, and Clyde de V. Hunt,
who has taken his sketch book to the Cuban
camp and is covering" the war from an
insurgent standpoint.
Mr.. william c. Reick of the New York
Herald laid plans for getting news and IL
lustrations of the war with all the care or
a general arranging campaign, and the
result is seen in the excellent illustrations
and reports that pass through the hands OF
Mr. Robert Yard of the Sunday depart
ment and Mr.. G. M. Lincoln of the war
news department. OF the sketches those
by W. G. Wilson have made a decided hit.
The pictures show vividly the kind of war
fare now being waged by our naval heroes.
and, with the correspondence report enable
The Hcrald's readers to follow readily and
accurately the course of the war.
When the honors are awarded to the
faithful among the newspaper attaches
who have toiled in the interests of their
employers during the war, the artists
whose work has been referred to will be
deserving of q generous share.