The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-26
OTHER DEATHS.
Baron PAUL julius De Reuter-, n Noted
European News Gafherer.

NAEOPCdAm NCNNS
NICE, Feb. 25.-Baron Paul Julius De
Reuter-, director and founder of Reuters
Telegram Company, is dead, aged eighty
three years.
Baron Paul Julius De Reuter- did more
than any other one man for the spread Of
general intelligence throughout the earth.
He was the founder of the great Reuter-
agency for the sending of news by telegram,
and his success was so pronounced as to
draw praise from those who are highest in
power in Europe. The first telegraph line
was built in Europe in 149, being a line be-
tween Berlin and Aix-la-Chapelle, and very
soon afterward Reuter- opened an office in
the last-named city. He supplied breaks in
the service with horses and other instru-
ments of speed, and was working up a fair
trade when 1t occurred to him he would go
to London.
On Oct. IA, 1851, Reuter- opened an office at
1 Royal Exchange, and his first business
was the circulation Of news concerning the
commercial world. This was secured by
able agents in different parts of the earth
and conveyed to ondon for distribution. IN
1858 an idea came to him to establish a news
service for the daily papers. The quantity OF
foreign news was very meager ana the qual-
ity not good. One morning in October of the
last-named year Reuter- walked into the
sanctum of James Grant, the proprietor OF
the Morning ADVERTISER. l. AIN d IuSSldlli
he explained, and have been employed as
a courier to several courts of Europe and
the government at Berlin. In that way L
have become acquainted with several i'm
portant statesmen and would propose TO
furnish you with foreign news more quickly
and at a cheaper rate than you are now
The Advertiser was then under an expense
of $40 a month for its foreign news, but
Reuter- offered to do it for $50 a month,
guaranteeing that the kilograms would be
fuller and better at that price. AS a test he
offered to send the news for a few weeks
free of charge. The experiment was a sue
cess, and all the newspapers in kondon eX-
cept the Times made contracts with Reuter-
for his service. The Times at first believed
that Reuter- could not give them a foreign
service as good as their own, but was pres
emily compelled to a k and print Reuters
Some of his performances were startling.
For example. the famous telegram of Feb.
8, 1869, in which Reuter- quoted the french
Emperor's remarks to the Austrian ambas-
sador: II regret that my relations with
your government are not as good as form
erly, but I beg you to inform your master
my personal sentiments toward him nave
undergone no change" One hour atterward
Times and the Stock Exchange was shaken
to it's center. Thereafter everybody looked
the the first ntnt thing f HTs K fSm t and fele gTosperit TN
waXed, and he added to his laurels every
day.
Slidell and Mason. the Confederate commits
sioners to England, had been taken on
board the Trent. On account of this news
q Cabinet meeting was called by Lord Pal
merton. 1t was Reuter- who brought word
Of Lincoln's death to England, and, al
though the difficulties in the way were
enormous. all were overcome and the
agency triumphed. Among other things he
did on this occasion was the building of
sixty miles of telegraph from the west of
ireland to Cork. But he beat all competitors
six hours. News of the Isa~ndhhawana mas
sacre, in which 1900 Zulus attacked Lord
Chelmsford's camp and cut to pieces a
large number of men, was secured by Reu-
ter's men. Other feats of like nature were
commonplace for the great reporter.
Baron Reuter- was born at Cassel in 1916.
In 1855 he changed his agency into a COM
pany, but remained its managing director
until 1870. He was created baron in 1871.