The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1901-07-11

aaa was afterwards tho managing cdilo
" thc CharlcstOn Mercury. was one @
; 'nc hlost conspicuous llrmbcrs of tn
cultorlai Stall, and there spranr uD be
tween him and Capt. Dawson an init
macy and friendship that ripcncd int,
closer business relations in Il few wear
uhdcr the firm name Of Riordan g. Daw
son, charleston, S g. The Examine
hao pccn under the editorial manage
mcht OF Maj. John Al. Daniel during in,
war, aud WAS chiefly read for the abilit,
ana caustic style of its editorials, wbicl
crlticlscn relcn,lcssly tho conduct Of tn,
war by Mr.. Davis and his cabinet. Mai
D"nicl served on the staff of A u. Hill
AND was seriously wounded at Gaines
Mill. IL. Riycs Pollard was the assis
tant editor at that time, and afterwards
became the managing editor. lie wa!
not gifted or brilliant like Daniel, but
he had al inordinatc ambition, and it is
not surprising that he made the Ey
ainlner after the war the vehicle OF
abuse and ca(nmny upon others, which
brought him into not0 "icty and CAUSED
hostile meetings with those from whom
he differed. lie was arrogant and self
conccitcd, full of bravado and extremely
careless IN his statements about other
mon. Thc Federal commander at Rich
i'''iH ociECu ppSSCSSloH Oh the once and
suspended tho publication Of the Ey
amlner on account OF malignant articles
IN lts columns, but the prcSi cnt issucd Il
pcrcmptory order for its release
Capt. Dawson enjoyed his work upon
the Examiner, and WAS always in the
thlckcst Of the fight when Pollard got
INTO dlilculllcs, which was quite frr
qucntly. Dawson hNd been in a turmoil
Tor four years, and DOUBTLESS was avcrs;,
TO having Il duh time The very ,uy
thAt the Examiner was suspended by the
miltary authorities, the Drnprictors of
the Dispatch sent for Capt Dawson AM!
offered him salary of >f2j per week, to
which MIR. Pollard made 40 ubicctiou.
and he went to work nt once on the
)lspatch, where he was Legislative and
local reporter, and soon gained the con
lIucncc or his employers, who treated
him quite handsome y, according tn his
own account. When he left the Dis
patch in September, 1866, he received Il
warm expression Of their sentiments
from Mr.. Jas. A. Cowardin, editor of the
Dispatch, from whose letter is quoted
the following: "rhc Dispatch will
miss your valuable contributions and
your intelligent and pcrscvcring efforts
10 promote its interests. ANA increase it's
attractions. can truly say that never
knew n gentleman more earnest and
energetic, in the pursuit of journalism
while you have displayed accomplish.
mcnts for the profession that arc rare
and Invaluable. Socially, we will al
icci great loss in parting with you, and
the recollcctions Of our intercourse with
You will always be agreeable. While
your own talents ana bearing will com
mand respect for you in every commun
all MT in hn G,,, Ia,
cause will commend you to the hospital
ity and friendship of every Southern
man, tender you my most earnest and
heartfelt good wishes for your pros
pcrlty and happiness in life"
This WAS "praisc from Sir Hubert"
indeed! The conservatism OF the Dis
patch and its distinguished editor was 4
marked feature of its mana cement in
those days, and this voluntary tribute to
the talent and merit OF Capt. Dawson
mnst have made Il profound impression
upon the young journalist, who had hcsi
tatcd to accept position rs local report
or on the Examiner because Of an honest
doubt IS to his fitness for the work. 1t
was while they were both engaged on
the Examiner that Mr. Ri0r(lun had
broached plan for starting cheap and
popular newspaper in Charleston, where
he thought there was Il fine field for Il
newsy, bright and energetic Journal He
had not taken any steps in that direction,
for he was Waiting TO find the right sort
of man, and he had been convinced
that he and Dawson could make II sue
cess Of such newspaper in Charleston
How very prophetic were the words Of
iiord@n, and who that ever knew them
when working rs partners could fail tD
realize that they were specially adapted
to each other Riordan had not full
gaugc0 the capacity of his prospective
partner, however, for in discussing the
details Of their probable venture he WAS
careful to adm0nish him that he Oaw
son) could not DO the editorial writing"
and they would have to engage man
for that service How little we know of
men until we have tested their metal
and proven them by experience.
Capt. Dawson was instrumental, while
connected with the Dispatch, in forming
u Confederate Memorial a Association, one
Of the earliest in the South. In the
Hollywood and OakwOod cemeteries at
Richmond he saw that the graves Of
thirty thousand soldiers, who had given
their lives for the defence Of the city.
were III danger OF being neglected unless
there was an organized effort to keep
Y.
He began to agitate the subject in the
Dispatch and met with q patriotic re-
sponsc, for when did the women Of
Richmond ever fail to honor their loved
defenders? Memorial day brought q
suspension Of business, when tho mill
tary organizations went out to Holly.
wood, accompanied by hundreds Of
ladies bearing flowers, and the custom
was fixed for all time to come. The
rank growth Of weeds was cleared away
and the graves were rcarrangcd, and
the plans were inauguratcd for building
the monument which 50 well graccs
beautiful Hollywood. Mrs. Macfariand,
the president of tho Memorial Associa
ton, sent letter Of thanks to Capt
Dawson when he was about to leave
Richmond, in recognition Of his
valuable and distinguished services in
advancing our solemn and sacred pur.
pose" and expressing regret at losing
his counscls, with best wishes for his
success and happiness. Accompanying
the letter was u "slight memorial" from
the ladies', which was n set Of studs and
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