The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-10-12
A DAILY OF THE FORTIES
MExICAN-WAR EDITION OF THE
JOURNAL RAN A BRIEF CAREER.
Started by John ID. Defrees to Meet
Supposed Demand, but Public
Did Not Respond.

the daily in 1850. These dates are correct
uous editions. An experimental attempt at
the publication of daily was made, how
ever, some years previous to 1850. Proba-
bly, few of the old citizens of Indianapolis
recall the short-lived enterprise Copies of
that old-time daily have not been included
in the Journals office files. and the pub
fishers are indebted to Miss Matte Stewart
and her nephew. Mr.. John c. McCutcheon.
of this city, for full edition, to wit, twelve
copies, which they recently found in look
ing over some household effects.
The first Of these papers, which bears
the title Daily State Journal, is dated May
%, 1916. This was soon after the beginning
of the Mexican war, and it was TO meet
supposed demand for early information in
regard to the war and other public events
growing out of it that Mr.. John d. Defrees,
editor and publisher, was led to make the
venture. In an editorial announcement in
the first issue he says: How long it 0he
daily edition) may exist will depend upon
the patronage received. If the people pre-
fer to wait for the news until it may APP
pear in the Weekly and Semi-weekly pa
pers they, of course, will do so. But If
they wish to peruse early every morning
the intelligence which may be received by
the previous nights mail they now have
an opportunity of doing it. We shall con-
tinue it's publication for one week at all
age may justify it,
The new paper, even fifty-six years after,
presents neat and attractive Topographic
cal appearance. In size it is of four pages,
measuring 1OAx13 inches. The paper it is
printed on is of much better quality than
that in common use now, being but slight
ly yellowed and showing no signs of brit
tleness or disintegration.
A FORERUNNER OF PICTURES.
The enterprisng editor dashes boldly into
illustration, and on the first page offers a
map of General Taylor's camp and envi-
rons at Matamoras, on the Rio Grande
There is really nothing in this issue that
can be called war news, but there is an
account of this camp, including this inter-
esting description by an army officer, Of
General Taylor and his immediate sur
roundings:
ION the 18th friend of mine visited Gen.
eral Taylor at the camp of Point Isabel,
where he had established his depot for
stores in the army. On landing the scene
presented was quite a wild one, and re-
minded one of accounts we have received
of an Arab encampment. There were three
or four dragons in the camp with their
horses picketed about, besides an immense
number OF wagons, mules and oxen. On
stepping ashore an officer conducted my
friend to the generals tent He was intro
duced to very plain, shabbily dressed old
gentleman of rather small stature, about
sixty years of age, and who looked. by his
hardy appearance, as If he had been camp
ing out all his life. This was the COM
He has been thirty-eight years in service
on the frontiers of our country One of his
officers remarked that, old as he is. he
bears the fatigues and privations of the
campaign better than any one under him.
He was affable, dignified and in excellent
spirits. His tent was no larger and no bet
ter than those Of the other officers and his
table was his camp chest, In which he car
ried his cooking utensils, ETC. His plates
were tin pans, and his cups (no Saucers,
of course) tin pannikins. A small supply
of brown sugar was kept in a tin canister,
and not piece of crockery was to be seen.
A party of six was thus entertained in
homely style, and they all seemed to enjoy
it abundantly: The United States force at
the time consisted of about $500 men. Our
flag, / am told. was never hoisted south of
the Nueces before"
OF local and retrospective interest in the
same issue is this item: 1.-THE receipt of a
call upon Indiana for troops produced con-
siderable excitement in our city yesterday
An opportunity was given those who wished
to volunteer to do so. Thirty-f1ve names
were enrolled within few hours. The
number will be greatly increased in a day
or two. John McDougal was elected first
and Lew Wallace second lieutenant. The
election of captain was postponed until
the company is complete, which will be in
| a very few days.
The Journal being in those days a Whig
newspaper, carried the Wing state ticket
at the top OF its editorial page, with Jo-
seph G. Marshall candidate for Governor
| Incidentally it is worth noting that the
name of that longtime eminent Democrat
| David S. Gooding, of Hancock county. APP.
pears as member of the Wing centra
| committee.
SUPPORTED ADMINISTRATION.
But although it was a Democratic wal
| and the Wing party did not approve of it
or the principles on which it was based. i
| stood Loyalty by the administration in 81
| far as the prosecution of the conflict wa.
| concerned, and the Journal, as the loca
| moutnpiece for its party, urged the activ'
| support of the government in order tina
| the trouble be speedily ended.
| 1t is only on looking over such old file.
| that the difficulty of securing news in thos,
| interchangeable days can be realized. Witt
| all the desire to hear from the seat of wal
| information could only be obtained by mail
| which was beth irregular and slow, anC
| when received seemed to consist largely o.
rumor. Considerable dependence was placed
| by Editor Defrees on Louisville and New
| Orleans papers, and many excerpts from
| them are given.
| Not much attention is given to local mat
/ tiers in this daily, but occasionally is founC
| paragraph that carries a Significant,
| now that was not found in it then For in
| stance, it is announced that ''there will bt
an adjourned meeting OF the citizens of thi.
| county at the First Presbyterian Church
| to form a Colonization Society this even
| ing at candle-lighting. Addresses by strang
ers may be expected There has beer
much illuminative progress since candle
| lighting days.
| Here is another editorial item of histori
| cal bearing: 1.-The Hibernia, from Nash
vile, Tenn, manned principally by blacks
| as many of the Southern boats are, arrived
| at Lafayette, in this State, few days ago
/ A mob of about two hundred persons as
| sembled, and before the Capt. could rails,
| steam enough TO leave two of his hand:
| were abducted and concealed in such
/ manner as to prevent their recovery. Thi.
| was the act of the peaceful Liberty mer
| Ga proclamation of the word) of that place
who pretend to be governed by their con