Albuquerque weekly citizen. (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1891-19??, 1903-09-12
the OLD TYPOS.
the SMALL P0X EPIDEMIC.

The typos OF Albuquerque. with an
intermission of only several years,
have been working under a charter
granted by the International Typo
graphical Union since October. 1881.
In those cary days OF Albuquerque
"a town about year old-there was
oniy handful of printers, just enough
they met and soon thereafter the first
labor union of the southwest, includ-
ing New Mexico. Arizona ana lei Paso.
sprung into existence.
At the first meeting OF the typos the
position OF president was rendered to
W. T. McCreight, who has staid by the
city ever since, but he Declined in fav-
or of Thos. flynn. a much older and
more experienced printer at that
time. Mr.. McCreight, however. was
elected treasurer. aud Charles Lyons
was chosen recording and financial
secretary. Oscar Harold, a swift com
pcsitor. was a member of the eyecu.
tive committee. likewise Shorty"
Lewis and Shorty" Evans.
At the next regular meeting Flynn
resigned. and McCreight was chosen
president.
Everything went along smoothly q
year, except IN occasional smallpox
case among the printers, until the
spring of 1888 wnen half dozen
printers were stricken down with
small pox. among them Con Agars,
Inn IIag ...A
George Washington. Small pox was
raging up and down the valley that
spring. and the printers lost several
members from the loathsome disease.
| The boys had a few dollars In the
treasury and established a pest-house
near the Atlantic & Pacific hospital,
Or. Albright being placed in charge.
When George Washington was turn
ed out OF the pesthouse cured, he was
sent TO Valencia county as deputy
United States marshal to serve some
papers against violators OF the Ed.
munds law and he never returned to
tho city alive His bones were found
few months later near a small town
III that c. ,s,y.
ta-s' nray, printer skii"c.l uui
with what lttie funds lie had collect
cd, taking the seal and some Of Inc
unions important papers. and this
= rs followed by the union distarding
| \ few years ,h,er u "as re-srgani'e-
and among the new charter members
also appeared the name Of w. T. Me
Creight.
In the year 1888, the swiftest hand
setting compositors Of the Pacific
coast were here in Albuquerque. There
were Oscar Harold. Frank Wandress
Joe Prentis. Thos. Buchanan, George
Beach. kid" Mclaughlin, W. T. Nc
Creight and others. and they al! helt
cases or the old Albuquerque Journal
II was no uncommon sight TO see an!
OF the above hang n string measuring
5000 ems BREWER. fat barred, on th'
hook after a nights typesetting.
Beach was he swift man from Gal
weston. Texas, and was on his way I,
set type against Arnsberg, one OF thu
swiftest In the United States, at Den
, yer. All through Texas Beach bea
, all corners. He dropped into Albu
querque and on wager set typ,
; against Harold and McCreight. Har
J old tackled him the first night, an
I defeated Beach by 900 ems. Nc
Crelght was p.tted against Beach III
: second night and downed the Texa
, wonder by l 300 ems.
: The average OF the typesetters Il
e those races was 14,sS5 ems, and Fran
Hail. well known throughout the cour
as Kicker Hall. Joe Prentis ana Char
ley Hoover, the city circuletor OF tn
4 old journal, won s25 each from 9eacf
9 EdItor Burke. OF the Democrat, wa
4 on the old Journal then. and after tn
|. second nights race walked into tn
4 composing room and said: Boy
n you will have to take yard stick
v measure the winners string tonight"
Beach did not continue his trip
I Denver. He returned TO Galveston.
|. These are some of the old days {
n the typos OF Albuquerque, and ar
n boiled down to suit Labor Day inc
/