The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-08-14
REM|N|SC EN- CES
Mr.. C. 3. Edwards Writes
ReCoIIections of Raj
eigh Papers.
BY G. Il. EDWARDS.

my mere WHICH opchH' -
mind a long list of unsuccessful at
tempts at establishing metropolltsi
paper in our midst.
Within my recollection there mas
been quite a number of daily paPeia
printed i'm the city of Raleigh anu q
great deal of money lost in the pupH-
cation of same. | am glad to know
that The News and Observer has risen
phoenix-likta as a monument to the
persistent efforts in establishing
heightened daily paper in our city.
The first daily paper established
here L think, was the Daily Confeder-
ate, by Duncan X. McRae, during the
Civil War. During the same period
Mr.. John Spellman also published the
Daily State Journal. which was also
vigorous war paper.
When Burnside captured New Bern,
Hon. John l.. Pennington, who was af
forwards Governor of Dakota, came
to Raleigh from that city and resumed
the publication of the Daily Progress,
which was formerly published in New
Bern. 1t was a Union or peace paper.
He published said paper up to and
after the close Of the war. This paper
was printed in a wooden building
where Giersch'S restaurant is now
situated.
Governor Holden published the Tri-
weekly oldIud1d Until lie wis cIcCtEu
Governor in 1868, which was also a
peace paper.
Near the close of the war, sentiment
ran SO high among many OF the Con-
federate soldiers against the Standard
and Daily Progress. that while Ben
ning'S Brigade of Georgia soldiers
were passing through the city and
stopping over for several hours during
the night at what was then the old
Union Depot, (noW used as the South
ern freight depoO, at about 10 o'clock
ut night many of them collected on
West Hargett street, where the Stand
ard was then published Gust east of
Governor Holden'S residence), and de-
stroyed the Standard printing office.
After destroying that office they set
out i'm search of the Daily Progress
but the proprietor, Mr.. Pennington,
having learned of their purpose, had
all the lights eXtinguished in the
building, and gave orders for the
printers to return after everything was
quiet and proceed with the publication
of the paper.
on the next morning, when the
people began to collect at the market
for purchasing their daily supplies,
they learned of the destruction of
Governor HOlden's printing office. Gov
ernor Holden's friends became very
indignant, among them an old gentle
man ny the ndHle Oh MdTk w lllldHlS,
who had the market house bell rung,
and soon the people BEGAN to gather
from all parts of the city. He soon
mounted the steps that led into the
market house, made a speech to the
assembled citizens, told them what
had taken place and asked everybody
in the crowd who was willing to mob
the Daily Journal Office, Immediately
south of the market house, to follow
him. when they made rush for the
building. At this juncture Mr. John
l.. remington appeared at his office.
Immediately west of the market house
saw the situation and asked me to run
TO the foot of Fayetteville street where
the old Governors Mansion was then
situated, and request Governor Vance
TO come at once and quell the riot.
When L reached the foot of Fayette-
vile street / found a saddled horse
tied in front of the gate, Governor
Vance evidently expecting some
trouble. He was up and dressed, (this
was soon after sun up). and imme-
diately mounted the horse and gall
j returned. which l did in double
quick time, | found the Governor with
his coat off on a goods box on the
southern side of the market house adj
dressing and quieting the mob, which
he did i'll u very short while. Mr..
Spellman's office had, i'm the meantime,
been very badly wrecked and after q
great deal of labor he succeeded in
having ii Strengthened out SO as to re-
sumo his publication, as did also Gov
ernor Holden
1 think the late Rev. VIM E. Pell was
associated With Mr. Duncan McRae, or
succeeded him in the publication of
the Daily Confederate. After the war
Mr.. Pell established the Daily Sentinel
which ra1llV ha cai6 tn hou
grown out of the Daily Confederate,
and was established as the organ of
the Conservative party which organ
lied to fight the reconstruction party
Mr.. Pell was succeeded on the Sentinel
by Mr.. Josiah Turner. L forget the
exact date.
| knew Mr.. Turner well, and con-
sidered him one of the bravest and
most Independent editors in the State.
During the stormy period of his editor
ship of the Daily Sentinel it was the
habit of Mr.. Turner, whose Office was
in the long narrow row of buildings
on the south of the Court House. TO
set at his desk. his face fronting the
door. with a large pistol in his open
drawer loaded and cooked. Some
times it was on his table. / have heard
that he said he made it a habit (not
knowing but what somebody might
attempt to assassinate HIND, to stop
every unknown visitor at the door and
satisfy himself that he was not an
enemy before admitting him into the
office. Upon one occasion q we'll
known enemy of Mr.. Turner's started
i'm his office for the purpose of doing
him bodily harm; but when he placed
his foot up on the step Mr.. Turner
discovered him and Immediately COW
cred him with his pistol and told him
that he would give him one minute to
leave his premises. He accordingly
retired in good order. Mr. Turner was
State Printer as we'll as editor of the
Sentinel for manv wears.
The Raleigh Observer was establish
ed by Messrs. Hale and Saunders
about 1877, and upon the death of
Major Englehard. who was then Sec
rotary of State. Colonel w. l.. Saunders
was appointed by the Governor to sue
coed him. Mr.. Hale continued the
publication of the Observer until its
consolidation with the Daily News. by
Capt. = "A. Ashe. under the name of
The News and Observer.
The Raleigh News was at first print
ed i'm the old Higgs building, immedi-
ately in front of the post office. on
Fayetteville street by Messrs Stone