The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-11-01

The first newspaper ever puDllsDeo
in this State was the Georgia Gazette,
a quaint four-page affair printed il
Savannah more than a hundred years
ago.
Two copies of this ancient periodical
were left at the Constitution office by
W. H. Sharp, of Mckenzie, Tenn, who
owns the relics.
Aside from their curious crudity,
aside from the solemn interest attach
ing to them as the handiwork of men
dead for generations, these two yellow
and faded papers are replete with q
personal interest, for many Of the
persons spoken Of in the news and ad-
vertising columns were the ancestors
of men and women who play a promi-
nent part in the affairs of today. here,
in Savannah, and elsewhere in the
State.
The publishers Of the Gazatte were
James and Nicholas Johnston. and
their printing office was in Broughton
street. There is living now n who
is probably a descendant of n OF
these old editors, and be is Captain
James Johnston, now a resident Of Sa-
:yannah.
The Gazette in size is probably about
one-third that of a modern newspaper,
and its pages are divided into three
columns each, the type used in the
news articles being very fine and of the
old English style. There are remark
ably few typographical errors, and an
interesting absence Of headlines. the
megaphones by which newspapers now
call attention to the matter they con-
tain.
How primitive were the means OF
gathering news in those days is exem-
plifed in a striking way in one of the
two copies sent to this Office. 1t oc-
ours in the copy bearing date Thurs
day, May 9. 1898, No. 537 of the paper.
The item, which occupies the centre
of the front page, is printed in the
the tiniest of type, and reads in part
as follows:
Madrid. February THE follow
ing is an extract from the Madrid Ga
Zette of the 5th instant, which officially
announces the death of the King OF
France:
"'His Majesty has ordered the court
to take mourning for three months
from the Sd instant on account of the
death of lis most Christian Majesty,
Louis XVI, King Of France, who I'm
ished his. career on the 21st Of Janu-
airy. with a heroism equal to his hard
misfortune, and to the inhumanity OF
the horrid and unheard of outrages
committed against his august per-
son."
Thus it was that in May the only
newspaper in Georgia informed the
people of the execution of the King of
France. an event which was to change
the history of all the world, and which,
had it occurred at noon yesterday,
would have been read in "eXtras" by
the people of Atlanta the same day.
Lying next to this item concerning
the late beheaded King is a formal pro-
test from "the Grand Jury Of the Cir
cult Court" which body asserts in
stately terms that 1.-THE State Of Geor-
gia now lies under the greatest griev-
ance q State can lie under" for the
Creek Indians have been permitted
to commit depredations on u frontier
without being forced to make repara-
ton. A recital Of the grievance IN de-
tail follows this predatory statement.
But within. on the two middle pages,
are found those things to attract the
lover of history with a personal bear
ing. These are the advertisements and
personal notices which cover these two
pages.
In on of these Poulain du Bignon de-
clares that his partnership with others
in the ownership of the island of
Sapelo, a part of which he purchased
while yet in France, has been dis
solved. This Poulain Gu Bignon was
the great-grandfather of Fleming du
Bignon, and the property named in the
advertisement of the old founder of the
family in America remained in the
name of the Du Bignon owners until
very recent years, when it was sold by
a cousin Of Fleming du Bignon, who
had acquired the whole title. 1t was
purchased for the use of a yacht club.
Richard Wayne, who was himself
one of the most distinguished Geor-
gians of his day, and whose descend
ants also achieved distinction, adver-
tises that he will no longer import
dry goods, but will confne himself
from then on to the factorage and
commission business; also that he mas
eleven negroes and some ~hogsheads OF
fine brandy for sale.
There is also a petition for the fore
closure of a mortgage, the petitioner
being John Bulloch, an ancestor OF
President Rocsevelt's mother.
George Honstoun offers a "settled
plantation" for sale. He was b
founder of one of the early members
of a leading Georgia family, members
of which still rank very high in
Savannah.
Another plantation is offered for sale
by Edwin and William Harden. whose
advertisement is of interest by reason
of the fact that ore of the trio of
Chatham County representatives in the
Legislature is now William Harden.
~ 81, also 1ih-,0rinn of 1hn 8 0r0nrnh
public library.
Francis Courvoise. Robert Forsyth
and Louis CutLbert, all familiar Geor-