The Washington herald., 1908-04-26

Adolphus. The victory was sometimes
reported to have been obtained by the
Swedes, but a general uncertainty. sort
Of mystery, agitated the majority Of the
nation. This state of anxious suspense
lasted a considerable time. The fatal
truth gradually came out in reports
changing in their progress. The his
torian of Gustavus Adolphus observes on
this occasion that few couriers were bet
ter received than those who conveyed
the accounts OF the Kings death to de-
clared enemies or concealed ill-wishers;
nor did the report greatly displease the
court of Whitehall. where the ministry
as it usually happens in cases Of timidity,
had its degree of spprehensions for fear
the event should not be true; and, as
I have learned from good authority, inn
posed silence on the news writer's, and
intimated the same to the pulpit IN case
any funeral encomium might proceed
from that quarter.
Victorian Gets Wrong News.
The same circumstance occurred on
another important event in modern his
tory. where the artifce Of party writers
in Disgusting or suppressing the real fact
may be observed. This was the famous
battle OF the Boyne The French party
long reported that Count Lauzun had won
the battle, and that William III was
killed. Busy Rabutin, in some memoirs,
says: Il chronicled this account accord
ing as the first reports gave oht. when
at length the real facts reached them. the
party did not Ike to lose their pretended
victory" Pere Londel. who published a
register Of the times, has recorded the
event in this deceptive manner; "The
battle OF the Boyne In Ireland; Schom-
berg is killed there at the head Of the
English"
Commenting on this circumstance,
D'Israeli says: '"The writer resolved 10
conceal the defeat OF James party. and
cautiously suppresses any mention Of vic
tory, but very carefully gives real fact.
by which his readers would hardly doubt
of the defeat OF the English" We are
so accustomed TO this traffic of false re-
ports that we are scarcely aware that
many important events recorded in his
tory were in their day strangely dis
guised by such mystifying accounts"
The history of a report creating a panic
may be traced In the Irish insuTrection.
in the curious memoirs Of James II. A
forged proclamation of the Prince OF
Orange was set forth by one Speke, and
a rumOr spread that the Irish troops were
killing and burning in all parts Of the
kingdom.
Panic Affects People.
panic like magic instantly ran
through the people. so that in one quarter
Of the town OF Drogheda they imagined
the other was filled with blood and ruins
History records that during this panic
aged persons died with terror while the
truth was, that the Irish themselves were
disarmed and dispersed. in utter want Of
a meal or a lodging"
In the times Of the civil wars in
England under Charles I, the newspapers
and the private letters afford specimens
Of this political contriyance OF false re-
ports OF every species. No extravaganza
OF invention TO spread a terror against
a party was too gross, and the city of
London was one day alarmed that the
royalists were occupied by a plan of
blowing up the river Thames. by an i'm
mense quantity of powder warehoused
at the river side; and that there existed
an organized though invisible brother
hood OF many thousands with consecrated
knives: and those who hesitated 10 give
credit TO such rumOTs were branded as
malgnants. who took not the danger OF
the Parliament to heart.
II the report lasted only a few days,
It obtained its purpose, and verified the
observation of Catherine Of Medlcis.