Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1912-03-01
HAD PAPER IN 1904
Was Published Earlier Than Bos'
ton News Letter.
Periodical, In Manuscript Form. Called
"Master William" leeued 500
Years Ago by French on
e.. Croix Island. Me.

New Yo,k.-An industrious digger
into the depths Of the past has
brought to light the interesting fact
that Americas hrst newspaper was
published full century earlier than
the date commonly ascribed If It
was not q newspaper in the later ac-
ceptance of the term It was at least
q periodical, prepared and published
with more or less regularity for the
eager rerusal of the little community
which it served.
In short II was on ST Croix island
a few miles below the present city OF
Calais that the Master William was
ruhljshed during the winter Of 1904
az bv the members OF the French ex-
redjtion under DeMonts and Cham
,plain. who we're seeking to establish
there the capital Of the vast and
vague empire claimed by France In
America They were the first euro
reans to pass a winter on these north
ern shores of the new world since
The days Of the legendary North
men centuries before: and at that
time they we're the only Europeans
In America north Of the Spaniards IN
Florida
Samuel Champlain himself, later
the founder Of Quebec and the father
of New France. was the chronicler
Of the expedition, and In his viva
story of that winter on st. Croix 's-
land he makes express mention OF the
Master William. the significance OF
which appears to have been over
looked by historians generally. He
relates that the paper was prepared
from time to time "by the bright sp'r-
Its of the party to while away the
tedium of the long and severe win
ter 1t was passed around In writ
ten, not printed, form: but among
few score men, all deadhead sub
scribers. that was a wholly satislac-
tory method Of publication.
Christmas day. 1904. was celebrated
by the colony with special zest-r
was the first Christmas observance
by the way. in what is now New Eng
land-and after the religious exercises
of the morning and before the feast
ing and drinking and general merry
making became too boisterous spe-
rial Christmas issue OF the Master
William was read to the company by
the editors. So early did the idea OF
the extra and the holiday num-
Der" take root in American journal
ism! 1t is great pity that the
chronicler did not include copy OF
the Master William in his record, or
something more about 1t than the
bare mention of its occasional appear
ance.
1t was not until 17o4, a full century
later. that the Boston News Letter
vas established, commonly spoken OF
,s the first newspaper in America. and
continuing for fifteen years to he the
only one An attempt was made TO
publish newspaper in Boston II
1890. but only one Issue was nut
forth. It was called Public Occur
,ences, and the watchfnl authorities
promptly snuffed 1t out 'for uttertng
reflection Of a very high order How
successfully have most newspapers OF
later years steered clear of any such
hanger!
Put We are wandering far from tho
enterprising young adventures OF st.
Croix island and their newspaper or
1904. Their effort was small one
and the results were transient: but
there is a certain sentiment which
attaches to first things. and in his
torical matters certain importance
Also The Master William deserves
It's rescue from oblivion, and shon'h
not again be neglected when the
story of the feeble beginning OF new
world journalism is tol6. Past hat an
opportunity was missed by the rrh'
fishers Of the Calais Times or 'he
PASSPORT Sentinel when they failed
10 take the name a. the pioneer s"""t
and to put forth the claim of being
It's direct successor.