The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1913-02-13
EARLY JOURNALISM IN SHREIEPOhI.

EARLY JOURNALISM IN SHREIEFOhI.
Very little has been written OF the early
days of Shreveport, now one of the most
flourishing cities in Louisiana, and COM
paratively nothing of the journalism OF
those exciting times. The city takes its
name from Capt. Shreve, who was the
pioneer steamboatsman to reach this point
on Red River. In few years, or in 1886,
the village was Incorporated, and in eight
years later Caddo Parish was organized
Then, came the newspaper-the. first in
this "wild" section. 1t was started by
two pioneer printers, Hunter S. and John K.
Parsons, who named it the Caddo Journal.
1t lasted only two or three years.
A few years later H. j. G. and A. D.
Battle started the Caddo Gazette and
DeSoto Columbian. This paper was to
also supply the "long felt want" in the
neighboring parish of DeSoto. 1t was
neutral in politics, having for its motto:
"Loyal, yet free; obedient, yet independ-
ent.''
The rumblings of the approaching cam
paign Of 1852 were heard, and the Wings
desired an organ. In 1851 the South
Western was started by L. billiard & Sons
Lewis, Thomas, William G.. and George.
1t was the custom of the country papers of
those days to have notices, and the South
Western placed the engraving of the Amer
lean flag at the head of the first editorial
column, and underneath, the motto, :" For
ever float that standard sheet" The name
was well chosen, for this section was then
the Southwest, and just coming into prom
inence. Soon thereafter the Democrats
also wanted an organ, and DR.. Matthew
Estes, formerly Of Mississippi, was induced
to start the Shreveport Democrat. He had
written book on the "Defence of Slave
ry,'' but had no previous newspaper expe-
rience. He got large supply, however,
on the Democrat AS is frequently the
sad experience in the life of a newspaper,
too many persons who want the services OF
a newspaper being only willing to give their
'moral support and, in about five years
the Doctor had lost the money from the
sales of five of his negroes in endeavoring
to float his paper, which had the simple
motto. $ Democracy" Thus, the town OF
about 5000 population had three papers.
In the summer of 1866 another paper
was added, the Caddo News, by Leon D.
and James r. Marks. The former was one
of the leading lawyers in Shreveport, and
the latter editor and proprietor of the Bayou
Sara Ledger. The brothers were nephews
of Samuel F. Marks, postmaster of New
Orleans. The paper was ultra Democratic.
Though the Democrat had suspended
publication, it soon became apparent that
three papers were too many, and the Caddo
Gazette and the Caddo News were bought
by DR.. Samuel Bard, leading Democrats
furnishing the money, which was doubtless
donation. DR.. Bard was newspaper
SPECTATOR and also State Superintendent
of Education. He had run papers in two
or three other parishes before he came to
Shreveport, and when he sold the Gazette he
bought the Ouachita Register, conducting
it for year or two. He was originally
from New York, and like many Northern
men when they came South, was more Bit
ter against the North than was the most
ultra Southerner. His editorials breathed
''war to the knife; the knife to the hilt,' -
and clear through. He would throw ink
and mud at country editors, and when they
beat him in billingsgate, he would dismiss
them as ''beneath his notice." He hit at
high game, roasting Congressman, Cover
nors, and other statesmen. He served
during the war in the Confederate Army,
and when the war ended he Topped to the
Republican party; was appointed by Grant
Governor of the Territory of Idaho; came
back to Louisiana, and, we believe, died
from yellow fever at Baton Rouge in 1878.
DR.. Bard sold the Gazette to DR.. Drury
Lacy during 1857.
After the consolidation of the Gazette
and News there were only two papers in
the town-the Gazette and the South
Western. The Gazette was then printed
in the upper story of the east sub division
of a two story brick building on the south
east corner of Market and Texas Streets,
and the South Western in small one
story frame building on the southwest cor
ner of Edwards and Texas Streets.
AS there we're no scoops" in those
days, there was no Dragging about VIVA,
''our slow contemporary" missed Edi-
torals were the FEATURE" and when the
editor was ill, or otherwise indisposed, and
short on editorials, he apologised to the
readers. The editor was also the river re.
porter, and did other local work, when he
had time. The locals we're run on the first
column of the editorial page, which is now
monopoized by the more or less bright
paragraphist. These were mostly about
the weather, the river, the streets, anc
thanking the gentlemanly clerk of the
swift-running packet" the St. Charles
Runaway, Aida, White Cliffs, Fanny Fern
Era, B. L. Hodge, Lucy P. Holcombe, etc.
for file of late New Orleans papers. This
file consisted of the Picayune, Delta, True
Delta, Crescent, Commercial Bulletin, Bet
and Price Current The clerk always