The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1914-09-11

copies of the papers and the packets
of letters were hurried across the
southern states. Once in Washington,
the new Morse service was at the
service of the government and the
press and there were between 2,OOO
and 5000 miles of railroad in opera
ton, But over vast areas Of the North
neither wire nor rail we're available
for the transmission of news.
New Orleans was the focal point
to which all the lines converged In
the Mexican war time and from which
they diverged again to all parts or
the United States. In that romantic
and cosmopolitan city George wilkins
Kendall, New Hampshire Yankee,
and Francis A. Lumsden established
the Picayune, the first cheap paper
which the city possessed, in 1887.
Kendall became one Of the most bril-
liant and enterprising journalists Of
his generation and father Of the art
of war correspondence.
Born in 1909, developing a fondness
for jocosities while in newspaper
work in New York, and landing in
New Orleans at the age of twenty
five, he issued with Lumsden the first
number Of the Picayune.
After few years Kendall embarked
upon an adventure which took him to
Mexico for the first time. This was
the Santa Fe expedition, the history
Of which is contained in the graphic
narrative written by the editor of
the Picayune. The members of the
Invading party" were seized near
Santa Fe and marched to the City Of
Mexico. Several were shot and all
we're imprisoned.
Gen. Waddy Thompson was sent to
Mexico to investigate the rumors
which came to the United States of
the fate of the members of what was
after all flibustering expedition, and
he found Kendall among the lepers
in a hospital His release secured
after some time, the writer returned
to New Orleans to find himself popu-
lar hero in the city where he long be-
fore had been accepted as a wit.
The necessity Of the war with Mex
leo was steadily maintained in the
columns of his paper, and no sooner
did the conflict actually begin than
Kendall was away for the Rio Grande.
Through the summer Of 1876 he was
much of the time with the Rangers Of
Capt. Benjamin McCuIloch.
Before the battle of Buena Vista was
fought Taylor's veterans were ordered
to Tampico to become part Of the
army to be modified for service un-
der General Scott. AS the central part
of Mexico was now to become the
scene of the most important opera
tions, Kendall made his way to Tam
pico, and his partner, Lumsden, also
established himself there.
Thus Kendall missed the battle
which gave Taylor his greatest fame
and which made him president, But
the Picayune scored a great beat on
the news nevertheless That battle
was fought on February %, 1847, but
the result was not known for a month,
although the country was filed with
disheartening Tumors.
At last the Picayune got the facts
from a messenger, who left Monte
rey on March 8, sailed from the Bra
zos aboard a schooner on March IA.
and so miles below the city took pas
sage in towbSat, which landed him
in New Orleans at three on the morn
ing Of March "a. The copies of the
Picayune containing the joyful It'd
ings reached Baltimore and Washing
ton at the very time when fierce po-
litical debate was going on as to the
raanOu zihility for "the weakening Of