The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1914-10-03

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 Nortn
neither wire nor rail were avaliaDie
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 OF
the United States. In that romantic
and cosmopolitan city George Wilkins
Kendall, a 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 a 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 drst
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 Ne 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 Fee and marched to the City of
Mexico. Several were shot and all
were 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 fllibustering 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 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 1S46 he was
much of the time with the Rangers Of
Capt. Benjamin McCulloch.
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
lions, 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 great beat on
the news nevertheless. That battle
was fought on February %, 1847, but
the result was not known for q month.
although the country was filed with
disheartening rumOrs.
At last the Picayune got the facts
from . messenger. who left Monte.
rey on March 8. sailed from the Bra.
EOS aboard q schooner on March II.
and so miles below the city took pas
sage IN Q towboat. which landed him
In New Orleans Ut three on the morn
ins OF March -. The copies Of the
Pioayuns containing the Joyful It'd
ings reached Baltimore and Waahing-
ton at the very time when . neres 20
Nttcal asha4e was going On - = the
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