Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1916-06-28
HAD TO WAIT
~ Sss " ssS t x ti3S "A 81 M S3g5 S
FORT Y DAYS
Long Time Before
England Got News
Of the Battle Of
Lexington

NJ SEEMS strange In these days
when news Of the battles In far
aWay Europe Il cabled to America
Il within q few minutes after they oc-
chr when dying machines equipped
with machine guns aTo fighting each
other "a the clouds when advocates
so3 preparedness are arguing that the
ocean IL no barrier to : foreign foe
becaus4 Of the swiftness Of their
steam cruisers TO bark back to the
battle Of Lexington, April 10, 1875,
and try to realize the length OF time i
required for the news Of that conflict
to reach England. &
There were no telegraph wires, no
telephone, no dispatch boats or "spe-
.cial correspondents" with each regi-
ment, "A steam vessel had not then
lhsen dreamed OF. There were no
cables, no flying machines. no machine
guns. Only sailing vessels, OF small
.sise. were available to Cross the ocean.
and a. q consequence It took 9 long,
long time for the shot to be heard
around the world"
/ Dependent on sailing Ships.
Journalism in America was then
IN it, swaddling clothes. The race OF
the enterprising journalist to outfoot
neet-footed Time had not then begun.
There was not the intense rivalry OF
today between metropolitan papers,
With their specials and war extras-to
ny nothing Of baseball extras. There
vas. too, similar lack Of activity on
the part OF editors In London.
The newspapers In Boston and 9TH
{ 81 nearby towns at that time were
published weekly, usually on Monday.
News OF sanguinary events. Il they
occurred during the week, was neces-
sarily held for publication until the
following Monday. It was not sur
prising, therefore, that the news OF
the battles Of Lexington and Concord
was not printed In Boston until April
z6-for the idea Of issuing an extra"
IN such emergencies was not then In
vogue. On
In the Essex Gazette.
The Essex Gazette, published at
Salem, had by far the best report OF
\ the events of'the day, with an almost
complete list Of the killed and wound
4 ed. The news Of this first encounter
between the provincials and his males
tvs troops was many hours in reach
ing the other colonies. although post
riders and expresses were started I'M
mediately for Hartford. New York,
Philadelphia and the South.
In two days nearly all the scattered
peoples OF the young nation had been
Informed Of the result, and the spirit
OF the hour had inspired the raising
Of troops.
To the king, the parliament and the
people Of Great Britain the days had
been filled with anxiety. The main
question discussed was "How far
! dare the colonists carry their resist
/ ance?" "Will the provincials stand
before the British regulars?" was also
mooted question.
Didn't Anticipate War.
In the face Of the steady importing
OF grenadiers, dragons and infantry
from the mother country, and the rap
idly increasing feet of vessels of war,
!, ali heavily manned, 1t was believed
that the Americans would be cowed
and the whole attention of Great Brit
ain was conferred upon her rebellious
children across the seas. +.
Day succeeded day. March became
April, and April in turn was left be-
hind In the rush OF time. May grew