The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1919-12-25
A w..h,astoa Hand Press.

Last night was Christmas Eve night
and it was Il good time to sit by the
fireplace and an oak log fire In the
back room Of the Banner office and
talk to the old hand press that stands
just to the left of one who lounges and
tries to dream dreams by the flaming
Yuletide log.
1t was the first idea of the writer to
interview this old Washington hand
press on which the Banner was printed
so long. but an iron machine like that
cannot talk for itself. 1t is built to
do the simple task of recording the
thoughts Of living men. Neither Is
there any use in pretending that it
could tale unfold If it could only
talk. 1t has unfolded many Il tale in
its day and they are largely on record
in the files of the Banner. dating from
July 1. 1859. to and including the issue
Of June :. 1905. when il more modern
press was installed in its place. The
old press has said it's say. but it Is still
in use as IL proof press and for several
other useful purposes that
Of serving as IL luncll-bOard when there
is i, rush of work and no time to 20 to
regular meals. and always its smooth
bed makes !, handy "work-bench.''
1t is still Il good press of its kind.
and in good condition. Such presses
might we'll last to serve many genera
lions. for they are very simple in con-
>truction and composed of only Il few
iron and steel parts. But there was il
time when the old press was in use in
Mansfield land perhaps LoganSlort)
long before it was hauled through
Shreveport to Bellevue. LogallSpprt
was Il parish seat in those days and !,
newspaper appears to have been print
ed there on the old press. Later the
press was removed to Mansfield when
the parish seat Of DeSOto was estal,
liSlled there. During 1851 Edward 4.
Lowry bought the press and it waS
hauled through Shreveport Oh an OK
wagon to Bellevue. where, Mr.. Lowry
and his associate published the BoSsier
Times until June. 1850. when it Sus-
'::"nded publication.
W. II. Sc;ihland. who as youth of
seventeen years had seen the old press
hauled through Shreveport during 1851.
bought the Times outfit soon after the
suspentiing of that paper. and July. l..
IL
Banner. With the exception of couple
Of years during the Confederate War
when Mr.. Sc;lnland was in the arm:
and when these left in charge of the
office could no longer secure white
PAPER of any kind Oh which to print
the Banner has appeared regularly ever
| since, and papers printed OH the Wash
ington hand press and its successor
| during more than sixty years are all
OH file.
The press cannot he said to be Il re-
fatOr of old tales. for its tales are all
| told. but 1t is Il monument that will
| always have Il place in the Banner
| office. Some local history has been
made on the Washington hand press.
1t served a purpose during the dark
days of reconstruction in Louisiana.
During the ten years of almost hope
less ruin-from 1865 to 1>75-when
| few people other than negroes and car
pethaggers and renegades could vote in
Louisiana. the old Washington hand
press did its duty. The paper it printed
once Il week stood for white mans
rule when bayonets hedged the polling
| places about and no white man who
had fought the battles of the Lost
| Cause could cast Il ballot. .Attesting
this is the fact that on one occasion
the old office ut Bellevue was closed
and negro soldiers did sentry duty AT
its dOors-bnt that dark hour In the
Banners history was Of short Duration
The Banner saw better days from
1876 onward and. finally. during 1854
the old hand press worked off" al
edition that told Of the inauguration
us President Of the United States OF
Grover Cleveland-a Democrat aud q
friend Of the South.
What good purpose the press served
at IOganspOrt during the earlier days
before the war-during the rush of the
'4g.ers through the state to the Cali
fOrnia gold fields: what was said ii
the papers it printed during the steam
boating . flush times" and what recori
it made of the occurrences of the Texa.
Revolution and the Mexican War-i1
any-we do not know but maybe thers
is file at I4OganspOrt or MANSFIELD
that could say.
4 But the old press is monument ani
its dOings for some sixty years are Oh
record.