Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-01-08


Befora the Kennebec Journal came
into existence in 1925 the field was
occupied ct various times by otner
publications. Some were very snort
lived, and meme lived long. The nrst
newsnaper in Kennebec county, or
In fact east Of Portland. was started
IN Hallowell, which at that time IN.
cluded Augusta, August 4. 1794. II
was called the Eastern Star and was
published by Howard 8. Robinson:
Il maintained a feeble existence OF
about year and was succeeded Dy
The Tocsin, published by Thomas 3:
Watt and John K. Baker, who had
n 1855 stablished the Falmouth
Gazette, the oldest paper in Maine.
In September, 1896. they sold the
Iccsin to Benjamin Poor. and 1t dis
continued publication in 1797.
In the meantime the first paper
shsd been established in what Is now
Augusta, but what was then the part
Of Hallowell known as Fort Western
Or the Fort. It was THE Kennebec
Intelllgencer. published by Peter
Ede1, who came from Boston, ana
the Arst number appeared November
II, 1705. 1t was a little affair, 1lxl1
inches. This paper enjoyed a lie
Of 20 years under the management
Of Mr.. Edes. It was not wholly
prosperous, and its name was Twice
!, changed in that time. In 1oOO II
became known as the Kennepec
Gazette. and in 1910 the name was
again changed to the Herald OF LID
srty. In 1915 Mr.. Edes gave up the
Newspaper business in Augusta ana
moved to Bangor where he founded
the Bangor Weekly Register. which
va the first paper there. AFTER
various changes OF name, it became
the Wing and Courier, and was
afterwards merged in the Bangor
NswB.
For year and a half Augusta was
without a newspaper, and then on
March z, 1917. the first number OF
Me Augusta Patriot appeared. inc
editcr and publisher was James Bur
tan, Jr., q son of Augustus f1rst
po&naster and an apprentice OF
teter Edes. Three years before, IN
sanction with Ezekiel Goodale, ne
"a started the Hallowell Gazette.
~ Augusta Patriot soon died Tor
mt of patronage. From this time
NIL the establishment of the Ken
nebsc Journal Augusta was without
newspaper.
70 the readers of the papers to-
~, = seems strange to find In these
ssther papers almost no local news.
~ were filled merely with foreign
49, domestic political news. gen.
lv many weeks old. articles
non other papers and books. and
eeoeles and communications on
Mashty and serious topics. Adver.
= ments were few and simple out
0 were the best source of local.
niemation Of that period.
= reporting the Sager execution
Matter of large and unusual I'M
poaance, the reporter covered 1t IN
|. louf-inch space. The writer OF
ne article states that he did not
reas the execution, and therefore,
\ ou'a not give much description OF
T. was as follows:
Joseph J. Sager was hung on
friday last, pursuant to his sen.
vince. The gallows was erected
.sar the S. w. corner Of the jail.
nough the day was stormy
anu cold, the inclemency OF the
.eather did not prevent the as
MDling of q vast multitude. va
aously estimated at from eight
Twelve thousand. Not having
~ taste for shows OF that de-
ption. we did not witness the
Sscution, and cannot give much
Scr'ptton OF 1t. Sager, we UNI
tand, continued to assert his