The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-10-06
(Official City. State and County Newspaper


Tribune Founder Dead
MANY bismarck residents who knew him intimate
" are mourning the death of Col. Clement A. Louns-
berry. who established the Bismarck Tribune as Il
weekly paper in 1873. 1t became daily In 1901
under the late Marshall H. Jewell who purchased
the plant from Mr. Lounsberry in 1873.
Although retiring from North Dakota journalism
soon after his entry Col Lounsberry kept in close
touch with this state and wrote most commendable
history Of North Dakota, The result Of 30 years Of
study and research.
His long residence in Washington removed most
interesting and lovable personality from this state
Crippled by wounds received in the Civil War, ne
decided to spend his last years near the National
Cemetery at Arlington where LIT was assigned 10
him by the United States government
Col. Iounsberry was identified with the early
history Ct this city and state to a greater degree
than fell to the lot of his associates.
Bismarck was lur:d in those days, and editing a
newspaper meant not only writing practically
everything in it, including advertisements, but also
persuading the leading citizens by main force that
the editor had right to say what he pleased.
The press used in The printing Of the first issue
Ct the Tribune was brought in the first freight
train tc arrive in Bismarck, but paper and other
material were delayed. 1t required considerable
time for Col. Clement A. Lounsberry editor to get
ton the press, though the paper consisted
of only four pages was eagerly purchased. News
had been umulating and the editor exerted Il
of discrimination in his selection Of the most
vital bits Five thousand copies were run off the
press at that time Subsequent editions were in the
neighborhood of 6,0OO to 10000 copies.
The Tribune carried the first complete account
to be printed of the Custer massacre. The story.
however, not telegraphed tc the office today,
for there was no telegraph in the wilds and the
Tribune correspondent Mark Kellogg. had been
killed the battlefield. News of the massacre
was brought to Bismarck ten days later by steam
boat captain Grant Marsh, OH the Missouri river.
Captain Marsh, commander of the EAR West" was
first told Of the slaughter at the Battle Cf the Little
: Big Horn by "Curley,' an Indian scout, who could
only communicate his message by drawing pictures
Of the battle.
When the Far West commanded by Capt Gran,
Marsh, arrived in Bismarck at IL o'clock on the
night OF July Col. Clement A. Lounsberry editor
of the Tribune, and J. NJ. Carnahan telegraph opera
tor, were the first to be aroused by the officers
and men from the boat, who rushed along the
streets Of Bismarck awakening the inhabitants of
the sleeping town.
Iotmsbcrry, carnahan, Capt. Marsh, Doctor II. T.
Porter Of Rcnos command, Capt. Smith and Il mum
Der OF others hurried to the telegraph office where
one Ct the biggest stories & the West was
ground out by Lounsberry and telegraphed by Car
nahan to the New York Herald, Of which Col Louns
berry was the accredited correspondent More than
$4,000 words were transmitted in the report ~,
Battle Of the Little Big Horn at a cost Of $4,000
t. the Herald.
Early the next morning the Bismarck Tribune
; brought out an extra containing an accurate and
complete acc 1unt Of the battle CT nearly $500 words
the frst published news Of the massacre. Added to
the report was list of the killed and wounded
giving in the of the latter the nature of their
injuries.
1t was one Of the best pieces of newspaper com
position ever produced in the West and few Of tho
subsequent histories Of the fight possess the vivid
dramatic power OF this first story, written under
the impulse OF intense excitement says Joseph
Mills Hanson in his book on 1.-THE Conquest Of the
Missouri which is based ON the life and exploits
Of Captain Marsh.
Nosauthyritative news Of the battle reached the
east until the full accounts from Bismarck came by
way 81 st. Paul. July Z. The report did not reach
the East until day late because the Bismarck wrs
only worked direct far as St. Paul and nc official
confirmation was received by military authorities
until after the newspaper stories had been published
everywhere
The first bulletin to the New York Herald read
As follows: Bismarck. d. T.. July g. 1876-Cen-
eral Custer attacked the Indians, June 25 and he,
with every officer and man in five companies, were
killed. Reno, with seven companies, fought in In
1trenched position three days. The Bismarck Trib-
unss special correspondent was with the expedition
snd was killed."
Gel. Lounnberry himself had planned to 60 with
Custer but WAS forced to give it up It the last
minute because - the illness Of his wife n his
pasce he sent Kellogg. : Tribune reporter. Ths
HofaI3 Aowever. ct once adopted KELLOGG A having
ben ~ special correspondent even going 50 far =
- Asnd ~ willow M, chiidren 9zOoo
J LonnGbeisy had - date 70 work upon more than
: so1nn a notss - ~ cpmpaigm up - the day
: M n = u 1lCl 666seuo1usst9p