Evening star., 1943-03-28
Early Fighting Days Of Newspaperdom
BY John Clagett Proctor.

BY John Clagett Proctor.
Though freedom of the press is guar
anteed by the Constitution, yet there are
many instances when city and State Off
cials have stood by and have seen
newspaper offices wrecked by mobs with
out offering any substantial effort to
prevent it. and, sometimes, even by their
inaction, have seen those responsible for
the issuing of the paper brutally and
tnnumanely treated, and some, even
murdered, as happened to be the case
with Gen. James Maccubbin Lingan, a
hero of the American Revolution, who
proved to be a victim of mob violence
after having risked his life for the very
freedom that his assassins so wantonly
and criminaly abused.
This tragedy grew out Of articles pub
lished in 1912 in the Federal Republican
of Baltimore, Nd, OF which Alexander
Contee Hanson was editor. 1t was elec-
ton year, and it was also the beginning
OF the war of 1812-1815, war having been
declared against Great Britain on Fri
day, June 10, 1872. Gen. Lingan, in poll
tics, was Federalist, and the Federal
Republican was the organ Of that party.
The sentiment in Baltimore was not
In harmony with Lingans party and the
Federal Republican, which was against
the administration, and so, on June Il,
400 men and boys assembled with axes,
hooks, ropes, etc, at the office OF the
Republican, corner of Gay and Second
streets, and destroyed everything in
sight, including the furniture, presses,
type and even the house itself.
Removed to Georgetown.
The paper was then removed to
Georgetown. where it was published Tor
q short while, when Mr.. Hanson returned
to Baltimore and continued the publ
cation of the paper in small house on
South Charles street, although the actual
printing was still being done in George
town.
When Editor Hanson returned to
Baltimore it so happens he was accom-
panied by Gen. Lingan, Gen. Henry Lee
Gight Horse Harry, father Of Gen.
Robert E. Lee, c. S. A.; Capt Richard
Crabb, DR.. Philip Warfeld, Charles J.
Kilgour, Otho Sprigg, Ephraim Gather
and John Howard Payne, the author OF
Home, Sweet Home" all being ardent
supporters of the policies for which the
Federal Republican stood.
And so, on the evening of July q, at
the Charles street address, the publish
ing house was again attacked by mob
and the Lingan party, in sef-detense.
was forced into shooting DR.. Gales and
William Smith while they were attempt
ing to gain an entrance into the house.
Both parties we're heavily armed and
determined and the militia was ordered
out and those within the house finally
marched to Jail. Here the mob soon
got the upper hand of things and so
brutally beat Gen. Lingan that he died
shortly afterward, Gen. Lee-whose trib-
ute to Washington, first IN war, first
In peace and first in the hearts of his
countrymen," will ever be remembered
received fractured skull and other in
juries from which he never fully re-
covered and which undoubtedly short
ened his life.
Hanson, we are told: 80 was then
dreadfully beaten, trampled on and
pitched for dead down the high flight
of stairs in front of the jail. The
fate of Mr. Hanson befell Gen. Lee, Gen.
Lingan, Mr.. Hall, Mr.. Nelson, Mr. Kill
gour, Maj. Musgrove, DR.. P. Warheld
and Mir. William Gather, all of whom
were thrown down the steps OF the JAIL
where they lay in heap nearly three
hours.
During this whole time the mob con-
tinued to torture their mangled bodies,
by beating first one and then the other,
sticking penknives into their faces and
hands and opening their eyes and drop
ping hot candle grease into them, etc"
Gen. Lingan is said to have 'lost his
life by his endeavors to save it. He SO
mistook the character of the monsters
as to suppose them capable of some
feelings of humanity. He reminded
them that he had fought for their lib
critics throughout the Revolutionary
War, that he was old and infrm, that
he had large and helpless family de-
pendent upon him for support" But
this avatled him no mercy.
Lingan's Big Funeral.
Lingans body was returned to Wash
hgton and all respect due to his hon
orable services in the Revolutionary War
was paid his mortal remains. There
was then no church or structure in
washington or Georgetown large enough
to accommodate the crowd which de-
sired to attend his funeral and PARROTS
Woods. which then adjoined on the west
Oak Hill Cemetery, was selected for this
purpose.
The procession started from Union
Tavern, at Thirtieth and NJ streets, to
the strains of funeral dirge, and moved
thence to the appointed place, where
the services were held. Minute guns
were fired from new ship in the harbor
owned by Washington Bowie, George
town merchant, and named the General
Lingan, and Washingtons' tent, now in
the National Museum, was spread over
the stand erected for the speakers.
Francis Scott Key, author of The
Star Spangled Banner" was invited to
deliver the grafton, but so bitter was
the party feeling that he was unable to
accept the invitation and George WASH
ington Parke Custis, owner Of Arlington
and grandson of Mrs. Washington, was
substituted
A part of the funeral escort included:
Marshal on horseback, four, clergymen