Bloody Extras

Six years ago spectacled Laurence Greene, Baltimore Sun copyreader, began rummaging about in old U. S. newspaper files. His object: to assemble "the sort of scrapbook an inveterate reader of newspapers who lived in three centuries might have compiled." In burrowing his way from 1690, when the first U. S. newspaper was published, to the War, Laurence Greene's greatest difficulty was to stick to the red-letter historical events, avoid the temptation to wander down fascinating journalistic bypaths. Last week Laurence Greene's historical newspaper scrapbook, America Goes to Press* was published. Of his collection of such classic U. S. front-page stones as the Battle of Trenton, Lee's Surrender at Appomattox, the Chicago Fire, the Custer Massacre, Author Greene explains: "Ours is a bloody history, and blood often makes the best Extras."

First really big story for Colonial editors was the repeal of the Stamp Act, which they considered a punitive tax and a fetter to a free press. Still in rebellious mood, the Boston Weekly News-Letter on Dec. 2, 1773 boldly addressed its readers with a call to arms against the British. "FRIENDS! BRETHREN! COUNTRYMEN!" shouted the News-Letter's, front page. "That worst of plagues, the detested TEA, shipped for this Port by the East-India Company, is now arrived in this Harbour; the Hour of Destruction or manly Opposition to the Machinations of Tyranny stares you in the Face. . . ."

Citizens of Boston soon tossed the "detested T E A" into Boston Harbor, thus enabling the News-Letter to report that "a number of brave and resolute men dressed in the Indian manner ... in the space of three Hours . . . broke up 342 Chests."

Three years later, when the Declaration of Independence was signed, the Philadelphia Pennsylvania Gazette recorded the fact with the unemotional curtness of a modern press association "flash." "On Monday last, at twelve o'clock, the Declaration of Independence was proclaimed at the state house in this city," announced the Gazette for July 10, 1776, "in the presence of many thousand spectators, who testified their approbation by repeated acclamations."

Early U. S. journalism was not always so phlegmatic. When the end of the Revolution came with the downfall of Cornwallis, the editor of the Philadelphia Freemen's Journal or the North American Intelligencer printed the news in type four times normal size. "BE IT REMEMBERED!" thundered the Freemen's Journal, "that on the 17th day of October, 1781 Lieut. Gen. Charles Earl Cornwallis, with above 5,000 British troops, surrendered themselves prisoners of war to His Excellency, Gen. GEORGE WASHINGTON, Commander-in-Chief of the allied forces of France and America. LAUS DEO!"

Greatest of Federalist scandals was the killing, in a duel, of Alexander Hamilton by his bitter political opponent, Aaron Burr. The New York Chronicle of July 13, 1804 described the fatal affair with impressive simplicity: "They then proceeded to load the pistols. . . . The gentleman who was to give the word then explained to the parties the rules. . . . Both parties took aim and fired. . . . The fire of Col. Burr took effect."

Big story of 1836 was the revolt of Texas against Mexico. Tale of the Alamo made tragic news in the U. S. in early March. "The battle was desperate until daylight," reported the New Orleans True American, "when only seven men belonging to the Texan garrison were found alive, who cried for quarter, but were told that there was none for them. They then continued fighting until the whole were butchered. . . . We regret to say that Colonel David Crockett was among the number slain."

In Manhattan 14 years later Showman Phineas Taylor Barnum crowned his noisy career by importing Jenny Lind, a Swedish vocalist for whom he had built up a tremendous ballyhoo, to sing for New Yorkers at five dollars a head. The New York Tribune's reviewer thought this no excessive charge. In his paper for Sept. 12, 1850, he extolled "the quality of that voice, so pure, so sweet, so fine, so whole and all-pervading. . . . We never heard tones which in, their sweetness went so far. They brought the most distant and ill-seated auditor close to her."

In 1859, the strife of Civil War was foreshadowed by the abortive slave insurrection fomented by John Brown of Ossawattomie at Harpers Ferry, Va. Wounded, captured, the mad old man was brought in his bed to court at Charlestown, Va. (now Charles Town, W. Va.), to hear sentence passed. A New York Tribune reporter was nearby. "Brown sat up in bed, while the verdict was rendered." he telegraphed his paper. "The jury found him guilty of treason, advising and conspiring with slaves and others to rebel, and for murder in the first degree. Brown lay down quickly and said nothing. There was no demonstration of any kind." Recording John Brown's execution, the Tribune somewhat jauntily noted: "The old man was swung off at 11:15 precisely."

Of all the stories of that battle-scarred generation, none equalled for horror or hysteria the shooting in Ford's New Theatre in Washington on the evening of April 14, 1865. So confused were early reports that the Tribune, like many another paper, could think of nothing better to do than print the flashes as they came off the wire :

Washington, April 14, 1865

First Dispatch

To the Associated Press:

The President was shot in a theatre tonight and perhaps mortally wounded.

Second Dispatch

To Editors:

Our Washington agent orders the dispatch about the President "stopped." Nothing is said about the truth or falsity of the report.

Third Dispatch

Special to the New York Tribune:

The President was just shot at Ford's Theatre. The ball entered his neck. It is not known whether the wound is mortal. Intense excitement.

Fourth Dispatch

Special to the New York Tribune:

The President expired at a quarter to twelve.

Fifth Dispatch

Washington, April 15, 12:30 a. m.

To the Associated Press:

The President was shot in a theatre tonight and perhaps mortally wounded.

The President is not expected to live through the night. He was shot at a theatre.

Secretary Seward was also assassinated.

No arteries were cut.

* Bobbs-Merrill; $2.75.

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