History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 18

Author: Sawyer, Eugene T
Publication date: 1922
Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co.
Number of Pages: 1934

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office in San Jose, combining this profession with that of newspaper proprietor, having res- urrected the Daily Times. He gave up pub- lishing after an unfortunate experience of a year or so to give his whole attention to the law. He was engaged in the practice of his profession in Oakland when he died a few years ago.

The semi-weekly Tribune was issued by Givins George July 4, 1854. In 1855 it was published by George & Kendall and in 1859 it was sold to George O'Daugherty. In 1862 it was suppressed for eight months by order of General Wright. In 1863 it was purchased by F. B. Murdoch, who changed the name to the Patriot. The paper was a weekly. In 1865 Murdock commenced the publication of the Daily Patriot. In 1875 he sold out to S. J. Hinds and J. G. Murdock. In 1876 it was pur- chased by the Murphys and the name changed to the San Jose Daily Herald. In 1878 it pur- chased and absorbed the San Jose Argus. In October, 1884, the Herald was bought by a joint stock company. H. H. Main was presi- dent, W. C. Morrow, secretary, and J. F. Thompson, treasurer. Main and Thompson are dead. Morrow is a resident of San Fran- cisco engaged in literary work. As a teacher of the art of short story writing he has ac- quired a national reputation. While engaged in newspaper work he wrote several high- class novels and many charming short stories. He has a keen, analytical mind and his style has the clearness and finish of a master crafts- man. He was and is a literary artist, and nothing ever leaves his hands that is not pure English, charmingly expressed. After he left San Jose, the Herald was conducted by Main and Thompson until it was sold to Charles M. Shortridge. In 1900 the paper was purchased by E. A. and J. O. Hayes and publication was continued until it was absorbed by the San Jose Mercury. The name of the Mercury was then changed to the Mercury-Herald. The Hayes brothers are lawyers and mine-owners and have at Edenvale, six miles south of San Jose, on the Monterey Road, one of the costliest and handsomest residences in Cali- fornia. The grounds cover many acres with a wealth of flowers, shrubbery and trees. E. A. Hayes was a member of Con- gress for several terms, serving his dis- trict with marked ability. J. O. Hayes has never held public office, although he has been several times a candidate for governor. Under the progressive management of the Hayes brothers the Mercury-Herald has attained the largest circulation of any paper, outside of San Francisco and Oakland, in Central California. It has ever worked for the best interests of the

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community and its influence has been far- reaching and strong. E. K. Johnston is the managing editor and his ability and business acumen have been marked factors in the pa- per's success.

The San Jose Daily Reporter came into ex- istence in 1860. W. Frank Stewart was the publisher. It was soon changed to a weekly and was discontinued after a few weeks' ex- istence. Stewart was a Kentuckian and was in Nevada when Mark Twain was doing repor- torial work on the Virginia City Enterprise. Late in 1866 Mark returned from the Ha- waiian Islands and having no newspaper en- gagement in sight, he wrote a lecture on the islands and prepared to make a tour of the Pacific Coast for the purpose of putting some much-needed money in his pocket. San Jose was selected as the place for "trying it on the dog." When Mark landed in town he hunted up Stewart, who was then the proprietor of a little saloon in a shaky, one-story building on a lot on First Street near Fountain Alley. Twain found the place and soon enlisted Stew- art's enthusiastic cooperation. The saloon was a popular loafing place and Mark spent much time there listening to Stewart's views on his latest fad, "How earthquakes are pro- duced." Stewart had a queer theory about earthquakes and many lectures on the subject were delivered in Music Hall while Stewart was a resident of San Jose. In his saloon he had an earthquake indicator of his own inven- tion, the points of which he explained to the Nevada humorist, much to the latter's inter- est and amusement.

Through the good work done by Stewart and his friends Mark was enabled to lecture to a paying house and he left San Jose pro- fuse in expressions of gratitude for the kind- ness displayed by his old Nevada friend. A few months later Mark was in Buffalo, N. Y., doing humorous work for the Express. Clip- pings from his writings were made weekly by the San Francisco Alta to be eagerly read by Mark Twain's many admirers in San Jose. At this time no one hailed the arrival of the Alta more joyously than Frank Stewart. He was heard frequently to say that Mark was des- tined to become one of the great writers of the age. But one day there came a change. Stewart's face grew longer and harder. His eyes flashed with rage and when he found voice to express his feelings it was to pour forth the bitterest, most canstic and damna- tory language that ever fell from human lips. Mark Twain was an ingrate, a coward and a cur. He was-well, he was everything an honest man should not be.

The cause of Stewart's rage was an article in the Buffalo Express which said in effect that out in San Jose, California, there lived a fellow named Stewart, who had an aged mother on whom he was depending for sup- port, and who passed as the proprietor of a ramshackle groggery, where, between drinks, he expatiated on earthquakes, a subject of which he knew little and talked much. The article further stated that whenever a pig came along and scratched his back against the front of the building there would come a shake that would be promptly registered and as promptly telegraphed all over the Pacific Coast.

When his wrath had cooled sufficiently for him to use a pen Stewart sat down and wrote Mark a letter, which, if it could be found and published, would prove one of the richest things in American literature. He figuratively roasted Mark alive. An answer was not ex- pected, but it came, nevertheless, in the shape of an abject apology. Stewart, with great gusto, read the apology to his friends. Mark, in his letter, disclaimed any intent to slander the philosopher and said his only idea was to have a little harmless fun. To show that he was sincere he asked Stewart to forward a book of the philosopher's poems, recently pub- lished, promising to review it in a satisfactory manner. The book was sent, a flattering re- view was given and the breach between Mark Twain and Stewart was healed.

The Daily and Weekly Courier was started in 1865 by Geo. O. Tiffany. It lasted but a few months.

The Santa Clara Argus, as a weekly, com- menced publication in 1866. In 1876 the Daily Argus was issued and ran until 1878, when it was sold to the Herald. W. A. January was the editor and proprietor of the Argus. He was a Kentuckian and a gentleman of the old school. There was not a mean bone in that tall, slim body of his. Everybody was his friend and when he passed away from earth, a nonogenarian, San Jose lost a valuable citi- zen. Before coming to San Jose he lived in Placerville, where he was associated with Dan Gelwicks in the publication of the Mountain Democrat. It was while he was a newspaper publisher in San Jose that he was elected to public office. He was a very popular official and the Republicans after a time ceased to put up any candidate against him. He was county treasurer and state treasurer and in his last years tax collector of Santa Clara County and always the same genial, courteous and faithful servant of the public.

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C. Leavitt (Britt) Yates published The Sat- urday Advertiser from August 11, 1866 to February 19, 1869.

The Daily Independent was started May 7, 1870 by a company of printers. It was the first paper in San Jose to receive news by tele- graph. In December, 1870, it was purchased by Norman Porter, who, in turn, sold it to the Guide in 1871.

The Daily Guide was started by Phil Stock- ton and H. C. Hansbrough in February, 1871. Hansbrough sold out his interest to Stockton that same year. Major Horace S. Foote, who wrote "Pen Pictures from the Garden of the World," a work that has been largely drawn upon in the writing of this history, was the editor of the Guide and before the Guide started, was the editor of the Independent. As a writer he is clever, humorous and inci- sive and local journalism was the sufferer when he dropped the pen to become the finan- cial expert of the board of supervisors. In January, 1872, Porter took the Guide and sold it to J. J. Owen, who merged it into the Daily Mercury.

The history of Henry C. Hansbrough of the Guide is an interesting one. Before becoming a newspaper owner he was a printer and did his first work in the Patriot office. After a few years' residence in San Jose he went to San Francisco. He was a Chronicle compos- itor until promoted to the telegraph editor's desk. It was while he was a resident of the Bay City that the Anti-Chinese agitation reached a ferment. Dennis Kearney was shouting, "the Chinese must go," and the Mongolians and their business allies among the whites were in a terror-stricken mood. All the while the sentiment in the eastern and middle western states was distinctly pro- Chinese. To take advantage of the situation three enterprising young men-Chester H. Hull, city editor of the Chronicle and self- styled "The Monumental Liar of America"; Sam Davis, the Nevada humorist and brother of Robert H. Davis, present managing editor of the Frank A. Munsey publications; and H. C. Hansbrough, resolved to procure an ed- ucated Chinese and take him east on a lectur- ing tour. Hull was to write the speech, Davis was to finance the undertaking (it was re- ported at the time that he could get $3,000 from John Mackey, the bonanza king) and Hansbrough was to act as business manager. But the days passed and no Chinese intelli- gent and foxy enough to fill the bill could be secured. At this juncture Hull, himself, of- fered to do the lecture part by making up as a Chinese. Whether the other partners ever se- riously considered the offer is not known.

But there were frequent wranglings which ended by a dissolution of copartnership. Da- vis returned to the sage brush and Hull went back to his desk to perpetrate another of the hoaxes which had made him notorious throughout the Pacific states. But Hans- brough stuck to his guns. He enlisted the in- terest and cooperation of Rev. Otis Gibson, superintendent of the Methodist Mission in San Francisco, and a Chinese interpreter in the person of Chan Pak Kwai, was secured. The Chinese was good-looking, as sharp as a steel trap and had an excellent command of the English language. He had lived for a time in San Jose and was well known to all the court officials. When all arrangements had been made and Chan Pak Kwai had been properly trained, Hansbrough and his mascot left for the east. Lectures were delivered in Iowa and Illinois and Chan Pak Kwai was feted everywhere by the warm-hearted people of the middle west. At last the interest waned and manager and performer separated, the Chinese to return to San Francisco and Hans- brough "to seek fields and pastures new." In Devil's Lake, Dakota, he established a news- paper and after a time became postmaster and interested himself in politics. When Dakota was divided to become two states, Hans- brough was chosen one of the United States Senators for the northern division. He held office for eighteen years.

The Daily Press was published for a few weeks during 1882 by J. J. Conmy.

The Reporter was started by present Under- Sheriff Hugh A. DeLacy, in April, 1872. It lasted until August.

The California Agriculturist, Brand & Hol- loway, proprietors, came into existence in 1871. S. H. Herring purchased it in 1874 and after running it for a few years sold it to the Pacific Rural Press, of San Francisco.

The Daily Evening Tribune was published during the 1872 presidential campaign by Clevenger & Armstrong. E. T. Sawyer was the editor. The paper opposed Grant and supported Greeley.

The Daily Independent Californian, pub- lished by S. H. Herring and Ben Casey, held the fort during the local option campaign of 1874.

The Daily Garden City Times was started by Edwin Markham, S. H. Herring, Perry- man Page and E. T. Sawyer in 1874. It had the telegraph dispatches and for a while the future looked bright. Markham, who after- ward became famous as the author of "The Man With the Hoe," "Lincoln and Other Poems," "The Shoes of Happiness," and who is now an opulent resident of West New

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

Brighton, N. Y., was a young man then, whis- kerless and thin, black-eyed, eager and im- petuous. Herring was the publisher of a weekly agricultural paper and an entertaining writer on practical subjects. Page was a printer who had studied for the ministry. He lent the moral support to the undertaking, while the other partners furnished the brains- such as they were. On the start there was no business manager, for it had not occurred to

· these innocents that an attache of that sort was necessary for the success of a newspaper project. The quartet fondly imagined that the mere announcement of the publication would be followed by such a rush of business men to the office as would necessitate the employ- ment of a score of clerks to attend to their re- quirements. Besides, of what use would be a business manager-a man to drum up adver- tisements for immediate pecuniary needs- when an "angel" had been secured, one whose purse was large and whose promises were all that could be desired. The "angel" was Ben Casey, an elderly rancher living on the Los Gatos road. He had one hobby and how it ruined the prospects of the paper will pres- ently appear.

The Garden City Times was a success from the start. Markham was the literary editor and assisted in the reporting, and his faculty of throwing a glamor of romance over the most trivial local subject, even though it chanced to be the erection of a chicken coop or the reception of a watermelon from an ad- miring subscriber, gave such interest to the local department that his salary was advanced after the first week. E. T. Sawyer was the city and managing editor and his principal du- ties consisted in consigning to the waste bas- ket such editorials as in his opinion were not in keeping with the conservative policy of the paper. These proceedings were looked upon as high-handed by Mr. Herring and after a week of them he threw up his job in disgust and presented his interest in the paper to the other partners.

About this time an advertisement of a sa- loon was handed in and inserted. It caught the eagle eye of Casey and there came a quick and imperative demand for its withdrawal .. A council of war was held. It was realized by the three partners that a crisis had been reached. To take out the advertisement would mean that in future The Garden City Times would not be a paper for all classes, but one lined up on the side of temperance at a time when the question was not being exten- sively agitated. The partners were young and full of confidence. They felt they could do without Casey's money. So the advertise- 8

ment stayed and Casey went out. This action took place on the second day of the second week of publication. The news spread. With- in twenty-four hours every man who had a bill against the paper presented it with the abrupt request for immediate payment. Forced to the wall, the partners paid out all the avail- able cash, hoping that the worst was over. But they were mistaken, for the next move came from the printers. They wanted assur- ance that they would be paid at the end of the week or they would leave in a body. Now optimism was followed by pessimism and the falling in spirits affected the tone of the paper. Markham, instead of scurrying about town with a smiling face, dawdled listlessly in the editorial room and used the scissors in turn- ing out copy. Former editorials, bracketed "by request" at the top were reprinted, while Page, in the composing room, resisted a strong temptation to swear. The inevitable was ap- proaching. Despite a favorable public opin- ion, the promises of enthusiastic friends and the important fact that the paper had come into existence to fill "long felt want," there was a conspicuous and lamentable lack of the silvery sinews of war. After eleven days of experience the partners stopped publication. Then they collected all the bills due for adver- tising, paid off the printers and walked to St. James Park. Seated on a bench in a shady spot they divided $27 into three equal parts, pocketed each his share and talked of emi- grating to the South Sea Islands.

The Daily and Weekly Advertiser was pub- lished by B. H. Cottle from May to December, 1875. The Weekly Balance Sheet, a commer- cial paper, was started by H. S. Foote in Feb- ruary, 1876. It was discontinued the next year. The California Journal of Education was run for four weeks in 1876. George Ham- ilton was the publisher. The Temperance Champion was published by A. P. Murgotten in 1876. It was discontinued the next year.

The Pioneer, devoted to the interests of the men of '49 and the early '50s, was started by A. P. Murgotten in 1876. It was discontinued in 1881. Mr. Murgotten was well fitted for the task of placing on record the experiences of the California pioneers. He came to the coast in the early days and for many years lived in Placerville, coming to San Jose in 1866 with his brother-in-law, W. A. January, to assist in the publication of the Argus. He has the honor of being the dean of the newspaper guild of California, his experience covering fifty-five years, beginning with "devil" and ending with editor. He is a fluent, graceful writer, with a clean, conscientious sense of duty. He holds the belt as correspondent, having been the

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

first to represent in San Jose the following San Francisco papers : The Alta, Examiner, Chron- icle and Call. During the famous Normal School investigation he sent to the Call regu- lar reports of the proceedings of the legisla- tive committee, his copy averaging 5,000 words daily. As the reports were taken in long hand it will be seen that Mr. Murgotten had use for every minute of his time. After serving as reporter for the Argus (weekly and daily) he started in business for himself, in turn publishing the Temperance Champion, The Pioneer and a paper devoted to the inter- ests of the Elks. It was on The Pioneer that his best, most valuable work was done. The paper was the first of its kind to be published in the state and its great historical value was at once recognized and appreciated. In these later days Mr. Murgotten is best known as a public-spirited citizen, one always to the fore when projects for the betterment of social conditions are under consideration or are on their way to fruition.

The Headlight, an evening daily, was started by a company of printers in 1879. Its name was afterward changed to the Record, but after a short time it retired from the field.

The Daily Morning Times first saw the light in 1879. The proprietors were S. W. De Lacy, F. B. Murdoch, J. G. Murdoch and F. W. Murdoch. In January, 1880. Mr. DeLacy became the sole proprietor. It was a success- ful venture. Mr. DeLacy's aim was to present a paper, which in its treatment of local events, should be equally readable and reliable; in general, the implacable foe of wrong, the in- flexible champion of right, independent at all times and always fearless in expression of . opinion. But while success was his, he con- ceived the idea that a daily newspaper founded and conducted on the principles of the Times would flourish in San Francisco. Accordingly on September 6, 1883, he sold his paper to C. M. Shortridge and went to San Francisco. There in 1884 he joined forces with James H. Barry and together they began publication of the Daily Evening Star. After a few months of battling against odds the Star suspended. Mr. De Lacy shortly afterward returned an San Jose and after a short experience in jour- nalism went to Tacoma, Wash., where for over twenty years and until his death he served as deputy collector of customs. When in harness he was in his element when expos- ing local abuses. He was scrupulously hon- est, a loyal friend and a generous enemy. Al- fred Cridge was editorial writer for De Lacy. He was a short, roly-poly sort of man, gentle and self-effacing. He reveled in hard facts and dry statistics and his collection of clip-

pings overran his large cabinet of pigeon holes. Before his arrival in San Jose he had served the Government as a detective. Dur- ing the Civil War he was one of the assistants of Col. L. C. Baker, through whose agency John Wilkes Booth, the slayer of Lincoln, was located and killed.

The Daily Evening News was started and did business during the campaign of 1882. W. D. Haley was the editor.

In 1883 H. A. De Lacy, present under sheriff of Santa Clara County, established the City Item. Its name was changed in 1885 to the Evening News, a name it still bears. Mr. De Lacy came to California in 1862 and went at work as an engineer at the New Almaden mines. In 1865 he came to San Jose and was engaged for several years in the business of carpenter and contractor. In 1870 he was ap- pointed deputy sheriff and soon developed great skill as a detective officer. When his term expired he was elected constable of the township. In 1872 he published The Reporter, but discontinued it in order to devote all his time to his official business. In 1874 he was for several months the lessee and manager of the San Jose Opera House. In 1883 he started the City Item and the success of the venture was so pronounced that he took in the late Chas. W. Williams as a partner. It was a strong combination and the effect was imme- diately apparent. The business rapidly in- creased and the paper has been enlarged many times during the thirty-five years of its exist- ence. In the early '90s Mr. De Lacy sold out his interest, having been elected San Jose's chief of police. In that office Mr. De Lacy made a record that any man might be proud of. He was both honest and resolute in the performance of his duties, and he soon made his name a terror to evil doers. At the expira- tion of his term he engaged in business, serv- ing for several years as business manager of the Daily Mercury. In 1910 he was appointed under sheriff, but resigned after three years' service. In the 1918 election a new sheriff, George Lyle, was elected and his first official act was to appoint Mr. De Lacy under sheriff, a position he still holds. He is considered one of the most competent and reliable officials Santa Clara ever possessed.

Chas. W. Williams continued as sole pro- prietor of the Evening News until 1917, when ill-health compelled his retirement from the arduous work of the office. He sold his plant and business to H. L. Baggerly, for many years sporting editor of the San Francisco Bulletin. Mr. Baggerly is a live wire and the News, under his management, has more than quadrupled in circulation. The editor is R. L.

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Burgess, whose writings have in a few years given him a national reputation.

The Santa Clara Valley, a monthly journal devoted to the horticultural and viticultural interests of the community and the exploita- tion of the resources of the county, was started by Maj. Horace S. Foote in 1884. In 1886 he sold out the paper to H. A. Brainerd, who added to its name The Pacific Tree and Vine, thus enlarging its sphere of usefulness. Brai- nerd continued the publication until his death about twenty years ago.

It was while Major Foote was engaged in newspaper work that he had an adventure that he will never forget. In the '60s Charley Barr, an Englishman, kept a saloon on First Street opposite El Dorado. The place was patronized largely by Cornishmen from the New Almaden and Guadalupe quicksilver mines. The rear of the saloon was arranged like an English tap room with fireplace, man- tel, pipes and tobacco and tables for drinking and playing cards. The miners used to flock in every Saturday afternoon and usually they were quiet and inoffensive. But on one Satur- day something happened that made them boil with rage. The something was a write-up in the Independent. The writer was Major Foote and he had made a sensation out of a flying rumor of a ghostly visitation. The rumor ran that for some time the old Chapman quicksil- ver mine beyond the cemetery had been haunt- ed by the ghost of a murdered miner and Foote had asserted that on account of the ghost's nightly walks about the mine residents on the Monterey Road were afraid to pass the mine at night. It was a well-written, creepy story and Foote was proud of it and his pride was at high-water mark when there entered his office a delegation of enraged Cornishmen. One of them held in his hand a copy of the paper containing the story, and when he ad- dressed Foote there was blood in his eye. Foote noticed that the men were in liquor and it seemed to him that they loomed like giants in his little office. Then a harsh voice smote his ear. "Are you the bloomin' beggar who wrote this piece?" Foote gave an affirmative answer. "Then," went on the Cornishman, making no effort to master his rage, "You have insulted the ghost of my father and I'm going to do you up." Foote shivered and then looked out of the open window with the idea of jumping to the sidewalk. But the distance appalled him, so he concluded to leave his fate in the hands of the irate miners. He had heard of the actions of Cornishmen when crazed with drink and out for retaliation on enemy or enemies, and the thought that he might be seized, thrown to the floor to have his ribs crushed by hob-nailed boots, was not

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History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 18

Author: Sawyer, Eugene T Publication date: 1922 Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co. Number of Pages: 1934

Author: Sawyer, Eugene T
Publication date: 1922
Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co.
Number of Pages: 1934