Rhode Island : three centuries of democracy, Vol. II, Part 83

Author: Carroll, Charles, author
Publication date: 1932
Publisher: New York : Lewis historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 716

USA > Rhode Island > Rhode Island : three centuries of democracy, Vol. II > Part 83

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"Rhode Island Pendulum" of East Greenwich was established in 1849 at Phenix as "Kent County Atlas," and continued under the same name after removal to East Greenwich in 1852; the "Pendulum" was issued following a reorganization. The "Pendulum" absorbed the "East Greenwich Enterprise" in 1881, after the latter had been published for two years.

The "Narragansett Times" of Wakefield was established in 1858 as the "South County Journal" ; the name was changed in 1859. It has been continued by the heirs of Duncan Gillies, who was the original publisher.

The "Wickford Standard" was established in 1888.

The "Bristol Phenix," "Barrington and Warren Gazette," "Hope Valley Advertiser," "Rhode Island Pendulum," "Narragansett Times" and "Wickford Standard" constitute an old guard of weekly newspapers serving their communities and circulating beyond town bound- aries and occasionally beyond the state as they reach subscribers who wish to maintain a contact with old neighbors. Newer town papers include the "Cranston News," "East Green- wich News," "East Providence Standard," "Newport County Sentinel" of Tiverton, and "Providence County Times," successor to "Olneyville Times."

Among the Rhode Island weekly town newspapers that have passed into history are the "Pascoag Herald," the "Cranston City Times," the "Pawtuxet Valley Gleaner," the "Hope Valley Free Press" and the "Narragansett Herald." The "Pascoag Herald," 1892, acquired in 1895 the "Burrillville News-Gazette," which had survived the consolidation in 1892 of the

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"Burrillville Gazette" and the "Burrillville News." Other short-lived town papers were the "Eagle," "Rhode Islander," "Record," and "Mirror," all of East Providence; the "Cranston Leader"; the "Rhode Island Citizen" and the "Tribune," both of Olneyville; the "Block Island Budget," later called the "Mid-Ocean." As with daily newspapers the modern tendency is toward a smaller number, although it is possible yet to establish a country weekly newspaper with relatively small capital and to earn from the publication of legal notices as paid adver- tising a fair return on the investment.

The weekly town or rural newspaper of the twentieth century is the nearest surviving representative of the colonial or early nineteenth century press. With the exception that it prints local news of the community which it serves in larger amounts than did its colonial . predecessor, its columns otherwise are filled in much the same way with regular advertising patronage and gleanings from exchanges or rewritten news stories from other newspapers. If the page size of the modern weekly is larger than that of the twentieth century tabloid, which marks a return to the size of the colonial newspaper, the reasons are principally "patent inside" and "boiler plate." A "patent inside" consists of a page or pages of a newspaper furnished in plate for printing or in printed form by a central agency, and distributed to subscribing newspapers, each of which adds to the "patent" a page or pages of community news to give local color to a newspaper which otherwise is identical with many others issued in as many places. When a newspaper article has been set in type, it may be reproduced by stereotype or other plating process ; the plate is called "boiler plate" by printers. Plate is sold in quantities, and used by small newspapers to fill their columns. The use of plate constrains the small newspapers to a standard column width. The use of "patent inside" and "boiler plate" is but a modern exemplification of a much older process common in printing offices which issued more than one newspaper-that is, transferring type set for one newspaper to another or others.

The modern daily newspaper is scarcely so much a development of a colonial prototype as a completely new institution. Its principal business is collecting news and printing it while news is almost in the process of making. By use of telephone, telegraph, cable and radio, contacts are established with near and far places where events are transpiring ; the modern newspaper collects information and distributes it in printed form sometimes in almost hourly editions through day and evening. Newspapers not only use the speediest method of com- munication, but also are and have been active in promoting them. The rapid extension of intercity telegraph service was due in large part to the interest of newspapers, some of which bought stock in telegraph companies or built their own lines. Through his newspapers the Rhode Islander is as well informed as to what Congress is doing as if he lived in Washington, as to what Parliament is doing as if he lived in London, as to what military movements are underway during a war as if he were on the line of combat ; he knows more about what is transpiring in China than millions of Chinese. To assure completeness of news service the principal newspapers are members of a vast association-the Associated Press -- the function of which is principally serving as a clearing house for news sent in to central offices for classi- fication and distribution to newspapers according to the extent of local interest. The news- paper as printed contains all the news in some form-short flash bulletins announcing remote events in bare statement, longer articles with more detail concerning episodes afar but yet of some local interest, complete details of happenings of especial local interest, and community news treated according to editorial estimate of importance. Through his newspapers the poor man may have almost as complete information of the progress of current events throughout the world as the millionaire may have. No older institution served for earlier generations the purposes of a modern daily newspaper-it is almost the most modern thing in a completely modern world.

CHAPTER XXXIX. RHODE ISLAND IN THE SPANISH-AMERICAN AND WORLD WARS.

HODE ISLAND was prepared to furnish troops promptly when Congress declared war against Spain on April 20, 1898. Plans for mobilizing the Brigade of Rhode Island Militia had been worked out carefully in detail in the preceding December, and in February, after inventories of military property had been made, new equip- ment and new uniforms were provided. On the day following the declaration of war the General Assembly made an appropriation of $150,000 to be expended by the Governor for military and naval expenses ; a second appropriation of $150,000 was made June 15. Presi- dent Mckinley called for 125,000 troops, of which Rhode Island's quota was 720; Governor Dyer offered to raise and equip a regiment as a Rhode Island unit. In reply to a suggestion from Washington that the first quota be filled from the active militia, Governor Dyer urged that the active militia was less than a regiment of infantry of United States Army standard, but that a regiment of volunteers could be mustered in and equipped in a week. The Governor called for volunteers, and recruiting proceeded rapidly. For a regiment of 1150 men, 2303 applications for enrollment were received, 1647 men were examined, 1264 enrolled and 1217 were sent to camp at Quonset Point. Governor Dyer appointed First Lieutenant Charles W. Abbott, Jr., of the Twelfth United States Infantry, as Colonel. Lieutenant Abbott had been United States army inspector of Rhode Island militia for two years ; after returning from serv- ice in the Philippines, Colonel Abbott served as Adjutant General in Rhode Island. The Rhode Island regiment left Rhode Island on May 26, 1898, "a splendidly drilled regiment, perfectly uniformed, armed and equipped," as described by the Governor. It was the "best looking and best equipped regiment that passed through Washington," according to a report from the capital city. The regiment was assigned to Camp Alger, at Falls Church, Virginia, which it reached on May 30. Rhode Island, by prompt and enthusiastic response to President Mckinley's call for troops, had sustained the reputation achieved in 1861.

Governor Dyer, answering the President's call for more troops, offered a second regiment on May 28. While the second regiment was not mustered in, 1566 volunteers offered them- selves ; of these 1193 were examined. 799 were enrolled, and 816 were sent to camp at Quonset. For the two regiments projected, 3869 men volunteered. Some of those who volunteered for the second regiment were mustered in and sent as recruits to the First Regiment when that was ordered increased to the new army standard of 1300 men. Besides these, Rhode Island raised and equipped two batteries of light artillery, 210 men ; a division for the United States Hos- pital service, 60 men ; 150 naval militia for service in the fleet guarding the coast; 25 men for the U. S. S. "Vulcan," and 6 men for the signal corps, a total of 1780. The war was popular in Rhode Island. Cuba's long struggle for independence had aroused sympathy ; the destruction of the Maine precipitated wrath. None was more enthusiastic for war than veterans of the Civil War, many of whom offered themselves as volunteers. General William Ames presented a stand of colors to the First Regiment. President E. Benjamin Andrews, of Brown University, himself a veteran with an enviable Civil War record, addressed the students at assembly and the college turned out en masse for drill in preparation for enlistment. Many students left before commencement as officers or privates in the First Regiment.

The First Regiment remained at Camp Alger until August 3, when it began a march across Virginia to a new camp at Thoroughfare Gap. On the way it crossed Bull Run and passed through Manassas. From the Mayor of Manassas Colonel Abbott received a letter, saying : "It

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affords me much pleasure, in forwarding the enclosed Manassas newspaper, to give my personal testimony in favor of your command. While here they have been extremely courteous, both officers and men, efficient in the discharge of their duties, and will leave behind them a reputa- tion unsullied by a single act of conduct unbecoming a soldier." While on the march notice was received that the regiment was soon to go to Porto Rico, but the order for active service was not issued. After two weeks at Thoroughfare Gap, August 8 to August 21, the regiment moved to Camp Meade at Middletown, Pennsylvania. Malaria attacked many while in Virginia ; on October 21, the sick list reached 282, of whom 209 had been removed to hospitals. Newspaper correspondents with the regiment reported the names of the sick and removal to the division hospital. When, however, transfers were made from the division hospital to public and private hospitals in Philadelphia and elsewhere, trace was lost sometimes, and Governor Dyer made every possible effort to establish contact. The following correspondence is characteristic : Gov- ernor Dyer :- "Will you please see that the sick Rhode Island soldiers in your hospital receive everything they possibly need for care, comfort and nourishment, and if they become critically ill, or any cases terminate fatally, please wire me at once. Any comforts our men require, not furnished by the hospital, the state of Rhode Island will provide, if you will let me know." The answer, signed by Sister Mary Borromeo for the Sisters of St. Francis : "Accept our heartfelt thanks for your kind telegram in behalf of your soldiers. We are giving them our best care and attention, and we will let them relate what was done for them at St. Agnes. Our hospital does not enjoy any state or city help ; what is done for the soldiers we do for God's and the country's glory, and for Christ's dear sake. If Rhode Island wishes to give us any financial assistance it will be deeply appreciated, as our hospital is dependent upon public charity ; but let this not trouble your honor, as all are tenderly cared for, and every comfort and luxury allowed by the physicians is given them. We will wire you immediately should any of the men become dan- gerously ill, or die ; we will bear your generous message to them in turns, as they recover, so as to comfort them for many years to come." Governor Dyer reported fourteen deaths in the regiment before January 31, 1899.

The First Regiment moved to Columbia, South Carolina, starting on November 13, with the expectation of embarking for Havana. Rhode Island sent the regiment a turkey dinner for Thanksgiving Day; Horace Vose of Westerly shipped 200 turkeys. With the turkeys went three barrels of cranberries, and money with which to purchase in South Carolina things needed for the dinner. Orders for Havana were not issued. The regiment passed the winter at Camp Fornance, near Columbia, in canvas tents. During the blizzard of February 14, 1899, the tem- perature reached six degrees below zero, and the camp was buried in ten inches of snow. The regiment was mustered out at Columbia on March 30, 1899. Returning to Rhode Island in a body, the regimental colors were returned to Governor Dyer at Dexter Training Ground, in Providence, on April I. Though never called to active service, the First Regiment maintained its splendid record to the end. The City Auditor of Columbia wrote to Governor Dyer : "I take advantage of this opportunity to express my opinion, as a citizen and an official, of the splendid regiment sent out by your state. It gives me pleasure to say that in the First Rhode Island Regiment no more gentlemanly set of men were sent out by any state. From the day of their arrival in this city, they impressed our people with their gentlemanly conduct and soldierly bear- ing. It was with feelings of regret and sorrow that we parted with the Rhode Island boys, and I trust that the good feelings and associations formed with them will always linger as pleasantly in their memories as it will in the memories of the boys and girls of the 'Sunny South.'" A large number from the First Rhode Island enlisted in the regiment raised by Colonel Abbott for service in the Philippines.

A FLOATING MACHINE SHOP-The war with Spain was sharp, short and decisive ; other- wise so fine a regiment as the First Rhode Island must have reached the battlefield. Glory for Rhode Island, as in other wars, was won on the water, though the chief actors were landsmen,

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rather than sailors. Among other measures taken to increase the efficiency of the navy was the fitting out of a repair ship to accompany the fleet. For this purpose the steamship "Chatham," which for many years had plied between Providence and Baltimore as one of the fleet of the Merchants and Miners Transportation Company, was refitted, armed and renamed as the "Vul- can." New boilers were installed and additional coal bunkers were provided; the "Vulcan" had a steaming radius of 6000 miles. The armament consisted of six-pounder rifles. The equipment was extraordinary, consisting of a complete metal and machine factory. It included machine, boiler, blacksmith, coppersmith, pattern and carpenter shops, as well as an iron foundry cupola,. and two furnaces for the melting of copper, tin and other metals in crucibles ; also a brass and iron foundry, with flasks, sand and ladles. Five separate lines of shafting were driven by sta- tionary engines, from which lathes, planers, drill presses, bending rolls for boiler makers, blow- ers and exhaust fans, milling and other machines derived their motor power from belting. The cargo included everything that could be thought of for the repair of ships that would suffer in action from an engagement with the enemy, and the purpose was to repair and refit ships with- out the necessity of sending them home to a shipyard. The "Vulcan" reported to Admiral Sampson on June I, a few minutes before the bombardment of Santiago began. After the decisive naval battle, in which the Spanish fleet was wrecked, the "Vulcan" anchored in Guan- tanamo Bay, remaining there for four months, working steadily on repairs of American ships, and on refitting ships of the Spanish fleet which were not absolutely unseaworthy. The "Infanta Maria Teresa" was prepared for sailing north, the work consuming five weeks. The ill-fated vessel was wrecked in a severe gale and lost at sea. The Rhode Island men on the "Vulcan" were commanded by Gardiner C. Sims of Warwick, and were rated as chief machinists. Classified by land occupations, they were : James Devine, Providence, brass finisher ; Charles P. Wormwood, John A. Murray, Martin Fallon, Samuel McDonald, George E. Littlefield, Charles Lang, John E. Fraser of Providence, and Francis Flannery, William Flannery, Frank Joseph of Pawtucket, machinists ; Treffle Brunette, Pawtucket, steam fitter ; Patrick F. Lavin, of Providence, copper- smith ; Andrew J. Moffit, Pawtucket, and Leon J. Adams, Providence, electricians ; Philip H. Catlin. Pawtucket, brass moulder; Thomas P. Cooney, Providence, boiler maker's helper ; James H. Millett, Pawtucket, iron moulder ; Jeremiah Collins, Providence, blacksmith ; Michael J. Lynch, Pawtucket, carpenter ; Cornelius Sullivan, Newport, boilermaker ; J. Herbert, Gilbert S. Allen, J. Reid, Charles A. Dunne, J. J. Donovan, A. M. Palrang, T. F. Higgins and William McLoud, helpers. Commenting upon the service of the "Vulcan" and forwarding to Gardiner C. Sims a new commission as Chief Engineer in the United States Navy with rank of Lieuten- ant Commander, Secretary Long wrote : "This action is taken by the department in recognition of the conspicuous and valuable services rendered by you while in charge of the workshops of the U. S. S. 'Vulcan.' This vessel, in its capacity of a repair ship, the department considers, performed a duty during the war second to none other in importance ; and for the quantity and excellence of the work done for the fleet in Cuban waters the department understands it is, in a very large measure, indebted to your skill and experience."

The 150 members of the naval militia who were mustered into the United States naval service, with their commander, W. McCarty Little, were assigned to duty on a fleet of vessels guarding the approaches to Narragansett Bay and Newport. The signal corps maintained a sta- tion on Block Island. The forts near Newport were garrisoned during the war by troops from the Ninth Massachusetts Regiment. The Rhode Island militia maintained its peace time organi- zation practically intact as a home guard. Recruiting was conducted to fill up companies depleted by enlistments in the First Rhode Island Volunteers.

THE DISASTER OF THE WAR-As in most wars in which soldiers from temperate regions have invaded southern climates, the American army in the war with Spain suffered more from disease than from casualties on the field of battle. Few New England men returned from the colonial expeditions to the West Indies in England's wars with France and Spain. The soldiers

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who participated in the invasion of Cuba in 1898 were attacked by the fevers of the tropics, and the end of the war found the United States army endangered by disease. Montauk Point, at the extreme eastern end of Long Island, was chosen as an ideal spot for a recuperative camp, and thither 18,000 sick and debilitated soldiers were taken. In many respects otherwise an ideal location, Montauk was entirely unsatisfactory for a hospital camp, because the water supply was unfit for drinking and could not be used in hospitals. "It produced serious purgative effects when used by those who went there in good health," wrote one who visited Camp Wikoff and was familiar with the situation. In the haste to remove the army from Cuba, transports were overcrowded and vessels unfit for transport service were requisitioned. Soldiers whose vitality had been sapped by exposure to the Cuban climate collapsed on the voyage back to northern waters. Besides that, many soldiers who had contracted tropical fevers in the incubating stage, sickened after the transports were at sea, and exposed their comrades to infection. The building of a hospital camp at Montauk in the summer of 1898 was delayed, and the accommodations there were overtaxed from the outset. There was immediate danger of a disaster at Montauk from disease. The single-track railroad was inadequate for maintaining suitable communica- tions with New York.

Rhode Island took up the work of relief, which was organized by the Rhode Island Sani- tary and Relief Association. The association enrolled 710 members, for the most part patriotic women, and raised $21,496 for relief work. The advisory board consisted of His Excellency Governor Elisha Dyer ; Right Reverend Thomas M. Clark and Professor Wolcott Gibbs, who had been members of the Sanitary Commission of 1861; Right Reverend Matthew Harkins, Right Reverend William N. McVickar, and Hon. John H. Stiness. Branches were organized at Barrington, Bristol, East Greenwich, Jamestown, Kingston, Middletown, Newport, Pawtucket, Providence, Tiverton, Warren, Westerly, Wickford, and Woonsocket. The association was active from the beginning of the war, but rose to a great opportunity for service at Montauk Point. Thirteen relief expeditions to Montauk were conducted, the work including transporta- tion of food and supplies to the camps and hospitals there, and removing soldiers from Montauk to Rhode Island hospitals for treatment. A summary of these expeditions follows: First, August 28, Mrs. Howard Walter and Mrs. Kautz of Newport, carried sixteen army wagon loads of supplies on U. S. S. "Vicksburg" to Sixth U. S. Infantry. Second, August 30, Mr. and Mrs. A. Livingston Mason and Major T. K. Gibbs, of Newport, carried sixteen army wagon loads of supplies on the transport "Specialist" to First U. S. Artillery and general hospital. Tug "Henry T. Sisson" brought back to Newport two officers and thirteen men for hospitaliza- tion. Third, August 31, Mrs. Howard Walter and Mrs. Kautz carried supplies on U. S. S. "Leyden" to Second U. S. Cavalry. Fourth, September 2, Colonel R. H. I. Goddard and family and others of Providence and Newport, carried supplies on steamer "City of Fall River" to Fourth U. S. Infantry and general hospital, and brought back sixty-eight patients. Fifth, Sep- tember 6, Richard S. Howland, editor of "Providence Journal," with Dr. G. L. Collins, carried supplies on tug "Gaspee." The supplies on this expedition comprised canned soups, cereals, fresh eggs, extract of beef, liquid foods, condensed milk, malted milk, crackers, bananas, lemons, oranges, chocolate, canned fruits, preserves, jellies, wines, liquors, pipes and tobacco, 3000 bot- tles and several casks of carbonated waters, lithia, apollinaris, and ginger ale. The cargo aggre- gated thirty-five tons. This expedition furnished special relief for sick soldiers of the First Illinois Volunteers, who had been waiting five hours for a train which was to carry them to New York and a special hospital train for Chicago. Supplies were also distributed to the Seventh and Seventeenth U. S. Infantry, and First, Second and Third U. S. Cavalry. Sixth, September 7, Mrs. Howard Walter of Newport, carried four wagon loads of supplies on tug "Henry T. Sisson." Seventh, September 7, Colonel R. H. I. Goddard and family brought 131 sick soldiers on steamer "City of Taunton" to Providence and Woonsocket hospitals. Eighth, September 7, Mr. and Mrs. A. Livingston Mason carried six army wagon loads of supplies on

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MANVILLE NARRAGANSETT

GROUP OF WORLD WAR MEMORIALS NORTH PROVIDENCE LINCOLN

BARRINGTON WEST GREENWICH

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tug "Henry T. Sisson" to Second U. S. Infantry ; brought back two patients who were seriously ill. Ninth, September 6, Pawtucket and Lonsdale branches of relief association, under direction of Captain John R. Bartlett, carried supplies on U. S. S. "Aileen." Tenth, September 13, Rich- ard S. Howland of "Providence Journal" carried supplies on tug "Gaspee" to Ninth U. S. Cav- alry. These supplies included 125 bushels of oysters and 125 boxes of oranges for the colored troops who saved the Rough Riders in the first day's battle at Santiago. Otherwise the cargo comprised carbonated waters, groceries, hospital utensils and supplies, clothing and toilet articles, small packages of brandy and whiskey, emphasis being placed on gathering articles known to be needed from information obtained on the first "Journal" expedition. Besides the Ninth U. S. Cavalry, the First, Second, Third and Tenth U. S. Cavalry, the Twenty-first and Twenty-fourth Infantry, and Second U. S. Artillery shared in the distribution of the "Gaspee's" cargo. Eleventh, September 20, Mr. and Mrs. A. Livingston Mason of Newport carried sup- plies on steamer "Baltimore," and brought back to Newport sixteen patients. Twelfth, Septem- ber 26, Mrs. William Ames and Colonel R. H. I. Goddard, brought 71 patients on steamer "City of Lawrence" to Providence hospitals. Thirteenth, October 7, Mrs. A. Livingston Mason brought to Newport on steamer "George W. Danielson" 21 patients. The War Department began to withdraw soldiers from Camp Wikoff in mid-September. The steam yacht "Red Cross" carried a dozen patients, the last in the general hospital, to Newport on October 13. The relief work organized in Rhode Island included care for 358 sick or wounded soldiers brought to Rhode Island hospitals; of these all but eight recovered and were discharged for return home or to their regiments.

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Rhode Island : three centuries of democracy, Vol. II, Part 83

Author: Carroll, Charles, author Publication date: 1932 Publisher: New York : Lewis historical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 716

Author: Carroll, Charles, author
Publication date: 1932
Publisher: New York : Lewis historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 716