USA > South Carolina > Charleston County > Charleston > The newspaper press of Charleston, S.C.; a chronological and biographical history, embracing a period of one hundred and forty years > Part 10
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April, 1870. He was 68 years of age, when his death occurred.
WILLIAM S. KING, the junior of that co-partnership which was formed in 1833, was born at Queenstown, in the western part of the State of New-York, 23d December, 1801. He had been for about twelve years, the manager of the business, mercantile, and miscellaneous departments, when he succeeded, after the withdrawal of Mr. YEADON, to the editorial chair of the Courier. This paper had, even then, become a prominent and popular reflex of public opinion.
Mr. KING was distinguished for cool judgment, general intelligence, and for his indisputable authority among the craft. His whole course of procedure, for thirty-seven years, while in the several departments which he occupied, will bear ample testimony to his natural gifts and capaci- ties, while at the same time, they will give equal proof of his general amenity ; his reluctance to give pain ; his dis- like of strife, and all unnecessary discussion.
From the 1st January, 1833, when he became part pro- prietor in the Courier, he devoted himself to the manage- ment of its commercial and business departments. In these employments it will be admitted, that he displayed that zeal and energy which placed him in the front-rank of his profession. He was of a social and genial disposi- tion ; a quality, indispensably necessary to men living in this sphere of society. We need scarcely say here, that it was the high appreciation of his many qualities of worth, which moved the members of the " Charleston Typograph- ical Society" so repeatedly to call him to preside over their Society, an old association of printers, and of which body, JAMES GRANT was the father, and founder.
It was during the administration of Mr. KING, as editor
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and manager, that the first line of steamships was estab- lished between New York and Charleston. The persis- tency evinced by Captain MICHAEL BERRY, aided by the Courier's unceasing importunings, went very far in the ac- complishment of this important enterprise.
The breaking out of the Mexican war, at the close of 1846, offered a fine field for newspaper enterprise in the South. The time then expended in the transmission of the regular mail between New Orleans and New York, was seven days. To obtain advices of the struggle then about to begin in that distracted country, in advance of the mail facilities, became the fixed purpose of the management of the Courier, and MOSES Y. BEACH, of the New York Sun. The telegraph line then extended only as far as Richmond, Virginia. In this attempt to out-strip government, Mr. BEACH very readily obtained the co-operation of Mr. KING, and a "Pony Express" was conjointly established. It went at once into effect, and the first intelligence from the land of the Montezumas, was received and published in this City, exclusively, the 27th March, 1847. Thou- sands of extras were gratuitously distributed, from the office of the Courier, to an eager crowd, full twenty-four hours in advance of the United States Mail. The running of this express, by which the intelligence was received and published exclusively in this paper, while the war lasted, was of immense pecuniary benefit to the proprietors.
The point at which the regular mail was out-stripped, was between Mobile and Montgomery, where one hundred and fifty miles of staging had to be performed, consuming thirty-six hours of time. This ground was, by a contract made with J. C. RIDDLE, to be covered within twelve hours, and to overtake the previous day's mail ; the riders of the express taking with them not less than three nor more than five pounds of mail matter. In this great un-
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dertaking, $750 was paid for each successful trip. A fail- ure very rarely occurred. Several horses were killed, and only in one instance was the life of a rider sacrificed to the accomplishment of an adventure quite hazardous, the mo- dus operandi of which, has never been revealed. This was the first step actually taken which led to the formation of the now famous " News Association."
Mr. KING was the first, and most prominent of our Southern editors, whose zealous pen contributed so exten- sively to the support of the " Electro Magnetic Telegraph," which has accomplished so much in revolutionizing the newspaper business. The limit of its usefulness to the press has, however, not yet been reached. This want was supplied to Charleston, in April, 1847. The leaders of the Courier incessantly plead in behalf of this momentous subject, whereby Charleston, like other commercial empo- riums of the republic, soon received and transmitted mer- cantile, military, political and general intelligence, with the speed of lightning. Communication with Columbia, by this method was opened under the management of G. L. HUNTINGTON, of the Charleston office, and Dr. L. C. DUN- CAN, of the Columbia office, at twenty minutes past four o'clock, on the afternoon of December 1st, 1847, from the building formerly owned by the " Union Insurance Com- pany," on State Street, near Broad Street. The very first message sent was : "Columbia-Do you get my writing ?" " Charleston-I get all you write to me." The Hon. WM. D. PORTER, a member of the General Assembly, then in session in Columbia, received from Major ALEXANDER BLACK, a Director, the first regular or business message. It was an inquiry as to whether a memorial and charter for the Telegraph Company had been received. The first dispatch to the press, was received by the Courier, Mr. KING being also a Director. It was dated at Columbia,
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at 8 o'clock, P. M. The first Telegraph line contracted for in the United States, the reader may like to know, was put in operation, in June, 1844, between Washington and Baltimore.
These comments on the career of a practical man like Mr. KING, should encourage all young men of the craft. In him can be seen a modest artisan coming to a strange land, at the age of twenty years, accepting position as a journeyman compositor, growing in public opinion, pros- perous in fortune, and gathering in a short space of time a host of friends about him. How was it that under these circumstances he achieved so much ? By processes which are open to the youngest and humblest follower of the art, chief among which is attention to business, with a constant consideration of the duty which lay before him. Society here has, generally, ranked Mr. KING, as a model journalist. He is, therefore, one, whose course and con- duct ought to be studied and imitated.
It will suffice to close this tribute from the frank and generous testimonial of JOHN MILTON CLAPP, of the Mer- cury, who terminated his very feeling eulogium with the following compliment : "That in his long association with " him of fifteen years, as neighbor and confrère in the edi- " torial world, he could recall no word, or act of Colonel " KING, which has need to be forgiven." Does not this go far to verify the assertion made by the author of this humble sketch, that with the newspaper press of Charles- ton, there once existed a grateful and happy social organi- zation.
CHAPTER XIV.
DEATH OF WILLIAM S. KING, 1852-ALEXANDER CARROLL SUCCEEDS AS EDITOR-WILLIAM LAIDLER-JAMES H. MURRELL-HENRY M. CUSHMAN-JAMES LEWIS HATCH- WILLIAM B. CARLISLE-THOMAS Y. SIMONS-DEATH OF WILLIAM ROGERS, 1870.
AT the death of Mr. KING, which occurred March 19, 1852, the editorial duties devolved upon his assistant, AL- EXANDER CARROLL, the business management upon WM. LAIDLER, and that of finance upon JAMES H. MURRELL.
ALEXANDER CARROLL was born in Cheltenham, Eng- land, and before his arrival in Charleston, was associated with the London press. He came to his adopted home in August, 1849, and through the instrumentality of Mr. KING, became, for a while, an attaché of the Mercury ; subsequently, through the same influence, aided by Mr. JOHN HEART, he was, before the close of the year, called to the direction of the State Rights Republican, then pub- lished in Columbia, South Carolina, by I. C. MORGAN ; W. B. CARLISLE, the editor, having withdrawn with the view of associating himself with EDWIN DE LEON, in the publi- cation of The Telegraph. Mr. CARROLL was called to the editorial staff of the Courier early in 1851, by Mr. KING, who desired respite from duties, which were most arduous.
In Mr. CARROLL were combined great energy, close ap- plication and versatility of intellect; qualities though in- dispensable, not often met with, in an editor. His power
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of endurance, also, was marvellous. Mr. CARROLL con- tinued a faithful worker, up to the time of his illness, and death. The latter event took place August 21, 1856, just seven years after his arrival in Charleston. His remains were interred in the cemetery of St. John's Lutheran Church. .
WILLIAM LAIDLER, who became one of the proprietors of the Courier, January 1st, 1854, is a son of Captain WM. LAIDLER, an old ship master of Charleston. Mr. LAID- LER, (brother-in-law of the late Colonel KING,) was born in this City, July 30, 1812. A thorough craftsman, he began his apprenticeship in the office of The City Gazette and Duily Advertiser, under JAMES HAIG, on the 9th June, 1825. He was transferred to the Courier, at the instance of Mr. WILLINGTON, in the summer of 1828, and while in the employment of that journal, in the fall of 1833, the guardians of his covenant of apprenticeship returned his " indenture" to him with honor, and expressions of satis- faction for having been so faithful in the performance of his duty.
JAMES H. MURRELL, whose association with the Courier bears date, March 13, 1841, was born in Stateburg, South Carolina, on the " High Hills of Santee," May 12, 1814. His education was academic, and under the tutorship of the Reverend JESSE HARTWELL and Doctor RICHARD BA- KER. He was, subsequently, prepared for West Point, by WILLIAM CAPERS, nephew of Bishop CAPERS. When about to leave for West Point, that institution of education became the scene of insubordination. A relative and a neighbor of Mr. MURRELL, being prominent in that tu- multuary disturbance, it was deemed advisable to change the provision of life thus cut out for him. After having finished a course of commercial studies, first in Camden, and afterwards in Columbia, he came to Charleston.
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Mr. LAIDLER and Mr. MURRELL, are so well known, that it is not necessary to point to the earnest devotion to business displayed by the former, upon whom devolves the general management of the establishment. Still less, need the systematic, courteous, efficient and satisfactory manner in which the latter has administered his department be alluded to. For a period of not less than eleven years, Mr. MURRELL has had as his assistant, Mr. S. H. KING, one of the ablest of accountants, and third son of the late WM. S. KING.
HENRY M. CUSHMAN, the successor of Mr. CARROLL, in the editorship of the Courier, was from New Haven, Con- necticut. He was called from the position of editor of The Daily Times, of Boston, Massachusetts, in December, 1856. He was thoroughly educated, a clever writer, a skillful selector and compiler of news, and well acquainted with the duties of a newspaper office. His course, as a journalist in the South, was brief. He died April 13, 1857, and was buried at Magnolia Cemetery.
It was after the death of Mr. CUSHMAN that JAMES L. HATCH left the Standard, and connected himself with the editorial department of the Courier. This editor will be noticed more at length elsewhere, in connection with the Standard.
WILLIAM BUCHANAN CARLISLE, who ssessed rare abilities as a writer, and was one of the most profound of mathematicians, was in turn, and to the period of his afflic- tion, the very competent editor-in-chief.
In August, 1857, JOSEPHUS WOODRUFF, became con- nected with the Courier as Phonographic Reporter. Mr. WOODRUFF may justly be regarded as the first " Local Re- porter" known to the Charleston press. He had previous- ly been employed as mailing clerk, at the office of the Mer- cury ; while there he began the study of phonography or
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short-hand writing, by the aid of PITMAN's Manual, a copy having been sent to that office for review and notice. Notwithstanding repeated failures in his early reports, he steadily persevered in the study of the art, and has since acquired considerable reputation as an expert reporter. He was correspondent and reporter for the Courier, of the proceedings of the General Assembly, in 1860, which passed the act providing for the Secession Convention ; as- sisted in the extended reports of the Democratic National Convention of South Carolina, which split at Charleston ; was almost the sole reporter for the Courier during the war, and reported the proceedings of the Reconstruction Convention of 1868. His connection with the paper con- tinued up to July, 1868, at which time he was elected clerk of the Senate of South Carolina.
The winter of 1860, found Mr. HENRY SPARNICK, an under graduate at the College of Charleston, in the service of the Courier, as a special correspondent, at the State Capitol. Upon the assembling of the Provisional Congress of the Confederated States, at Montgomery, Alabama, he went thither in the same capacity. When the seat of Gov- ernment was removed to Richmond, Virginia, Mr. SPAR- NICK followed it there, continuing his duties as corres- pondent, until the civil service of the Government com- pelled him to relinquish his association with the press. In July, 1865, he accepted position as "City Reporter" of the Courier. Mr. WOODRUFF's phonographic ability calling him to another department of the paper. In that capaci- ty Mr. SPARNICK remained until 1867, when he, by pro- motion, became assistant editor, which place he filled until the close of the presidential campaign of 1868. A change in his political convictions made his continuance with the Courier incompatible with the interests of that journal, and he resigned.
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Colonel THOMAS YOUNG SIMONS, the present editor-in- chief of the Courier, and who was called to that station in October, 1865, was born within distinct sound of St. Mi- chael's tuneful bells, October 1, 1828. While passing to a consideration of his most promising career, the author will remark, that his youth gave promise of that mental capac- ity, which has been so advantageously developed, in more mature years. After a successful preparatory course of studies at the Charleston College, he is next found tread- ing the classic ground of " Yale;" there, he graduated in August, 1847. On his return to Charleston, he became, in 1848, assistant teacher in the Charleston High School, and continued until near the close of 1849 ; was admitted to the bar in February, 1850, having studied law with his kinsman, General JAMES SIMONS; was elected to the Legis- lature, in October, 1854, and served his constituents, faith- fully, until the autumn of 1858, when he was returned by his constituency to that body, as Chairman of the Charles- ton delegation, and served until 1860. He retired from the Legislature, and was elected a member of the Conven- tion, called by the free choice of the people of South Car- olina, and which withdrew the State from the Federal Union, December 20, 1860. While the State was prepar- ing for war, Colonel SIMONS raised two companies ; was elected, and served, as Captain of one of them-the Charles- ton Light Infantry, afterwards company "B," 27th (Gail- lard's) Regiment, until the memorable surrender, April 13, 1865. Without relinquishing the weightier matters of the law, Colonel SIMONS entered the ranks of professional journalists, bringing to the chair of editorship, a full ap- preciation of the requirements, the dignity, and responsi- bility of the profession.
In July, 1867, Mr. JOHN A. MOROSO, succeeded Mr. SPARNICK, as " City Reporter." Mr. Moroso is a gradu-
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ate of the Charleston College, and received the degree of Bachelor of Arts, in March, 1866, and subsequently, the degree of Master of Arts, in 1869. He was admitted to the bar, in April, 1867. Mr. MoRoso remained the " Lo- cal" of the Courier up to July, 1869. During the canvass of that year, he was the traveling correspondent of this journal, accompanying the nominees of the " Reform Par- ty" during their exciting and arduous tour. His letters . were written with vigor and piquancy. On his return, in October, 1869, he was placed in the chair of the news edi- tor of the Courier, which had been briefly occupied by Mr. P. J. MALONE. This position he continues to hold.
The chair of "City Reporter," made vacant by the ad- vancement of Mr. Moroso, in the summer of 1869, was soon occupied by Mr. F. W. MILLER. This gentleman was, at one time, engaged with the late S. LE ROY HAM- MOND, in the publication of The Port Folio, a sprightly weekly of considerable merit. His pen at various times, before and since the suspension of that paper, has con- tributed to the City journals. In the exacting vocation in which he now labors, requiring as it does, probity and capacity, Mr. MILLER is well qualified by long service, and varied experience, no less than by natural ability and industry.
The Courier is indebted in no small degree for its char- acter as an enlightened chronicler of transpiring events, to its intelligent corps of correspondents, both foreign and do- mestic. We may mention as prominent among those who have been regarded as regular contributors from abroad, Mr. WILLIAM YOUNG, as " O. P. Q.," and WM. HENRY RUSSELL, and also Dr. C. S. KING, who, up to the summer of 1853, wrote from Paris, and who so graphically de- scribed the secret journey of himself and his compatriots- Doctors TURNIPSEED, HENRY, HOLT, and DRAPER-from
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the latter place, through Brussels, Vienna, Jassy, Odessa, Kichenew, to Simpheropol, and the stirring scenes enacted during the Crimean war, around the then Gibraltar of Rus- sia-Sebastopol. There are the names, also, of Dr. JOHN D. BRUNS, Dr. F. PEYRE PORCHER, RUDOLPH SIEGLING, and J. J. FICKEN, who, as tourists, corresponding for the paper, have made us as familiar with what they have seen, as if we had seen for ourselves.
Of the domestic correspondents, there have been many. Most frequent among them have been "Sumter," (GEO. W. OLNEY, jr.) "Pink," the first, (J. W. KENNEDY) " D. I. O.," and "Pink," the second, (L. ISRAELS) who have written from New York; "Blue," among others, from New Or- leans ; " M. P.," (Miss PENINA MOISE,) whose graceful literary productions, in prose and verse, from without and within the city, have been welcomed for many years ; " Juhl," (J. J. FLEMING) of Sumter, and " Leo," (E. KING- MAN,) who is authority at the seat of Government, and whose admirable letters, for a period of about thirty years, have never been without interest.
It was with a keen sense of loss, that the Courier, on the morning of 16th February, 1870, thus addressed itself to the task of recording the death of WILLIAM ROGERS :
" This gentleman, so long known to the habitués of the " Courier office, by his unremitting devotion to the duties " of the department in which, for more than a third of a "century, he had moved and had his being, passed away " from all earth's cares at yesterday's dawn."
" The recollections of him, by many, will go back to his " first connection with the interests of the Courier, as su- " perintendent of the Merchants' Exchange and Reading "Room, under the proprietorship, of his warm friend, the " late Colonel WM. S. KING. Protracted and painful ill- " ness, for several months, laid its iron hand upon him, and
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" at last unwillingly compelled him to withdraw from the " discharge of duties to which he had applied himself, so "unweariedly, so long, and so faithfully. He will be " missed by numbers-he was so well known to all-but " by none more than by the commercial community, who "rightly estimated the conscientiousness and rectitude, " which he ever displayed, throughout his long career, as a " statistician and reporter in the ' Prices Current and Mar- " ket' bureau of this journal. In the reputation and au- " thority which the Courier has earned in this department, " he felt a just pride ; and it was in him a labor of love, to " guard and strengthen the standard which had been at- " tained. In the important change of cotton statistics, his " trust-worthiness and experience were valued abroad, as " well as at home, and the occasions of a recognition there- " of, were not infrequent."
" He had passed his 64th year, thirty-seven of which " had been spent in the service of this journal. From the " editorial sanctum, to the youngest attaché of the Cou- " rier-all feel sad, that the kindly greetings of the plea- " sant old gentleman, will salute them no more-forever."
CHAPTER XV.
THE CHARLESTON MERCURY-EDMUND MORFORD ITS FOUN- DER, JANUARY, 1822-HENRY L. PINCKNEY-EXTREME COLD WEATHER-AN EXHIBITION OF POPULAR FEELING- JOHN A. STUART-J. M. CLAPP-JOHN E. CAREW-JOHN HEART, 1837-'49-WILLIAM R. TABER, JR .- R. B. RHETT, JR .- HENRY TIMROD-END OF THE MERCURY.
THE Charleston Mercury, a daily morning print, which was established as a literary journal, on the 1st January, 1822, by that classic scholar, EDMUND MORFORD, who had then returned to Charleston, was purchased and converted into a political organ by HENRY LAURENS PINCKNEY, June 1, 1823. From that date it became the representative of the Free Trade and State Rights Party, of South Caro- lina. In the warfare of parties, State and National, Mr. PINCKNEY was excelled by few, as a political editor. Who of us that knew him, can fail to recollect the marked bearing of the accomplished editor, and astute statesman ?
From the time that Mr. PINCKNEY became proprietor of The Charleston Mercury, the editorial management of the paper was assumed by him. Mr. MORFORD did not withdraw, but remained an editorial attaché of the paper, until shortly before his death, which occurred in New Jer- sey, February 4, 1833, (age 51 years.) The Mercury be- came JEFFERSON Republican in principle, yet liberal in its tone. The firmness and tenacity with which Mr. PINCK- NEY-who combined, in more than an ordinary degree, the
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qualities of writer and speaker-maintained his own views, were always mingled with a spirit of conciliation and tole- rance for the opinions of others. Mr. PINCKNEY was, on the 31st October, 1832, succeeded by JOHN A. STUART, former editor of The Evening Post, to whom Mr. PINCK- NEY had transferred the paper.
Mr. PINCKNEY was born in Charleston, September 24, 1794 ; graduated at the South Carolina College, in 1812; sent by his constituents to the Legislature at an early age, and became speaker of the House of Representatives, in 1831; was elected Intendant of the City of Charleston, September 3, 1832, during the nullification excitement, which, as previously mentioned, began in the summer of 1831. In this election, nullification boasted of a hard fought victory. The duel between two well known citi- zens, GEORGE ROBERTSON and THEODORE GAILLARD, grew out of it. In 1833, Mr. PINCKNEY was elected to Congress from Charleston District without opposition ; re-elected in 1835, and was Mayor of Charleston, in 1839. He was in- stalled as Collector of the Port of Charleston, 1st August, 1840. At a subsequent period, January, 1845, he was elected Tax Collector, for the Parishes of St. Philip and St. Michael.
Mr. PINCKNEY was a strong Southern writer ; the author of " Memoirs of Doctor JONATHAN MAXEY," who was by the unanimous request of the Trustees, made the first President of the South Carolina College, when that in- stitution was established, in 1804. He also wrote the " Memoirs of ROBERT Y. HAYNE," and the "Life and public services of ANDREW JACKSON." Few names have stood more conspicuous in our country, than that of PINCKNEY, whether we consider the services they have rendered in the cabinet, or in the field. Mr. PINCKNEY died February 3, 1863.
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The year that the Mercury came into existence, was fer- tile in newspapers; for besides that which has since been known as the leading organ of the Free Trade and State Rights Party, there were The Evening Spy, a weekly, and The Southern Intelligencer, a daily. It would seem, that " the reapers multiplied, but the harvest did not abound."
Allusion having been made to the extreme cold weather of January, 1737, in the second chapter of this work, re- minds us of an equally cold snap, which prevailed in Feb- ruary, 1835, and the particulars of which are to be found in the columns of that once faithful custodian of State Rights doctrine, the Mercury. Many of the present resi- dents of Charleston remember the sufferings endured on the 7th and 8th of February of that year. Up to the night of the 6th of that month, the weather was comforta- ble ; but at a more advanced period of the night, a change took place. This change was accompanied with occasional but heavy showers of sleet, with a growing blast from the northwest, which continued until Saturday morning. At 10 o'clock on the night of Saturday, the thermometer- one which was suspended about nineteen feet from the ground, and which faced West-stood at 14 degrees above zero ; at 7 o'clock Sunday morning, it was 2 degrees above zero, and from 7 A. M. until 12 M., it remained at 18 de- grees above zero.
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