CURIOSITIES OF JOURNALISM.

Kumara Times, Issue 833, 2 June 1879, Page 2

CURIOSITIES OF JOURNALISM.

The Loudon correspondent oF the .Dumfries ar-il G.ilway Courier, under the above heading, gives some interesting incidents connected with journalism, from which we take the following extract descriptive of nnp of tho many wonderful feats performed bj the Times, which for so, many years has stamped that journal as the premier newspaper:—

A gentleman connected with the Times once astonished me with a narrative of one of its exploits. He was himself associated with it, and I shall never forget the dramatic energy with which he told me the details. Recent stirring events in England have revived au interest in.the memorable war of 1841, when the Afghan insurrection broke out, resulting in untold sufferings to our armies, both from the inclemency of the season and the treachery of the Afghans. Finally there came the dreadful masascre of our troops in- the Pass of Cabul. It was in connection with this event that the Times displayed so much energy and enterprise. By the ability and dariug of its corres* pondents the news reached the Times office before the Government had a single despatch or hint of the mournful catastrophe. This happened to be on a Sunday morning, and it Was resolved to issue an edition at once containing the intelligence. It came out in the afternoon, and I believe it was''the only occasion on which the Times was printed on Sanday. The editor, knowing well the awful character of the news, at once secured three copies of the paper, and, calling in one of his staff, ordered him to proceed in a cab to Buckingham Palace with a copy to the Queen, and to the residences of the Duke of Wellington and Sir Robert Peel with the other two.. It turned out that the Queen had gone to Windsor, and- the g**eat. Duke was Jiving at Walmer Ca«tle. But such was the nature of the message accompanying the papers that the officials deemed it necessary to prepare post, horses all promptitude, and so the copies o£the Times were in the hands of the 'Queers aiid the Duke of Wellington that evening. On the following day Miuisters were questioned as to the accuracy; of the alarming intelligence .in the Times. Thereply was that the Government had no information on the subject. Nor did they get any for about three days after. This is a single example out o£ many shewing what feats have been accomplished by modern journalism.