Page:Charleston • Irwin Faris • (1941).pdf/156



O give definite details of the newspaper services at Charleston is hardly possible. The Jubilee Souvenir of St. John’s Church, Westport, published 1927, remarks: “Owing to the destruction by fire of the Westport Times office, it is very difficult to secure any but the slightest newspaper records of the early days”; and adds that “by a piece of thoughtlessness the record files of the Charleston Herald were scattered to the winds in 1911.”

Charleston Argus. This was the first newspaper published at Charleston, but its period is difficult to determine. It was established by Messrs. Munson and Tyrrell of the Westport Times, with Mr. John Tyrrell as manager and editor, early in 1867. In about October of the same year it was taken over by Mr. Charles Mirfin, who changed the title to Charleston Herald and Mining Reporter. A few copies of the Charleston Argus, also some odd leaves, are held by Mr. D. Moloney, of Westport. Three of these are dated 10th April, 1867, 4th May, 1867, and 11th May, 1867, respectively; being of Volume 1, Nos. 8, 15, and 17. Unfortunately they are somewhat tattered, and the imprint of each is missing, but an odd leaf from the issue dated 29th May, 1867, bears the imprint of Munson & Tyrrell. Another odd leaf bears the date 16th March, 1867, but is without imprint. The premises were, it is believed, in Chancery Lane, off Camp Street. Advertisements of P. Griffen, painter, state that his premises were “opposite the Camp, next to the Melbourne Hotel” and “next to Charleston Argus.”

Charleston Herald and Mining Reporter. This was