Page:History of Oregon Newspapers.pdf/162

Rh B. Bellinger and George Law Curry, already noted in connection with several other early Oregon publications. Its first issue appeared in May, 1873. Issued in the evening, it was a five-column tabloid. Its newswriting was of a homey, wordy type, with gushing enthusiasm but a dearth of information, in the following story of the new fire engine, from the issue of July 9:

"Bright as a as New Dollar.—The new steam fire engine arrived a few days ago now reflects your form and face from every particular portion. The application of the brush and plenty of elbow grease by the engineer in charge of her has made all the sea-stains vanish, and brought out a polish that is brighter than the newest stamped dollar ever heard jingle. She stands in Multnomah Engine House now a "thing of beauty," and will, evidently, be a "joy forever" to the company. Foreman Hallock contemplates a little practice with her in a few days, just sufficient to straighten her joints."

The paper, though interesting, failed to attract support, and it faded out in less than two years, giving place to the Telegram. Harvey Scott makes no reference to the paper in his chapter on Portland newspapers in his History of Portland. The News represented the last important newspaper work by two exceedingly capable newspaper men. Curry died in 1878, and Bellinger moved over into law, where he became distinguished as jurist, and compiler of Oregon laws.

Within two years two Bulletins, unconnected with each other, were started in Portland, and in 12 years there were three. The first, known as the Evening Bulletin, edited and published by J. F. Atkinson, founder of the Sunday Welcome, was launched January 6, 1868. It soon failed, as did the Portland Evening Commercial, started July 11 of the same year, by M. P. Bull, later of the East Oregonian, Pendleton. Atkinson's Bulletin was an evening paper, with no Sunday edition. Of tabloid size, four pages, four columns, it filled just about half of its space with advertising. Atkinson charged 25 cents a week delivered by carrier or $8 a year by mail or express. He had no editorial, as a rule. In the issue of July 8, 1868, the paper carried only two columns of local news in its sixteen columns of space.

The longest item was one of more than 300 words on "A Fine Picture" of Mount Hood painted by William Keith. One street fight received 60 words, and a shooting affray at The Dalles, 50 words.

The next Bulletin was the Portland Daily Bulletin, the Ben Holladay venture. Holladay, a Kentuckian by birth and a frontiersman in experience and temperament, arrived in Oregon in August 1868 and led the fight in and out of court for the east-side railroad through the Willamette valley as against the west-side promoters.