Baltimore Wecker
Encyclopedia
Der Baltimore Wecker was a daily paper published in the German language
in Baltimore, Maryland. It was the object of violence in the civil unrest at Baltimore in April 1861
that produced the first bloodshed of the American Civil War
.
in Baden, Germany, but by taking part in the German revolution of 1848-49 he was compelled to leave his country. In September, 1854, Schnauffer died. His widow
continued the publication without interruption. In 1856, Der Wecker was the only paper in Maryland which advocated the principles of the Republican Party
. Shortly after the presidential election in 1856, the office was attacked at night by a crowd of lawless politicians, but were prevented by the police from doing serious harm. About this time Der Wecker came into the hands of William Schnauffer, who added a weekly edition to the paper, which soon commanded a large circulation in the counties.
The paper continued on its course until the Baltimore riot of 1861
when, soon after the attack by the mob on the military, the office of Der Wecker (then on Frederick Street) was visited by the same, and completely wrecked, and the building seriously injured. The paper was suspended, and the publisher, William Schnauffer, and the editor, Wilhelm Rapp
, whose lives were threatened, were compelled to quit the city, leaving the establishment at the mercy of the infuriated people. As soon as Gen. Benjamin Butler
took possession of the city by the armed military, Schnauffer returned and resumed the publication of his paper. Rapp moved to the Illinois Staats-Zeitung
. Der Wecker continued throughout the war a firm supporter of the Union cause.
In 1865, Franz Sigel
entered into partnership with Schnauffer. This continued for two years, until Sigel went to New York City
. Wilhelm Rapp returned from Illinois to edit Der Wecker again in 1866 continuing until 1872 when he returned to the Staats-Zeitung. In the spring of 1873, Schnauffer, after 19 years' service in the establishment, retired, leaving the paper in a flourishing condition in the hands of Blumenthal & Co., who continued it on the same Republican principles inspired by its founder.
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
in Baltimore, Maryland. It was the object of violence in the civil unrest at Baltimore in April 1861
Baltimore riot of 1861
The Baltimore riot of 1861 was an incident that took place on April 19, 1861, in Baltimore, Maryland between Confederate sympathizers and members of the Massachusetts militia en route to Washington for Federal service...
that produced the first bloodshed of the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
History
Der Wecker was founded by Charles Henry Schnauffer in the fall of 1851. Its founder was before that time one of the editors of the Journal in the city of MannheimMannheim
Mannheim is a city in southwestern Germany. With about 315,000 inhabitants, Mannheim is the second-largest city in the Bundesland of Baden-Württemberg, following the capital city of Stuttgart....
in Baden, Germany, but by taking part in the German revolution of 1848-49 he was compelled to leave his country. In September, 1854, Schnauffer died. His widow
continued the publication without interruption. In 1856, Der Wecker was the only paper in Maryland which advocated the principles of the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
. Shortly after the presidential election in 1856, the office was attacked at night by a crowd of lawless politicians, but were prevented by the police from doing serious harm. About this time Der Wecker came into the hands of William Schnauffer, who added a weekly edition to the paper, which soon commanded a large circulation in the counties.
The paper continued on its course until the Baltimore riot of 1861
Baltimore riot of 1861
The Baltimore riot of 1861 was an incident that took place on April 19, 1861, in Baltimore, Maryland between Confederate sympathizers and members of the Massachusetts militia en route to Washington for Federal service...
when, soon after the attack by the mob on the military, the office of Der Wecker (then on Frederick Street) was visited by the same, and completely wrecked, and the building seriously injured. The paper was suspended, and the publisher, William Schnauffer, and the editor, Wilhelm Rapp
Wilhelm Rapp
Wilhelm Rapp was born on July 14, 1827, in what is now the Baden-Württemburg region of southwest Germany. As a student at Tübingen University Rapp participated in the German revolution of 1848, and was imprisoned for a year for his activities...
, whose lives were threatened, were compelled to quit the city, leaving the establishment at the mercy of the infuriated people. As soon as Gen. Benjamin Butler
Benjamin Franklin Butler (politician)
Benjamin Franklin Butler was an American lawyer and politician who represented Massachusetts in the United States House of Representatives and later served as the 33rd Governor of Massachusetts....
took possession of the city by the armed military, Schnauffer returned and resumed the publication of his paper. Rapp moved to the Illinois Staats-Zeitung
Illinois Staats-Zeitung
Illinois Staats-Zeitung was a German-language newspaper published in Chicago, Illinois. The newspaper was founded in April 1848 as a weekly, and became a daily in 1851. The newspaper had as its main ambition to maintain the use of the German language. Along with the Westliche Post and Anzeiger des...
. Der Wecker continued throughout the war a firm supporter of the Union cause.
In 1865, Franz Sigel
Franz Sigel
Franz Sigel was a German military officer, revolutionist and immigrant to the United States who was a teacher, newspaperman, politician, and served as a Union major general in the American Civil War.-Early life:...
entered into partnership with Schnauffer. This continued for two years, until Sigel went to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Wilhelm Rapp returned from Illinois to edit Der Wecker again in 1866 continuing until 1872 when he returned to the Staats-Zeitung. In the spring of 1873, Schnauffer, after 19 years' service in the establishment, retired, leaving the paper in a flourishing condition in the hands of Blumenthal & Co., who continued it on the same Republican principles inspired by its founder.