ROBERT FRASER-SMITH
970
In due course it is intended to give a summarised history of the newspapers of the Colony. Several which existed for only a brief period have been quoted from time to time in these articles, and they are in a way our only existing records of the early history of Hongkong, recalling a period when no-one thought of compiling historical notes for the future generations, and emphasising the fact that the contemporary press must always remain the most valuable and complete record of all aspects of the times, and a mine of information to historians of the future. In addition to being storehouses of information, the newspapers in the Colony have attracted several men of ability and personality, and one who must always stand out, whether from his independence of spirit or his unfortunate clashes with the Courts of the Colony, is Robert Fraser-Smith, the founder and first editor of the Hong Kong Telegraph. He had a colourful career, and now lies in the cemetery at Happy Valley, a somewhat tragic figure whose appearance on the local stage of politics and newspaperdom was alternately applauded and criticised by the public.
Coming to Hongkong originally to join the service of the Hongkong and Whampoa Dock Company, in the Seventies, Robert Fraser-Smith was their book-keeper for a number of years, but left the company to start the Hongkong Telegraph in 1881, the first issue making its appearance on June 15 that year. His fearless criticism of things of which he did not approve, in which he did not spare persons or institutions if they seemed to him to merit condemnation, was often carried somewhat to excess, and this led to a series of libel actions, and even imprisonment. It might be said in his defence that he had the courage of his convictions, and was sincere in his efforts to obtain freedom of the press, but on the other hand he was often indiscreet and paid the penalty.
Of his private life, mention might be made of a terrible experience through which he passed, with his wife, brother and sister-in-law, on the occasion of the Totsai disaster (see 11-11-33 in this series). His wife and he suffered injury from which, and the shock, he never fully recovered, and his brother and sister-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Stuart Fraser-Smith, were killed. The occasion was the trying out of the Steamboat Company's new river steamer Tatal, after docking, in 1884, when a boiler burst, with considerable loss of life, including several Europeans.
In his conflicts with the Law, the editor of the Telegraph appears to have had a continuous stormy career, practically up to the time of his death in 1895, but was appreciated to the last by a large following, to whom his strength of purpose and undoubted faculty with the pen, appealed greatly. It was only a year after he had entered the journalistic field that Fraser-Smith fell foul of the law. In July 1882, convicted of a glaring libel against the German actor, Daniel Edward Bandmann (associated with touring companies afterwards well-known in the East for a good many years), the editor of the Telegraph was sentenced to two months imprisonment by the Chief Justice of the time, Sir George Phillippo, but immediately on his release in September, a deputation representative of the community presented him with a testimonial of sympathy of $1,000, together with an address, the trend of the address being that while he had infringed a statute, he had acted in the public service. In due course, Mr. Fraser-Smith made frequent references in his paper to the case, his trial and sentence, and the affair became something of a cause celebre, echoes of which were heard far outside the Colony.
To recount the other actions for libel brought against this vivid personality, in detail, would be unnecessary in this review. In June 1883 he was summoned by the editor of the China Mail, and in time, a Mr. Bulgin, who claimed $1,000 and was awarded $100.
ROBERT FRASER-SMITH
970
In due course it is intended to give a summerised history of the newspapers of the Colony. Several which existed for only a brief period have been quoted from time to time in these articles, and they are in a way our only existing records of the early history of Hongkong, recalling a period when no-one thought of compiling historioal notes for the future generations, and emphasising the faot that the contemporary press must always romein the most valuable and complete record of all aspects of the times, and a mine of information to historians of the future. In addition to being storehouses of information, the newspaper s in the Colony have attracted several men of ability and personality, and one who must always stand out, whether from his independence of spirit or his unfortunate clashes with the Courts of the Colony, is Robert Freser-Smith, the founder end first editor of the Hong Kong Telegraph. He had a colourful cereer, and now lies in the cemetery at Happy Valley, a somewhat tragic figure whose appearance on the local stege or politics and newspaperdon was al ternately applauded and oriticised by the public.
Coming to Hongkong originally to join the service of the Hongkong and Whempos Dock Company, in the Seventies, Robert Fraser- Smith was their book-keeper for e number of years, but left the company to start the Hongkong Telegraph in 1881, the first issue making its appearence on June 15 that year, His fearless criticism of things of which he did not approve, in which he did not spare persons or institutions if they seemed to him to merit condemnation, was often carried somewhat to excess, and this led to a series of libel actions, and even imprisonment. It might be seid in his defence that he had the courage of his convictions, end was sincer in his efforts to obtain freedom of the press, but on the other band he was often indiscreet and paid the penalty.
Of his private life, mention might be made of a terrible experience through which he passed, with his wife, brother and sister-in-law, on the occasion of the Totsai disester (see 11-11-33 in this his wife and he suffered injury from which, and the shock, he never fully recovered, and his brother and sister-in-law, Mr. end Mrs. Stuert Fraser-Smith, were killed. The occasion wes the trying out of the Steamboat Company's new river steamer Totaal, after docking, in 1884, when a boiler burst, with considerable loss of life, including several Europeens.
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In his conflicts with the Law, the editor of the Telegraph appears to have had a continuous stormy osreer, practically up to the time of his death in 1895, but was appreciated to the last by a large following, to whom his strength of purpose and undoubted faculty with the pen, appealed greatly. It was only a year after he had entered the journalistic field that Fraser- Saith fell foul of the law. In July 1882, convicted of a glaring libel against the Germen actor, Daniel Edward Bandmenn (associated with touring companies afterwards well-known in the East for a good many years) the editor of the Telegraph was sentenced to two months imprisonment by the Chief Justice of the time, Sir George Phillippo, but immediately on his release in September, a deputation representative of the community presented him with a testimonial of sympathy of $1,000, together with an address, the trend of the address being that while he had infringed a statute, he had acted in the public service. In due course, Mr. Fraser-Smith mede frequent references in his paper to the case, his trial and sentenc and the affair became something of a cause celebre, echoes of which were beerd far outside the Colony.
To recount the other actions for libel brought against this vivid personality, in detail, would be unnecessary in this review. In June 1883 he was summoned by the editor of the China Mail et that
In time, a Mr. Bulgin, who claimed $1,000 and was awarded $100.
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