The Natal Mercury 25 November 1852

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HISTORY

On 25 November 1852, The Natal Mercury and

Commercial & Shipping Gazette was launched

under the editorship of George Robinson, with

Jeremiah Cullingworth responsible for the

printing.

Their office was a wattle-and-daub hut on a dirt

road, apparently with as much dust in the printing

press as on the road outside. The excitement and

tension of printing a four-page weekly newspaper

under such conditions drove the editor to his bed

until Jeremiah had put the edition on the streets.

Around 300 copies, composed lead letter by lead

letter was printed at a rate of around 20 an hour

on a flatbed press.

The entire staff consisted of Robinson,

Cullingworth, Robinsons 13-year-old son John,

and an unnamed helper. The distribution team was

characteristic of the milieu: a team of runners was

hired. Armed with a red flag for identification, a

little food and water, and a knobkierie and assegai

to ward off wild animals, one runner trotted out of

Durban. He met a runner from Pietermaritzburg

at the halfway mark, where the paper was handed

over for delivery to the hinterland. This team was

all about bravery and determination.