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Der Wecker

Der Wecker, a Baltimore German language newspaper, was begun in October, 1851, by Charles Henry Schnauffer. Mr. Schnauffer had been one of the editors of the Journal, published in the city of Mannheim, Baden (Germany), but on account of taking part in the German revolution of 1848-49 was compelled to abandon his country. On Sept. 4, 1854, Mr. Schnauffer died, but his widow continued Der Wecker without interruption.

In 1856 Der Wecker was the only Republican paper in Maryland, and as a consequence, shortly after the Presidential election, the office was mobbed. About this time Der Wecker came into the hands of William Schnauffer, the son of the founder, and he soon added a weekly edition to the paper.

Der Wecker continued its course until the 19th of April, 1861, when the office on Frederick Street, near Baltimore's Inner Harbor, was completely wrecked, and the building seriously injured. The paper was suspended, and the proprietor and his editors fled from the city. As soon as the Federal military authorities took possession of the city Mr. Schuauffer returned and resumed the publication of Der Wecker.

Der Wecker was a warm supporter of the Union cause throughout the war, and at its close, in May, 1865, General Franz Sigel entered into partnership with Mr. Schnauffer, which continued for two years, when the former went to New York,

Mr. Rapp became General Sigel's successor. In January, 1872, Mr. Rapp retired, and George Blumenthal became his successor.

In July, 1873, William Schnauffer disposed of the paper to Messrs. Blumenthal & Co., who continued it for several years as a daily, but disposed of it to Capt. J. R. Fellman, who sold it in September, 1877, to William Schnauffer, who resumed its publication as a weekly and suspended the daily issue. The weekly had been published, together with the daily, from January, 1874.

Source:

The History of Baltimore City and County, From the Earliest Period to the Present Day: By J. Thomas Scharf, Phila. 1881, Chapter XXXV. The Press of Baltimore, p.630