Press
News
Many optical telegrams begin with the words "Avis Nyt" (Press News).
After 1802, one of the most important functions of the Postal Services´
telegraphs was to convey news from German newspapers across the Great Belt to
Copenhagen. The telegraph manager had the job of selecting the most important
news items to send across. In this way, the optical telegraphs helped keep the
Government constantly informed about political developments abroad.
Page
of the journal for the optical telegraph at Nyborg, 5 May 1817. Facsimile.
Post & Tele Museum.
It was a miscellany of news that was sent across the Belt: "Nyborg to Korsør.
Press News. From the Stock Exchange in Halle. London 26 April Queen suddenly
taken ill day before yesterday Speaker of House of Commons spoke for first time
since his illness. Napoleon has attempted to escape from St. Helena in a furniture
crate..."
