questions

1) The early historical writings about the events in Wilmington accepted the Democratic narrative, the News and Observer narrative.  Is this simply a case of convergence or was the News and Observer that much more important historically?  If so, why?

2) With Lyons publishing his letter in the New York Herald as well as the Richmond Planet among other primary sources, why did it take 53 years before the first “counter narrative” was given serious academic consideration?

3) If we accept that newspapers are all but inherently biased, can newspaper accounts ever be considered valid sole sources?