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TEE WEEKLY 00K8TmJTI0KALI8T
Remarkable Duels.
*OMF, INTERESTING HISTORICAL FACTS— i
DUELS HT EMINENT MEN—F,XPI/>ITS OF
f’F.MALK DUF.LINTB—HOW UEVKRDY JOHN- I
SO S LOOT AN EYE, ETC .
In the year 1777 a duel occurred In New
York city between Lieutenant Feather- j
>tonehaugh, of the Seventv-sixth, and Cap
tain McPherson, of the Forty-second Hr; !
tish regiment, in regard to the manner of
eating an ear of corn, one contending that
the eating was from the cob, and the other
that the grain should be cut off from the
cob before eating. Lieutenant Feather-1
stonehaugh lost his right arm, the bail from
liis antagonist s pistol shattering the limb
dreadfully, so much so that it had to be
amputated.
In lib? Hon. George Thatcher, a Repre
sentative from Massachusetts, was chal
lenged by Mr Hionnt. tffMiM see, fora
verbal crlticisril on a resolution offered bv
Die latter. Mr. 1. received the challenge
while abed, and treated it with contemptu
ous ridicule, promising to write to his wife in
Massachusetts for her views on the subject.
The peculiar treatment afforded gnat
amusement at Lhe expense of his chivalrous
adversary. Mr. Hlount was soon after ex
pelled from Congress for treasonable trans
actions with the Spanish Governor of New
< >rlc:a ns.
In JTt»?s a duel took place on Boston Com
mon between Henry Phillips and Benjamin
Wood bridge, in which Wo dbridge was
killed. It was fought by moonlight with
swords, and without seconds, Wood bridge’*
body was found at daylight next morning, '
and great excitement was created. Phillips
escaped on a man-of-war, then in the har
bor, and died in France, suffering all the
horrors of remorse.
.Mademoiselle de Maupin, a female duel
ist. was born in France in 1763. Whenever
he desired 1o indulge in a frolic, or re
venge an insult, she laid aside the female
and assumed the male attire. One even
ing, lining at a masked ball given at the
Calais Royal by Monsieur the King’s
brother, and, as usual, disguised as a man,
she indulged in some freedom toward a
lady of rank, which was ill received, and
railed forth the indignation of three of the
lady’s friends, who Invited the intruder to
.(•company them down to the garden. La
Maupin complied on the instant, drew her
sword, engaged the three companions suc
cessfully, and laid them all lifeless on the
ground. Then* coolly returning to the ball
room, she made herself known to his Royal
Highness, and obtained a free pardon.
In the “good old days” of France, Ma
dame de Nesle, brought up in an old cha
teau in Anjou, was very beautiful and very
romantic. She made her first appearance
at the petilM mu-pera of the Kcgencv as a
Bar-haute, seated between the Duchess of
Merry and Madame Duveru. She soon be
come the rival of Madame de Polignac in
the affections of Richelieu, and she chal
lenged her antagonist to single combat.—
The duel took place near the Pore Maillot.
Madame de Nesle saluted Madame de I’o
lignae; Madame de Polignac returned the
salutation to Madame de Nelse. They
were attended by two squires as witnesses.
The pistols were loaded, and it was ar
ranged that the two rivals should walk to
ward one another as far as a scarf, with
permission to fire at any time during the
advance. Madame de Nesle fired first,
without effect; Madame de Polignac re
served her fire, and wounded her antago
nist, in the shoulder. This duel created a
great sensation at the lime, but it did not
bring back the inconstant, Duke to the feet
of Madamc de Nesle.
The famous duel fought between Burr
m»l Hamilton took place In July, 1804.
d'he details of which, and the intense ex
citement which it occasioned, are too well
known to require repeating.
In INOS Henry (-lav fought with old
Humphrey Marshall. They exchanged two
or three shots, and both wore slightly
wounded. A duel between Mr. McDuffie,
for many yearswt member of Congress from
South Carolina, ami Colonel Camming,
took place in 1822. The former received a
severe wound in the back, which lamed him
• for life. The papers of the day were filled
with squibs and ridicule in regard to the
duel, and Mr. McDuffie's wound, though it
proved no joke to him, causing a sort of
gait, resembling the spring halt of an old
man. from which he suffered till death, iu
1851.
Graham. Major Noah's assistant on the j
National Advocate, lost his life in 1827, at
the dueling ground at Hoboken, with Bar- i
ton, the son-itt-law of Edward Livingstone, j
in a dispute about ‘ what was trumps” in
u game of cards.
lieverdy Johnson, our present Minister
to Eugbiml, lost an eye by the rebound of a 1
t-istoi bull, while practicing at a-target.—
He was selected as the second, and expect- j
ed to be called on as such, in a duel incou
tcmplation at Washington in 1843, which
never took place.
In 1842, a Mr. Cochrane, a young law
student, twenty years old, was killed near
Washington by Julian May, for some
trifliug or Imaginary affront at an evening
party. Cochrane went to the field in a
coach and four, in high spirits, humming
an operatic air. When tiie combatants
were placed in position, and asked by the
seconds if they were ready, Cochrane
promptly answered “ Yes !” tossing tip his
liat in the air. He was shot through the
head at the first tire. Mr. May was after
ward unpointed a lieutenant in the mounted
rifles, and distinguished himself in the
Mexican war ; he is now dead.
lu 1851 IT. Bouliguy, formerly United
States Senator from Louisiana, was chal
lenged and killed by Mr. Cummings, at New
Orleans. The newspapers threw consider
able ridicule on the affair, saying Mr. B. re
ceived his adversary's shot somewhat in the
rear, just above his h p joint.
Colonel Montgomery was shot in- a duel
about a dog ; Colonel Ramsey in one about
a servant ; Mr. Featherstone in one about a
goose; General Barry was challenged bv a
Captain Smith for declining wine at a din
ner on a steamboat, although the General
pleaded as an excuse that wine invariably
made him sick.; Lieutenant Crowther lost
his life in a duel because he was refused ad
mittance to a club of pigeon shooters.
Presidential Piety.
vtuat presidents have been pious—
STATEMENTS OF A BOSTON CORRESPOND
ENT-ONLY ONE PIOUS PRESIDENT.
The New York correspondent of a Bos
ton paper says:
“ The fact that Gen. Grant passed a Sab
bath at West Point aud did not attend
church, though the post chaplain officiated
near him, has been commented on by the
press generally. It is somewhat a singular
fact that, as far as It is known, no Presi
dent of the United States, since the days of
Washington, has been a communicant in a
church. John Adams was the representa
tive of the liberal community of his day.
Jefferson was styled a l'rte thinker. An
attempt was made, when Jefferson was a
young man, to make the Episcopal Church
the established religion of Virginia. John
John Iceland, a traveling Baptist minister,
preached a sermon in the presence of Jeffer
son on what he called the ‘ incestuous con-I
nection of the church and state ’ This ser
mon converted Jefferson to that doctrine, i
Hm persistent opposition to a state religion
caused him to be stigmatized as an infidel, j
Mrs Ma lison was a communicant at the
Episcopal Church. Her husband was not.
Monroe was a member of an Episcopal
parish, but not a communicant. John
(Quincy Adams, %1 though a tneral>er of a
Unitarian parish in Massachusetts, held a
pf’w in the Second Presbyterian Church in
Washington, of which he w as a trustee, and
there he worshipped until his death. In a
violent snow storm I saw him walking to
Church, one Sunday, with the snow up to j
his loins, and he was one of the seven per
sons who composed the congregation that
morning. He never communed in the i
church. Gen. Jackson was a regular at-
U-.nd.tut ou .Sunday morning. He wor
shipped in the Second Presbyterian Church
until his quarrel w ith the pastor about Mrs. !
Hester. He then left for the Four-and-a-!
half street church, and took his Cabinet
with him. He always came early and en
tered hi- pew, which was on the right side
of the church as he? entered. Earnest and
devout attention he gave to the sermon. It l
was his custom, at the close of the sermon,
to ri-*• in his pew and make a very conrte-;
ou* bow to#the minister, and then walk
out, the audience wait ug in their pews till
he had reached the vestibule. Van Buren’s
home church at K inderhook was Reformed
Dutch. At Washington, when he went to
church, he attended St. John’s (Episcopal) !
in tiie morning. Mrs. Polk was a devout
and earnest Christian woman, belonging to
the Presbyterian Church.
“ Mr. Polk accompanied his family every
Sunday morning to the Fotir-and-a-half'
church. Mrs. Polk usually attended the’
Second Presbyterian Church in the after- 1
noon, where she held a pew. The Presi
dent seldom accompanied her at the second
service. General Taylor was not a profess- >
or of religion. When he attended church |
he sat. in the President’s pew at St. John’s.
President Pierce was a member of the Con- 1
gregatlonal Society, in Concord, N. II ,but
not of the church. He was very regular lu
his attendance at the Presbyterian church j
ou F street, near the White House. This;
was his religious home during ..is long sen- j
utorial life. He was not a member of the
church, lie came to worship usually on I
foot and unattended. His pew was on the
side, about two-thirds of the wav from the
way from the door. lie usually walked up
the aisle with a cut-like step, went to the
extreme end of the pew, curled himself up i
in the corner, and seldom moved till the
service closed. He rarely spoke to any
one, and hastened from the church to the
White House. Mrs. Lincoln was a commu
nicant at the New York Avenue Presbyte
rian church. Mr. Lincoln was not. But
he was a regular attendant at worship.—
.Johnson seems to have no religious home,
but rather iucliued to the Lutheran. Geu.
Grant is not a professor of religion. He is
a trustee of the National church
at Washington, and is a frequei "attendant
ou the preaching of that church.”
Tiie Salutirity of Aiken.—A correspond
ent writes to the New Y jrk Evening Post:
Invalids now at Aiken, from Northern
' states, are much pleaded with the climate, and
| Die accommodations and fare of the hotel. We
i are happy to notice this as the expel ience of
| many, as flic hotel accommodations at those
place sat the Soulh most frequented by inva-
I lids iyive not been altogether .-atisfactorY.
The climate of Aiken has proved so benefl
! c ' | il to those suffering from any affection of the
! throat or lungs, or lrom general debility, that
a company lias been formed of eminent ptaysi
i clans to establish, ou an extensive scale, at
j Aiken, a sanatorium. One of the company,
1 Hr. Riskwell, of Connecticut, is-now on his
' way then to make preparations for the recep-
I lion of invalids at an early day.
The Rev. Mr. Cornish is also engaged in a
similar enterprise for invalid clergymen. In
: addition to the benefits to be derived from the
j climate, he designs setting his brethren of the
J clergy entirely at ease as to the rates of fare by
making them welcome without any charge for
board. We hope his benevolent design will
meet with a liberal response from ail who fed
I an ineresj in the welfare of the clergy.
He has issued a pamphlet, which contains
| much valuable information for invalids. Iu
' particular, we would rail attention to an article
in it “ On Climate in the Treatment of Pulmo
, nary, Tuberculosis, Are. By Amory Coffin, M.
D.” The pamphlet may be obtained gratis at
J the book store of Pott & Amery, Nos. 5 and 13,
Cooper Union, or at Derby’s Athemeum,
Broad wny.
The statements of Dr. Coffin with respect tG
i the dim *te of Aiken are fully endorsed by
. Samuel Henry Dickson, M. D . Professor Prac
1 tice in Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia,
j formerly of the South Carolina Medical Col
j lege, and of the New York University. He
' says : “ I am in the ha' i> of expressing myself
more strongly on the subject than he has .lone,
j and have advised many patients to spend their
Winters there, and have seen numerous in
stances of unequivocal benefit from its pure air
and pleasant climate.”— Charleston News.
Death of a Distinguished Georgian.—
The Memphis Avalanche records the death of
Hon. William L. Harris, w hich occurred in that
| city, of which he had recently become a resi
dent, on Thursday last, in the 61st year of his
age.
Judge Harris was a native of Elbert county,
J in this State, and in early life resided and prac
ticed his profession at Washington, in Wilkes
1 county, in co-partnership with the late Hon.
Daniel Chandler, of Mobile. He married a half
i sister ot the late Gen. Paul J St mines, and re
moved to Columbus, Mississippi, in the early
settlement ot that State. There he attained to
great celebrity as a lawyer, was associated with
Judge Sharkey in compiling the Revised Code
ot Mississippi, and subsequently elected a Judge
of the High Court of Appeals. The Avalanche
i has a long and deserved tribute to his worth as
a jurist and a citizen, from which we make the
following extract :
He was a man.of comprehensive intellect, of
finished education ; a classical and belles lettres
scholar; a habitual student ; a tine writer upou
general topics, and a powerful advocate and de
bater. During his occupancy of the bench of
the High Court ot Mississippi, Judge Harris
was tendered by Mr. Buchanau the seat iu the
Supreme Court ot the United States, made va
cant by the death of Hon. P. V. Daniel; but the
political troubles which resulted in the late war
having been partially inaugurated, he, ot course,
declined the appointment, preferring to share
, the dangers which menaced his native land,
rather than to wear the ermine of that proud
judicial station, under the patronag • of Federal
| power. He retained, by re-election, bis seat in
i the High Court of Mississippi, until the inde
j pendenee of that tribunal was threatened by the
i presence of Federal bayonets, when he resigned
| the position, in connection with the other
members of the court, and became a resident
I of this State.— Savannah Republican.
Sudden Death of a Gallant Confede
rate General. —Every Carolinian remembers
the fame and services of Gen. Nat. Evans—a
1 brother-in-law of onr townsman, Gen. M. W.
Gary. We regret to annonnee that the latter
gentleman received, on Monday last, a tele
gram announcing the sndden death of General
Evans. For a year or more past, he had been
living at Midway, Alabama; and there, a few
days back, he departed this life. Gen. Evans’
malady, if we mistake not, was disease ot the
heart. His spirit and valor illustrated South
ern character most worthily during the war*
and his name and fame deserve to be kept alive
in South Caroliua. He leaves a widow and
four children.— Ex.
James Dudley, E>q., a member of the bar of
Horry District, S. C., was drowned receutly
i near Cherry Grove Beach, while on a visit to
the plantation of Mr. Thomas Graham, in the
j above named district.
Tke Savannah 'fragedy.
From the Morning Seva, of the 7ih, we ex
tract as follows concerning the recent tragedV
near Savannah :
George Wagener, sworn and with: Yesterday
evening about a quarter to nine o’clock Mr
Mastic k and myself fott his ( M .stickhouse
to go out on the Shell road on duty, as special
police. We were to meet a party at the toll j
g-Ue to perform patrol or police duiv \\\-
met tV party at the toH gate, on the Skidawsv
Shell road, in Chatham eountv. The persons
who composed the party which was to perforin
E 22 s>r5 >r 1 were Jacob Klein. Henrv I
r Frederlc * i Hirt. Frederick
*' l *’ John 9“ ,nt * Mr. Ohl, Fritz Broad
baeker, and myself, George Wagener. We ill
waikt-d up and down Shell road until about a
quarter to eleven o'eioek at night, when we i
beard a noise just as we were in lending to go j
v, ome - , Th , e , noise appeared to be near I
Mr. Sehutz s i.qaor store. There was ecu-i
Mderableot a fuss there. Mr. Broad backer :
and his men whistled for us to come hack to i
u i? , tr>, , e- We went L:iok and found
Broadbackera party again. We walked a
*hort di-tauce towards town, and met a party
ot abom five or six negro men. Broad back r i
walked up to them and caught hold ot one of i
the negroes, and asked him who made the i
noise Ihe negro said I don’t know. Mr.
Broad backer told Mr. Mas tick and myself to
hoffi the man that he had caught, and lie
would get another one. As soon as Mr. i
Broad backer stepped away from us, a large |
party of negroes came up toward us; and as j
soon as Broadbacker got hold ot another ms j
gto man, the negroes commenced tiring upon |
us. Ihe first shot fired by the negroes killed 1
Die deceased, Mr. Broad.-acker. Alter that, i
Die negroes all commenced firing upon us,
and we returned the fire. There were only
four or five of our parly who had firearms.
Two had guns and the other three bad
revolvers. As soon as our ammunition w»s
exhausted we retreated, through the field ou
the South side of the road. I heard the ne
groes shouting and screaming, and calling to
us—come hae i again, yon —— .. j
heard one negro say; ()! leave that man
alone, he’s gone now. Another stid : I want
revenge on the . I heard this
while we were retreating. After the crowd of
negroes went off, three of us went back to the
Shell road, and there we met two others of our
party. Mr. Klein, Mr. Ohl and myself went
back to see whether there was anv wounded.
We heard somebody hallooing. We halted
several times to listen and ascertain whether
it was any of our party. Sotnebodv whistled—l
believe it was Mr. Brickman—aud halloeod,
“Come on, boys, I’m a friend.” Wu walked
up to him and found him lying in the field, a
little way off from the Shell road, wounded.
He fold us to get a wagon and carry him home.
Mr. Ohl and rm’self went to Mr. Broadbacker’s
house and got a wagon, and brought them
hornp. Broadbacker we found lying dead in
the road. Quint was carried to Mr. Ilirt’s
home. He was wounded. Mr. Mastiek was
wounded, and walked home.
I saw Mr. Mastiek this mohiing, and he was
wounded.
The killing of Mr. Broadbacker was ou the
sth o 18C8, about 11 o’clock. The
crowd was so large, and it was so very dark
that 1 did not see Mr. Broadbacker fall. There
were at least thirty or forty negroes. He was
a little ahead of our party, about twenty feet in
advance of us. After we retreated, one of the
negroes followed Mr. Hirt into the field and
abut at uo five or six limes. The firing sound
ed as though done with a pistol. The negroes
were coming out of town when we met them.
They were making a great deal of disturbance.
The negroes fired first upon us. They all
seemed to be armed, judging by their shoot
ing. Our party were acting as special police,
appointed by the Mayor of Savannah, and all
except myself and Mr. Hirt had city police
badges on. Sixty or seventy shots were fired
at u*. I know, of mv own knowledge, that
(here is a special police force out in this neigh
borhood, to preserve the pea:e in the suburbs
of the city, and protect the public roads, Ac.
I have seen them act as such frequent l )’. Mr.
Broadbacker was a member of that police
force, and was in the discharge o 1 bis duty last
night.
Henry II M a flick sworn and saitli : I was
one of the special policemen on duty last
night , the sth of December, 1868. I was in
company with Frederick Broadbacker, and
others. There were nine of us altogether.
We went trom my house, aud up through the
101 l gate, towards town. We heard some
noise on the road, just at the time we had con
cluded to break up and return home. There
i was a crowd ot negroes coming up, whooping
| and yelling, and we went towards them. De
| ceased, someone of our party and myself stop
ped one of the negroes, aud arrested him.
Broadbacker left me, Mid went ahead towards
| Die crowd of negroes, aud I heard the firing of
guns. From fitly to one hundred shots were
tired. At that time I still laid one of the ne
groes in my custody. I was shot then in
three place*. (Wounds exhil ited.) I tried
to carry otl the negro that I had to secure and
keep him as a prisoner, but could not do it.
Brickman told me that he was shot, and asked
me to help him. He said : Mastiek, come and
kelp me, lam shot. I said : Brickman, I am
shot myself; look out for yourself as well as
you can. I did not know that Broadbacker
was Killed until this morning. After 1 was
shot, I went towards my house. When I got
near Verm's house, I heard negroes curse aud
abuse him, and threaten to set his house ou
tire. They halted there, and struck matches.
They went along the road cursing, whooping
l and yelling, and said: “Come out, you
police, you!” When they got to my house
they said : “ Come out, you red headed
Mastiek !” I have no idea how many negroes
j were present when the firing first occurred.
It was very dark There were about fifteen in
ihe party whocauie down to Verm’s houseaud
mine, after the tiring. I was close to this party,
but they did not see me. The shot which struck
me came Iron the crowd of negroes towards
which Mr. Broadbacker went. 1 was shot
| while I was holding the negro. I think some
i of the shot struck him as he cried out as if he
I was hurt. The firing came trom all directions
( in front of us. I saw where the shot which
I struck me came from I saw the man standing
l on the right hand side of the road. I think
| the same man shot me and Brickman. Broad
: backer went towards the negro by himself,
i The gun which shot me was loaded with buck
i shot. The shot came from the North side of
| the Skidaway Shell road. The negroes were
coming from town when we met them. The
road wus full of men. Their conduct was very
violeut. I thiuk that they were country ne
| groes belonging ou the farms around the city,
i I was in charge of the police force. Mr Broad
i backer acted under my orders; we conducted
ourselves iu a quiet aud peaceable manner in
! the performance of our duty. We gave the
I uegroes no cause for au attack upon us. If
j they had not fired upon us first, we would not
have fired upou them. Our only object in be
j ing out was to preserve the public peace. The
I general conduct of the negroes iu this neigh
i borhood has been pretty bad, which was the
j reason why we asked Mayor Anderson to or
ganize the special poliee force.
Joseph Ohl sworn and saith : I was present
when Mr. Broadbacker was killed ; about eleven
I o’clock last night. He was killed by a negro.
J The uegro was within a few yards ofc him. I
i was about seven or eight steps from Broad
backer wheu he was killed. The negro was
very close to him. He was shot with a gun.
I saw the flash when he fired. I saw Mr.
Broadbacker fall. There were at least thirty or
l tortv shots fired by the negroes. The first'was
i fired by a negro. Four of our party were shot
—three were wounded and one killed.
Tbe jury taayjng heard thi6 evidence retired
i for deliberation, aud returned a verdict as fol
! lows:
“ We, the jury, find from the evidence given
I before us, that the deceased, Frederick Broad
backer, came to his death while in the discharge
! of his duty as a special policeman, on the Thun
| dei bolt road, in the eouuty of Chatham, from
i gunshot wounds in the head, received from a
j gun in the hands of a negro, one ot a party
who were disturbing the peace on Thunderbolt
! Shell road ; aud we earnestly recommend that
the State and county authorities take actiou in
> order to protect the citizens of this county
from the brutalities of the negro population.”
THE DECEASED.
j Frederick Broadbacker, the victim of this
I terribly tragic affair, was a native of Germaoy,
and wa« bom near the city of Mavence, on the
Rhine, in Heeae Darmstadt. He was thirty-two
years and five months old, and had been in this
coootry eleven years. He came over here and
remained a year, then returned to Majence,
was married, and returned back with his wife.
He has long been known as a market gardener,
and his place on Lover’s Lane has always been
a favorite resort. He bad erected a fine saloon
there, which be kept in the German style, had
a handsome dancing hall, and his place was
much frequented by citizens. He was a quiet
man, a member of the Germauia
Fir** Company, of the Turnverein Society and
DeKaih Rifleg. H e leaves a wife and four
l * >e but four months
old. He was much respected in the commu
nity, and a favorite among the Germans.
THK OTHER WOUNDED MEN—THEIR CONDITION.
John Quint is aleo a gardener. It will he
remembered that during a heavy thuutier storm
last Summer, bis house was strnck bv light
ning, and one of his children killed. Qnint is
mortally wounded, and was considered past re
covery la«t night.
Frederick Brickman is also a gardener, re
siding on Lover’s Lane. He was in a very had
condition, and should he recover, which is
doubtful, he will probably be crippled for life.
The wound was so sniili that it could not he
proned. Both men are being attended bv Dr.
Read.
Mastiek was not very badly wounded, and
although suffering considerable pain, was able
to be about yesterday.
THE PARTY OP MURDERERS
was composed of country negroes entirely, aud
they marched off down the country, after ac- j
eoinplishing their deadly purpose. There may 1
have been some of the Bryan Row vagabonds
among them.
INDIGNATION AMONG CITIZENS.
The tragedy created great excitement and
Indignation among the citizens, especially
among the German population. Woe to any
party or gang that attempts any such thing !
hereafter.
MEASURES FOB SAFETY.
We have time aud again called upon the City
Council to provide a special force of mounted i
men for the protection of the outskirts of the
city. Such a force, to be employed day and I
night, is imperatively needed, and should be
organized at once. The cily and county should
unite in this project, aud have no delay about
it. Our public highways are no longer safe ; it
is dangerous to reside without the city, in the
present condition of affairs. Such a force
would cause these negroes to cease their vil
lainous, murderous acts, by making it unsafe
for them to commit crime. But above all
should we strive to secure the emigration of
while men, of Germans, Scotch and Irish, to
this section, that the country may become
thickly settled with white men.
We have presented the details of this fearful
occurrence at length. The statements of all
parties prove it to have been a regularly or
ganized plot to murder. The patrol guard,
part of them armed, were ambuscaded and shot
down without provocation, and even the dead
body was kicked and beaten. The negroes lay
in the hushes with murder in their hearts; and
they perpetrated one of the most fearful crimes
ever heard of in this section. May they be
brought to justice is the prayer of citizens, aud,
though they may escape for a time, sooner or
later “ murder will out,” aud the punishment
is sure to come,
[From the New York World, Dee. 2,
Destruction of Fort Lafayette.
THE FORT IN RUINS —A TERRIBLE EXPLOSION
ANTICIPATED—EXODUS OFTHK SURROUNDING
POPULATION—THE BURNING FORT ABAN
DONED, tVC.
Yesterday afternoon the alarming report
reached this cily that Fort Lafayette was ou
fire. The news wis eagerly caught up, aud
great consternation prevailed among those
whose residences were in that neighborhood hut
whose business called them to New York. The
alarm was not groundless, (he danger w >s im
minent, and every one was on the qui v>ve for
information. For the past few weeks, it ap
pears, workmen bad been employed in building
anew roof, ami quantities of limber, lumber,
and shingles had been stored in the fort for that
purpose. The work so far had been only Die
preparation of the framework of the roof, and
consequently the space inside the fori presented
more the appearance of a carpenter’s shop than
a warlike fort. Several thousand feet of lum
ber and pine shingles sufficient to cover the
space included within the walls of Die fort were
stored therein, and, strangely culpable as it
may seem, they were nil piled within a few feet
of Die entrance to the powder migazine.
The work of building the roof and other
similar work in hand was in charge of a super
intendent of the engineer’s department under
General Newlc n, and strict orders had been is
sued by him against lighting any fires by the
workmen engaged. Notwithstanding these
orders, however, a workman, it is alleged,
lighted a fire for the purpose of heating some
coffee for his lunch, and while the workmen
were all idling away the usual dinner hour, a
dense smoke was seen to issue from the work
shop. A general rush waa made thereto, when
it was found that the shavings, workshop and
lumber were all on fire. Every effort possible
was made to quench Die fl imes, but without the
means of forcing water, without even fire hose
or water buckets, the most strenuous efforts
would have been of lilDe avail, and a panic
seizing the workmen, owing to their knowledge
of the proximity of the powder magazine, a
general stampede for Fort Hamilton was made.
The sergeant and three men, the only soldieis
on duty at the fort, immediately reported to
their proper officers, and a number of men were
sent over to the fort to endeavor to quell the
fire, but w’ith no effect.
The united work of several steam engines
would scarcely have been sufficient to stay the
progress of the fl ones, added to which very
few could be found hardy enough to brave the
reported aud greatly exaggerated danger of an
explosion. The fort was consequently desert
ed, and the fire given full play, and well did it
use the liberty thus given it The fire was first
discovered al ten miumes to one o’clock, and
in less than an hour irom that time the fl ttm*s
were bursting through the roof, casting a red
glare, even in the bright light of noonday, on
the waters aronnd. At the time of the brctvte#
ing out of the fire, there were u-n carpenters
and four laborers at work, the fort being in
charge of a sergeant and Ilu ce men. Through
out the whole of the afternoon the fire burnt
fiercely, the Amies bursting out in forked
, longues innumerable above the outer walls of
the fort, ca-ting their red glare all around and
spreading consternation on all sides. As the
darkness of night closed in, the scene was
grand beyond description The waters of the
harbor reflected tin* red light of the fire for
miles. In the midst of the water, made more
solitary by Die gloom caused by the shore, was
to be seen the firm walls of the fort enclosing a
seething, hissing mass of fire, which ever and
anon shot lorlh iu short hut bright sheets of
fl ime.
GENERAL CONSTERNATION.
No sooner was it known th it Fort Lafa
yette was on fire than a general consternation
seized on all within the neighborhood. Ru
mors, exaggerated as rumors always are, said
that an immense quantity of powder wa«
stored in the fort, and all parties living near
deserted their booses and took flight for a
safer place. Inspector Polk, witht wemy-six
men of the poliee force, was speedily on the
ground, and they at once took charge of the
deserted dwellings. Happily, np to this time,
no explosion of any consequence has taken
place to warrant snch fear, but the fact that ten
tons of powder is actually stored in the maga
zine is sufficient to give cause for some alarm,
whieh, however, is allayed by the fact that the
powder magazine is strongly-bnift of brick,
fire-proof, and the entrance guarded by two
doors, placed seven feet apart, and at the pres
ent \ r ritiug Die fire in that corner of the fort
has nearly died ont. The result of the fire can
only be the entire demolition of Fort Lafa
yette; bat beyond the lo>s of a few thousand
! dollars’ of lumber, some shot and shell,
which latter exploded continually during the
night, the loss will not be Very great.
DESCRIPTION OF FORT I.AFATETTE.
Fort Lafayette was built subsequent to the
j close of our war with Eoglani, for the purpose
i ot more effectually guarding the ocean entrance
t,..
to the metropolis. It stands on the Long
Is and side ot the bay, altool six miles below
the cily, and almost opposite to Fort Wads
worth, on Bu*ten Island. It was built on a reef
about three hundred yards from the shore, aud
at low tide it is surrounded by about six lect
of water. The structure was quaint in apjH’wr
auee from the outride as well as within. The
inner wall is di.tmoud s.najK'd, and rises five or
six icel higher than the wall surrounding it.—
Ihe lop surface of the inner wall si opes to
wards the centre, and it is upon this strong
ram pari that the heavy guns of the fort were
mounted. For a long series of years this fort
h i* stood like a sturdy sentinel guarding the
; ates of the Empire City, without 'once having
had the satisfaction of discharging a bundred
j O.inder across the bow of a hostile man-of
war. Bat it has done other service.
During the late civtl war u was made to help
Secretary Stan,on disgrace the land it was made
to protect, and the name or the distinguished
-oldi- r under whose name it was christened.—
During these four years oT suite, hundreds of
men who, bad they been granted a fair trial Ik--
fore anv tribunal, could have been found guilty
of nothing, suffered confinement for mouths
and years iu its dungeons. There will he
many victim* who will rejoice when they hear
of the demoh.iou bv fire oi Diis American bas
ilic. About forty-four yeatsago Fort Lafayette
presented a very different appearance than it
does to day. Thru the gallant Lafayette, from
whom it subsequently took its name, was re
visiling the country lor whose liberties he had
fought, when its government was iu course ol
inception. Then its walls* find camion bad
cl-angcd for a time their warlike aspect, and
were decked with wreaths of flowers, and
French and American flags, and nations that
were typical of freedom of speech and thought,
a part of the grand old principles upon which
Die new republic had but recently been found
1. On that glorious occasion, when Lalh\ ( tie,
in presenting to Washington the key of lhe
baslile as a token of that tyranny anil intoler
ance which he hoped would never disgrace this
fair laud, gave utterance to the following
words ; “ Permit me, my dear General, to offer
you a picture representing ttie Baslile, such as
U was some days after I had given orders for
i.s demolition. I make you homage also of
Die principal key of litis fortress of despotism.”
The historian relates that Washington received
the key with reverence, as “token of victory
gained by liberty over despotism.” The friend
of Washington if tic dreamed at that time that
the very fort which it was intended should
commemorate and honor his name should at
la -i itself become a bastile, Die thing whieh lie
held iu such uiler abhorrence.
[From the New York Commercial Bulle.in.
Tea.
The arrival of tea of the new crop which we
may soon expect in considerable qnauDDes,
will impart new interest to this branch of trade.
The shipments to England front ports have thus
far largely exceeded the shipments for the same
fitnc in 1867, but this would seem to arise lrom
an earlier marketing of Die crop rather ihau
from any great excess in the quantity of it.—
The following review from the London Pro
duce .Markets Review’ will bo found interesting:
“In common with most articles of produce
tea has suffered from the unseiilcd state of the
country, consequent upon the near approach
ol the election and the transactions this week
have been below Die average of the season.—
The eoulinued large deliveries, however, give
Lone to Die market; and as slocks in the hands
of both wholesale and retail dealers are ex
tremely light, there is a constant and steady de
mand going on, although not sufficient to k *ep
pace with tiie large quantity of tea now being
poured into this inarkeL. There is no falling
off in Die demand for common tea, w hich lias
been taken largely, both for export and home
use; there are now very few parcels of old irn
poi i in first hands, and no great quantity is
held by speculators, as a large propoiliou of
this class of lea which has recently been sold
belonged to the latter, having been bought iu
Die spring of the year at Is 3d lo Is 4d. This
scan ity has caused a slight advance in common
Congou, but it has not (Receded j s 'd $ lb. The
last telegram from China, dated Hong Kong,
October 19. gives the export to dale, 106.000 600
tbs., or an increase of only about 4,500,000 lb-,
for Die fortnight.
This would seem to indicate that the advices
from here have at last produced some good
effect, and that a more rational course of pro
ceedings would naturally follow, but, as a tele
gram from Shanghai, dated October 14, refers
to the tea maria t as firm, with an active de
mand, we confess we are unable to understand
such an anomalous state of things, especially as
we are assured upon positive testimony, that
merchants are now losing upon nearly every
contract made, and as the state of the market
here must have been well known in China be
fore the 14th of October. We arc glad to no
tice that Die later arrivals from Foo Chow
bring a belter class of Kaisow's than we bad by
the earlier ships, as alibougbt here have been
but very few parcels of line tea, the medium
kinds have lately sold extremely cheap. A
small sale of Indian tea was held on Tuesday,
and as a large proportion consisted of tea of
really desirable character, there was fair c om
petition, and nearly (he whole sold at lull
prices. There is a seusible increase in Die de
maud for fine Asarns, in consequence ot the
general inferiority of the China crop. In
Greens there has not been much doing, al
though prices are much lower than they were
last year. In scented teas aud Oolongs there is
no change. Common Oolong is slightly dear
er, but brokcu leaf, beiug rather more pleuli
lul, has slightly declined.
Eight Hour System. - Ihe Government’s
supervising architect, Mr. H. B. Mullett, in his
report to the Secretary of the Treasury, says
he has been embarrassed also by tbe eight hour
system on Government work, and he thinks
that the operation of the eight hour rule has
been to retard the progress of public buildings,
aud to increase their price. He adds that not
only has he not been able to get as much work
in eight hoars as in ten, but that his experi
ence is that in most cases much less work per
hour has been done than uuder the old system.
He further says;
It appears to me that the law in force up to
tbe passage of the act which authorized Gov
ernment officers to conform to the rules and
prices established by custom in the different
localities, was not only eminently ju6t, but
liberal; the uniform practice on all works
under charge of this department having been
to pay full market rates for labor, and to give
the mechanics and laborers employed the full
advantages of the local customs on all points,
and to avoid interference in any manner with
these questions. It is also, in discussing this
subject, worthy of remark, that a workman
can earn a larger sum per annum when em
ployed on public than on private buildings, at
the same per diem pay—there being a much
smaller per centage es lost time, and employ
ment being more permanent. It appears mani
fest that the system of pay.ng the mechanic
who is employed on Government work the
same price for eight hours that the one employ
ed bv private persons receives for ten hours,
work is unjust. It hts, at any rate, increased
the cost of public buildings from 20 to 25 per
ceDt. beyond the amount for which 1 can con
sent to be held responsible.
[LaCrosse Democrat.
Destruction of Stumps.—We have always
objected to the use of machinery of any sort to
take np large stamps in ordinary arable land,
that they would take up inevitably a lar«re
quanuly of earth with each, and leaves hole
almost as objectionable as the stump; and
moreover that after the stumps were out ihere
was trouble in disposing of Diem. The follow
ing suggestions w hich we fake from our neigh
bor, the Baltimore Weekly Leader , may be
quite practicable, while they are not liable to
the same objections. They are at feast worthy
Os trial:
“ We have heard of two methods of getting
rid of stumps which, as they appear feasible
and inexpensive, we hoj»e some reader will try
and report upon : Bore with a two inch augur
to the heart of Die stump; fill the cavity thus
made whh sulphuric acid, or with crude petro
leum. In the first case, the aciu becomes Die
destructive agent within a few months, in the
latter, w!icn the slump becomes saturated wiih
the oil it is fired, and will then burn out to the
lasl particle, like a candle. —Amcri an Farmer.
The Ticknor divoVce ca*e i* again in the Chi
cago courts,
News Items.
The Macon T Ugmph an rn that a coinparinorf
ol the cotton receipt* at Macon np to the lAUi
of November, 1867, with the receipt* up to the
same date this venr, shows a falling off in the
receipts of the present year of 3.97S bale* On
the 15th of November, 1867, midditngs soid In
Macon at 14 cent*; same date this rear they
sold at 21X cent*. *
On Tuesday, 20 shares of South Western
Railroad stock were sold In Savannah for f93
per share, and 15 of Central Railroad stock for
FIS3 50 per share.
David Anderson, Esq., of Gwinnett county,
offers a premium of a silver pitcher worth ten
dollars, to the farmer producing the largest
quantity ot cotton per acre ginned at hi* gin.
Mr. Joseph Massey, of Thomasville, send*
the editor of the Enterprise two stalks ot sugar
cane weighing 16 pounds, measuring twenty
feet, and yielding one gallou and one quart of
juice.
Mon. W. M. Butts, member of Georgia
of Representatives from Marion county, died
suddenly while out hunting a few days ago, it
is supposed from apoplexy.
The Empire and the Atlantic Coast Mail
Steamships from Savannah to N.-w York have
made arrangements to insure freight at their
offices, wheu desired, for halt per cent.
The Newnan Herald, of 1 »st week, chronicles
Die death ot a negro who was killed bv a gun
shot wound, inflicted by Mr. Kinebeu Well
born, w ho made good his escape.
Iu one cf the cantons of Switzerland an edict
has been issued forbidding any youth under
eighteen years of age to smoke, under a severe
penalty.
The costumes of the ladies who promenade
Broadway now surpass those of the theatre iu
gorgeousness. Such brilliancy in colors was
never before witnessed on the arena of fashiou.
Francis Joseph has settled upon a title for
himself, which is “ Emperor <of Austria, Kiug
ot Bohemia, etc., aud Apostolic Kiug of Hun
gary.”
Lee, Massachusetts, proposes to have its
streets lighted by a lamp iu lhe front window/
of every house.
Jesse Thompson has been arrested at Vicks
burg on the charge of being the assassiu of
Geu. Hindman, he having confessed to a uegro
that he did the deed, but now denies it.
A physician for the insane save that Wall
street is the great harvest field from which he
“ gathers them iu.”
All the Congressmen elect from Indiana, in
cluding Julian and Voorhees, have received
their certificates of election.
Mr. Alden Goldsmith, of New York, has sold
Ills celebrated trotting mare, Goldsmith Maid,
tor $20,000.
Paris has taken a census of its cats, and finds
that it has 700,824.
San Francisco is trying to iuvent earthquake
proof houses.
To be virtuous is to be happy ; and this may
lie said to be the quickest ami best way to that
elysianic goal. One of the comforts of travel
ing there is that the road is never impeded by
excessive tr avel.
Gov. Bullock has set aside the recent elec
tion held in Muscogee county, for coroner,
sheriff and clerk, on the ground that it was not
advertised according to law.
A cabbage baa been grown near Jackson,
Miss., with thirteen solid heads. Enough lor
a email family!
Tied to a Tree.—A Government Official
in a Tight Place.—On Friday, Colonel E.
D. Lyons, Government detective, attached to
the Quartermaster’s Department, and at pre
sent stationed at Nashville, Tenn., we learn,
was ordered to Bridgeport, Ala., to investigate
some bounty claims, believed to be fraudulent,
that had been paid to loyal colored soldiers,
residing in the vicinity. The colonel arrived at
his destination on Tuesday evening, and en
gaged quarters for the night in the hotel. A
darkey porter in the employ ol the house po
litely escorted the colonel to his room. With
the suavity lor which Colonel Lyons is justly
j celebrated, he entered info conversation with
; Die porter, and by a course of pumping, learn
from him Die whereabouts of Die eight colored
loyalists for whom he was seeking. The port
er after much solicitation, and aided by the
offer of greenbacks, agreed to accompany the
detective to the settlement where the parties
lived, which was about five miles from Bridge
port. Dismissing bis informant, the colonel
retired.
Early next morning he arose, and after the
necessary ablutions, went down to breakfast.
After eating heartily lie looked round for the
porter, but not descrying him, the colonel went
to hifi room and belted on his revolver, besides
placing eight pairs of handcuffs in his pockets,
intending when lie arrived at the settlement to
call upon the authorities lor assistance in ar
resting the culprits.
Going ciown stairs once more, nnd finding
that the darkey was non eat, he concluded lo
go without him. After traveling a short dis
tance into the woods, lie was naturally sur
prised to find six men spring out from a by
path, and seize him. Remonstrating with
them, they informed him that they were the
fire-tried loyalists he was in search of, and tak
ing a pair of handcuffs from his pockets, they
tightened them upon the frightened detective.
After lightening him of his revolver, they tied
him lightly to the trank of a tree, and left him
to his ihouirhls.
Colonel Lyons remained in bis trying and
unpleasant position for about two hours, wheu
he was released by a farmer, who was attracted
to the scene by the cries of the bonnd man.
Colonel Lyons returned to his post of duty at
Nashville, a sadder if not a wiser man. He is
of the opinion that his treatment by the Ka
Klux of that region, last Summer, was far su
perior to the hostile reception accorded to him
by the loyal colored men.
[Knoxville Press % Herald.
Officers in Bankruptcy —Charles McKin
ley, Esq., Register in Bankruptcy for Ihe
Third District, died a few days since. We
learn that Judge Erskine will select Lawson
Black, K<q., Register in Bankruptcy in the
Bevenlh District, to wind up the unfinished
business left bv McKinley, and will also in
struct the clerks to refer cases which may here
after arise in the third district to Mr. Black for
adjudication.
Ovv ing to the promotion of Garnett Andrews,
E-ap, to be a Judge «>f the Superior Court, Mr.
Register Foster, wt hear, has been selected to
attend lo the business in Judge Andrews’ late
district.
Mr. Register Hesseltine, of the second dis
trict, atteniiS to the bankruptcy business in
the first district, which was the district of llou.
Joshua Hill, lately elected & member of the
United States Senate.
f Savannah Republican , 2d inst,
A Negro Kills Another for Ten Cents
—A negro killed another negro at Taylor’s
Mill, in this couuly, last Saturday, under the
following circumstances, as related to us: The
former owed the latter ten cents, and, after
some dispute over it, the money was handed
over, across a fire piaee; the bill fell into the
fire and was burned. The one claimed the
money paid ; the other denied it; a quarrel en
sued, when the one lo whom the money was
due struck the other over head with a
piece ot board and killed him/ “ Let us have
peace.” —Forsvlh Advertiser.
The Best Example of Georgia Planting.
—A friend, writing to the Telegraph , says that
David Dickson, of Hancock, w 1 make this
year 800 bales of cotlon on 800 acr s o and.
Let us foot up the net results, as we have good
reason to believe them to be :
800 bales of cotton $-80,000
Less labor $20,000
Manures 10,000
CouliDgenls 8,000-$35,000
Net receipts $42,000
The world looks with res peek upon an
ackt ov jasliss, hot heave up tbeir hats at a dis
play or mersev. Yet the one is the strength ov
virtue, while the other tz most often its great
est weakness.— Josh Billings.