Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-03-03
THE ENQUIRER.
Monday Morning, march, 2, 1916.
MON ID, VA.

City pap.rs notices OF The late fatal catastrophe,
witch resulted in The death OF Mr.. John II Plea
SAINTS, and which has cast deep gloom over This
community. There are few, probably, who &C.
plore This sad event more sincerely and deeply
than he who writes these lines Would to
God iha, ii coul,; have been ordered Otherwise!
We feel that this is not the time nor the occa-
sion, for US 10 go into any particulars ia regard
10 this most unhappy occurrence. We are re-
strained b. considerations which will at once
suggest themselves 10 every liberal mind and
feeling heart.
We deem il proper, however, 10 say, that our
relative and Junior partner is not al Presel! in
Virginia. What course he may ultimately puf-
sue, we do not certainly know; but OF this
We feel perfectly assured, that whatever he may
have icit himself forced 10 do, in relation 10 tbs
unfortunate event, he will return, al proper time
10 meet that investigation which he laws oil the
land require.
IFlom he Richmond Star Of SATURDAY.
Ii is our sad duty 10 announce 10 our moe dis
liant readers the melancholy dealh Of our friend,
JOHN HAMPDEN peasants. the Sc
nior Editor OF this paper, and of The nc& one IN
contemplation BY us. There is little need Of an
nouncine il to The people OF Richmond. The
peryading grief which has rested on The city for
two days past, during his illness, has shaded INFO
sill darker gloom long ere this as the tidnss OF
his tale have passed from citizen 10 citizen
Throughout. the town. In accordance with that
deicacv which characterized him as a man OF
feeling, he desired no mention 10 b. made IN this
paper, while he lived, OF The fatal cause OF his
unlimely fall But the lips which exposed hal
wish are sealed in dealh and The elcal heart
which dictated it has ceased 10 beat. We eve
the duly 10 The public 10 make known The TACT,
that he fell wounded, in .nmerous parts OF his
body in renconlre with Mr.. Thomas Richie,
Jr, on "Wednesday morning last on the Manches-
ter side OF James River, about sunrise Of he
morning and fingered in much agony until i've
o'clock on Thursday night, when he sunk into
eternity.
We have no heart-il it were becoming in us
to give any Of the particulars OF This horrible
tragedy. Others will doubtless do il. But We
take pleasure in consoling his friends with lhr
assurance tina, he died calmly and compcsc!ly-
and with his dying breath declared that he had
no purpose TO kill his adversary. We might n
ter into a detail of what fell under our own re-
luctan, observation, prior 10 the meeting, relating
10 this declaration, but as statement by other
and ADLER hands will probably be made Of these
matters we forbear 10 mention them here
Mr. peasants had for quarter OF century
filled a conspicuous place before The public L"
a mind naturally gifted he had added all ihe
stores Of copious reading. With hear over
sensitive. prompting him often 10 impul>lve &C
lion, he still overhowed ever with noble senero-
Sly, which bore 10 malice and scorned mcdita;-
rd injury. Ills was confdng heart. The
word of a friend was a Jaw 10 him-"Id bis Was
macnanmily ever caIcies, 0! sell and thought
ia, OF Others. His life was Life OF sell sacri-
hce. His capacious heart never thought oil little
things and ne was, in his intercourse with men.
Gentle as a child As a writer, he is too well
known for his vigor, boldness and point, for his
huency Of STYLE and classical finish, 10 demand q
word lie had a national reputation, and an en-
viable lame But his heart, his msenanmnus
heart-who of all his friends will ever fail 10
she'd tear when they think of John Hampton
Pleasan,s, and his unmeiy cnd--and, above ali,
OF The aged mother and ihe'orphan chi!lrens
From he Redmond Wig 81 Satpday.l
DEATH OF JOHN II. PLEASANTS, esq.
We announce this morning, with 4 sorrow
which we have scarcely words 10 express, with an
anguish in which this whole community, and the
peonle OF this entire Commonwealth viii share,
the death the unlimely death oiJOHN HAMP
DEN PLEASANTS, Esq, la'e Senior Editor o.;
this paper. About two o'clock on yesterday
morning, in perfect calnncss ard resignation, ne
yielded up his spirit 10 his God
Upon the melancholy circumstances which
have led 10 this heart-lending result, we need not
say word. They are familiar TO every mind
'rhey require no comment. So sn1den, 50 ap
pallipg has been the stroke, HAT We can even
now scarcely realize the dreadful truth. We are
in measure supplied; we know moi how TO he
lieve il possible. Yet, alas il is too True! The
hand which has so often rested upon the table
where we sit, and welded mighty power over
The public mind which, in Thoughts that hrea'hef
and words that burned has enchanted thousands
of admiring hearts, is now cold and moilonless
A gifted son OF genius has been stricken down in
The md heaven OF his career. John HamPcen
Peasants is no more!
MIR. Peasants was the eldest son OF The late
James Pleasants, a former Governor OF Virginia,
and u. S. Senator from this Stale. In The Spring
OF 1924. he established the Richmond Wing, and
devoted 10 il Ten wears Of The most unweatied Ia
Dor. before il yielded him even living compen-
sation. Since that period the paper became The
organ Of The Wing party, and made lis way to
ponular favor and a reasonable patronage. a
more powerful and brilliant pen, than TIA, OF Mr..
p. has never been enlisted in the editorial Ianks
q, this country. A more sincere advocate Of the
great cause 10 which his efforts we're devoted,
never brea,hcd The breath OF lie. a more
true, gallant and generous spirit never dWeh
in a human breast. Honest, slfaIght-lor-
ward, full of impulse, he looked 81 the riSnt,
and never counted consequences ne tramPitd
under foot with noble scorn all sordid considera-
lions Of SELF and made The press which ne con-
Quoted a bright and perfect mirror oil ms manly
heart.
Mr. Peasants would have been 80 years OF
age. some time in March He has lef! an aged
mother, two children. several sisters, TWO brothers,
and large circle Of devoted relatives ana friends
10 lament his loss. Our deepest sylnpalhies are
with his bereayed household with the helpless
orphans so early cast without protector, up-
on bleak and cherries world; with me grey
haired mother, from whose trembling hahds mas
been torn line staff, with which she sustained re!
footsteps down The vale of years, and from whose
lips the agonizine cry is forced: MY son my
son would 10 God that had died Tor thee Z
with all whose hearts are bleeding under this dire
Gala nifty, We most sincerely mourn. bu' II y
idle 10 whisper now wofd ol COINCIDENCE 70
The bereavcd. No human lips can alleviate
their unspeakablc sorrow. Inc balm Tor Sfiel
like theirs, can be administered alone ny DIVINE
Physician. and 10 Him, in humble reverence and
adorins faith. We know they will look for light
in lheiI darkness, and hope in their despair
Since the above was written. friend has
handed The following, and we need rot say now
cordially we concur with the appeal:
Some Of, the friends OF Mr. Pleasants feeling
aculely for the alic,ion and deslilnlon OF his Ia
mIy, under their sudden and deplorable bereave-
ment, and considering ii their duty, as christians,
and as men, 10 remember them in their distress,
and provide ior them an efficient relief 50 far as
lies in hannah power, have, for that purpose, SCI
ON foot subscription, which has already been
extensively filled.
No case could well be imagined, appealing
more strongly to the public sympathy, and surely
no worhier objects.
Itwould be indelicae 10 enquire into The par
licuars of their condition. L is enough, that two
children Of tender years, but OF the brightest pro
mise. and worthy Of their parenlase, and vi
dowed mother not less venerable for her virtues
than her years, have been deprived OF their only
slay. An appeal on their behalf cannot be made
in vain 10 The literally of The people OF Rich
mond. amongst whom they have been 50 long
known and so greatly loved.
Fnreraiof JoAn Hampton Plca'anIs, Esq
The funeral of The late JoHs HAMpnsS PLgA-
s.Srs ESQ. will take place from MIR. Stiles