The American. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1857, 1857-09-02
LOCAL INTELLIGENcE.

was on her way to Washington, conveying the
passengers brought to Alexandra by the Orange
Railroad, w. ii. De G. Wright, Esq., merchant
OF Baltimore, requested Mr.. Hugh Latham to have
the baggage OF himselfand several Baltimore travel
ing companions picked out of the pile and placed by
ITSELF to save trouble at the terminus as the boat
was too late to make connection with Washing
ton and Baltimore Branch Railroad. Mr.. Latham
made some reply which was considered by Mr.
Wright to be insulting, implying that the latter was
no gentleman. Mr. W., who is upwards Of sixty
years of age, said Do you intend to say that am
no gentleman ?" or, "Do not say am no gentle
man, and at the same time made amove towards Mr..
Latham. Mr.. L. asked Mr.. Wright what he wanted,
and Immediately beganto pull off his coat, which
act was interpreted by Mr. Wright and Others as
an indication of an intention to assault Mr.. w.
DIR. |. p. Thorn, a travelling companion of Mr..
Wright who was sitting or standing upon pile
of baggage engaged in pointing out the trunks of
the Baltimoreans, jumped to the deck, and at
single blow knocked Mr.. Latham down. Crap
pie then ensued between them, and just at this
juncture three of Mr.: Latham's omnibus drivers
caught Dr. Thorn by his whiskcrs and hair of his
head, and forced him into a STOPPING position and
began to kick him in the head and face Mr..
Latham called to the engineer of the boat who
was in the room near by, for a hammer with which
to kill DIR. Thorn. The engineer declined to fur
nish the weapon called for by Mr. L., when Mr.
L., seized hold of piece of oak plank two inches
in thickness ten or twelve inches wide, and nearly
two feet in length, and struck DR.. Thorn over the
head with it, while he was in the position before
mentioned.
This occurred in the starboard gangway Of the
boat near the pile of baggage, or between the
pile OF baggage and the cabin PARTITION with scarce
room for two persons to stand abreast While this
was in progress, another person in the employ of
Mr.. Latham seized Mr.. Wright, threw him on the
deck, opposite the pile of baggage, near the en-
gineer's room. Mr.. Entwisle the engineer, seeing
the man holding Mr. Wright by the throat, and in
the act of striking him with his fist as he lay pros
trate on the deck, jumped from his position at the
engine and interfcred in time to avert the falling
blow. This done, Mr.. Il. sprang over the pile OF
baggage, and seized Mr.. Latham by the arm, as he
was about repeating the blows upon the head Of
DR.. Thorn, saying For Gods sake, Latham, don't
kill the manp Mr.. Latham made reply that he
would kill him, and any person who attempted to
interfere to prevent him. At this juncture, the
pilot struck the signal to back the boat as she
approaching the slip Of the dock. Mr. E. was
compelled to leave the parties in this position to
attend to his duties.
The captain of the boat, Mr.. Price, knew no.
thing of the occurrence until informed by the
chambermaid that there was man in the cabin
bleeding to death. lie proceeded to the cabin,
and Immediately returning, said to Mr. Latham
"Hughey, this must be stopped / must and
will protect my passengers, at all hazards, while
they are on my boat" Mr.. L., who appeared to
be laboring under great excitement, replied that
he would kill DR.. Thorn if he attempted to pass
off the boat. Captain p, answered that he could
not do it on the boat neither would he permit
him to interfere with the egress of the passengers
he took Mr.. Latham, in persuasive manner, by
the arm and led him to the gangway of the slip.
Mr. Wright and DR.. Thorn returned to Alex
i. =. Al Al. l. -
less from the blows inflicted on his head. Medical
advice being procured, it was thought dangerous
to remove the doctor to Washington that night.
DR.. Thorn returned to Washington early on
Sunday morning, and proceeded with Mr.. Wright
and family to Baltimore. His injuries are believed
to be of a very serious character, and apprchen-
sions are felt that the blows about his head have
impaired his reason to some extent
The Orange and Alexandria Railroad Company
have suspended Mr.. Latham until an investigation
is had into the matter. We give below Mr..
Lathams letter to Mr. Wallach, editor of the Star,
from which we take this account)
w. ID. Walkach, ESg.-Presuming there will
be an incorrect account published of an unfortu-
nate and much to be regretted affair that occurred
on the steamer George Page last Saturday after.
noon, ask a small space in the Star for the pur-
pose of making plain, and as / believe correct
statement. Whilst / was unchecking and mark
commenced abusing the Railroad Company and
all connected with it. As part Of his abuse
was evidently aimed at me, | replied; which led
to a rambling fire Of words. Perceivng that he
was getting excited / calmly requested him to
leave me so that could attend to my business
Immediately stopped down and continued with
my work, when he advanced on me, using abu.
siye and blasphemous language l retorted with
the same language, still urging him to leave me.
bio h, L..
stood on the defensive.
Just at this time another gentleman, Dr. Thorn,
appeared, and about the time was aware of his
presence he struck me and knocked me against
the wagon. l recovered and he knocked me
again. At this time some person on my left re.
ceived pass from him (Dr. Thom), and as he
recovered l dealt him blow in the face and
caught him by the whiskers and threw him
backwards, near the other wagon horses As he
was falling a gentleman caught him and pushed
him up, assisting with my hand on his whiskers.
All this happened on the trunks, standing on
their ends. After he recovered he pressed me
back until fell off the trunks to the deck-he on
top of me. Az this time some persons took him
off and regained my feet, took a piece of oak
plank about Is inches long, 10 in width, and
thick, and struck him mot hard) on the head,
after which kicked him two or three times.
DR.. Thorn is a large, athletic man, weighing
about two hundred pounds. The gentleman who
80 wantoDly and unnecessarily provoked the ARRAY
is full six feet, and weighs about one hundred and
sixty pounds. Ny weight is about one hundred
and thirty pounds. After DR.. Thorn went into
the cabin, my wounded feelings "outran the pause
Of reason" and said and did some things that
sincerely regret. The above is correct version
of the affair far participated, and it is made
because wish to retain the confidence and respect
of the public at large, with whom | have been SC
intimately and pleasantly associated for the last
fourteen years.
/ have understood that very strong and highly
colored statements are propagated by few Of my
enemies (thank God! they are fewD about the
interference Of some Of my men and friends. Wa:
it to be expected that they would stand quietly by