Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1857-08-14
Eroyu the Press
-2=4--z-z-S-ass1s-ae.s-.s s--,ss From the FresS.
:. Lang Syneo In the West.

part of the Far West,n and pretty rude. The
narrator was at that time, but small boy, out the
circumstances of the affair made such an impression
on his memory that he tells it now with entire conh-
dence as to its substantial accuracy.
In old times it was quite fashion in western VII
lages-especally when business little dull
for the people in them to meet In the pleasant weather
of the afternoon in small squads OF six or eight or
en at the store doors, and pass the time in chatting
and telling stories On one of those occasions, Cap
tain James Moore was present, as not very unusual
with him. He was blacksmith. though he did not
then work at the trade himself However, he still
had shop the business of which was chiefly man
aged by his two brothers The Captain, so far from
being a large man, was rather of the smash order,
but compactly formed and we'll pnt together He was
BY no means quarrelsome, as we'll as by no means
wa1dly-being always ready TO hght' whenever he
thought the occasion called for it. He was remarka-
bic too for great quickness in bringing his energies
into entire concentration, as to make them bear d.
recly on single ject. He knew the value OF run
ming start his adversary, and was almost nvarla-
bly, the assalant, and would often be called the ag
gressor by those who were unacqualned with his
iudicious tactics. He always fought to whip-never
10 defend himself The consequence was, that whist
his adversary was very much hurt, and in an almost
incredibly short time he himself frequently escaped
without scratch. The Captain was one of the lit
lie group above referred to, and being man of few
words rather good listener than great talker-
had lain down, his face upwardS, on the broad and
low rail that bounded the side walk, his head rest
ing in of the posts projecting little above the
rail. While Moore was reposing so quietly and
comfortably to him, the conversation going pretty
meriy, stout, brawney, unknown fellow, belong
| ing to some other settlement, and looking if il
would not be very easy work to handle him,
entered the village horseback, and rode lesurey
up the middle of the street, where the party were
proclaimng as he passed aong-like Goliah of old
| thai he could Ahip any man in the town. and that
| he was ready TO convince any one who was willing
| to try. The company in which Moore was, had no
thought of accepting This comprehensive challenge );
! they rather interested at the boldness OF the
challenger than at its unusualness for such chaleng
es, though they have gone out at the West, were
not uncommon then The stranger proceeded up
street, till he came TO Cemmens tavern* about two
hundred yards above Here he a'ighted, fastened
his horse, went IN, and was the custom then,
called for ticker, half pint of whiskey. When
the strange challenger passed by Moore rose from his
resting place, and seeing him go in ClemmenS tav
ern he sauntered, apparently very careessly, W that
way. Before leaving he said nothing to any body. His
company supported, if they thought at all about it,
! that he was going h,me, as his own dwelling house
was about third of the way towards Clemmens'.-
But having cached it, he continued his walk towards
Clemmens' This attracted the attention OF the
friends be had left, for they, we'll knowing bis char
acter, expected every moment 10 hear the shout of
battle. This shout was not then as it is now
Now it is for assistance to separate the parties, But
in by gone times it the shout of encouragement
|
sides. If the parties equally matched, the spec
talors, so far from desiring have them separated,
wished TO have the fight finished, that they might
see who was the " best man.
| After Moore went into the house, it not long
before the battle-cry raised, for he advanced,
without any hluster, to The stranger, asking him if
he serious only in fun when he proclaimed
his challenge in the street! The captains size and
appearan, e were not we'll fitted 10 make strong i'm
preston the stranger 10 his fighting ability. On
10, H., o1ol; lolo
and perhaps adding some conte1nltuous and under
valuing expression about Moore himself. the Captain
pitched mo him Now raised the clamor
GUS shout, Il fair fight! Into him, Moore Give it
10 him, Moore Hur'ah for the stranger" Sc, &c
Some of Moores friends below, Immediately on hear
ing The cutlery, ran up to the issue of the mat.
ter.
But before they reached the scene of action the
noise had entirely ceased. The Captain came out of
the house, excited, of course, but no great passion
and apparently unhurt, saying to his friends, he
passed by them on his way toward home, Hang
the feloU he has got Just qchat he deserved, for he
might haze been certain somebody Dould take him up
expect he thinks by this time that every an town
is not so easily whlpped." Those who had run up to
see how things going, walked into the
house, where they saw the challenger washing the
blood off his badly-bruised head and face, and hav
ing large portion of of his ears, of his
not now recoilected which-btten off by Moore
in the aray. The stranger, after reflting we'll as
dunk of it, united his horse, mounted him, and in
quiet, melancholy manner went out of town.
! Captain Moore, about whom we have related the
| foregoing anecdoe, the father of Thomas p.
| Moore, member OF Congress, a warm partizan of
Presidents Jackson and VanBuren, and afterwards
appointed by the latter Minister to Colombia. The
captain died while his quite young, though
he received as good an education uen COM
mon n Kentucky. Soon after he grew up, he re-
moved from his native village, which was al one end
OF the county as then organized to another more
trail. At his residence he tried almost every
means to make himself popular, with view of being
elected 10 the Legislature-to which he was soon
I sent. He restless, active, energetic. John
Wilson, generally called Pat. Wilson, strong,
stout Irishman, and not at all averse to fghing,
had said something disparagng about Moore,
which Moore had determined to avenge himself
for. Moore being, day, in his native village
where he was not very popular, and where WiboL re-
sided, asked w. about 1t on the street. On Wilson's
affirming the truth Of what he had said, an not
supposing that one OF Mnores small fgute conpar-
ed with his, would venture TO attack him, (" Little
Tom,' for he was SO called, flew at him with the
agility of cat, and fastened on him with the
venom OF one. Before Wilson could arouse himself
from his la@lness we'll known what was going Oh,
| Moore had pummelled him soundy about the head
and face, and bitten of part of his upper lip. The
people from all directions to know what was the
matter; but before they had we'll gotten to the place.
Moore had diSengaged himself from Wilson, was on
his horse and going homeward before any new
quarrel could be raised. He appears, however, tC
have inhe rited from his father his biting qualities
his quickness and courage, too. He died in the
summer OF 1858 +
of mind uncle of the late jeremiah Cemmens
from Alabama who called after him Let it be sup
posed Cemmens kept owdy house. because
of the fighting done-or he did not 1t abundant
ly provided and substantially welatended for all sorts