New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1860-04-09

4 15n 4 fertise nook in q shadowed place.
and Mifhin thc depths 81 its messy walls
BIoom tie hopes and the prayers that give il
8 K Tsd il blessed hy the notes of simple strain
II VII break into blossoms Of beauty again,
The dewg tears vii tell how deep a
Ill thu power that touched that laaden sleep
-
An Interesting "Reminiscences.
A writer ii the Concordia Intelligencer gives ths
\ following account Of All affair which occurred
many years ago, some Of the actors Id which arr
eaH living, and well and honorably knownin thi.
city:
y 1927 business affairs called me to Alexandra
N Nnd NetchitoUhas. Steamboats, were then but in.
i dalerent III speed and arcomnodat atoms and but
+, few in number. Oar older citizens will recollect
&he iittle steamer Miami, and our old friend, Capt.
! Stephen Wasers, of whom we have treasured up
sonis IS tool passage on the little boat,
IND Il do hot fhiIA, sitla stopping day nit Fort
llnH. (as boat then stopped at all shipping
poiutz twenty four hours, and, with prospect Of
"A F&IEht ionger9 ana O. day or two at Alexandria,
Tat w were much over . fortnight ID getting to
H&tehitpches and back to Alexandria At that
Il All8e sSt was long before the making Of Red river
tse mouth Of Red river to Ayoyelles
\ Erancis Bsfrian ttiie late Hon. Henry
q. Bullard being the hero3 in my hand at the time
nd found his descrp ton Of the lower part Of REQ
@ with its moss, its lagoons and algators very
Aceufate
The banks we're then literally lined with immense
alligators, some Of which, Mr.. Giles Bledsoe, Of
Natchez. and myself, amused ourselves with shoot
in them enough to make chem slide into Tie water
une Of them appearing to be at least twenty-five
keef Long, with bofy as large round as a cows
: created some little fear as be slid down the bank
Ike snake. our boat running close to the shore at
tae time He was q terrible looking monster, His
4 mail was, Of course, perfectly impervious to our
4 ounce balls The country between Alexandria and
Natchitochss NAs Of A tiHerent character. There
as then about six eight feet bank and the large
plantations appeared to great advantage. Com
naratlEely II was paradise The river then ran
~ The old town Of Natchitoches, Or the Southern
SIDE a. ne island, what is now called Old River.
y Yle town was occupied principally BY old Spanish
residents but Yankee by the name of Wiley,
had already found home there aud T. even at this
day, take pleasure In acknowledging the kind well
come and hospitable attentions during my stay in
On nsy return to Alexandra. made The ac.s
qaaintaace Of a gentleman at the hotel well known
1t fhat period Maier B., who believe, is now
tained the current news Of the place. The town
Waa IN ferment. No man, it was said could
Crook his finger without drawing the mnxzle of
enn Or pistol npon him; "a difficulty in the ball
if0em between Messra. Blanchard and Wells was
scarGsiy prevented, d sword having been drawn
from is cane on the occasion.
Pr Mattox was riding to visit a patient the late
Thomas Barnard, of Natchez, being ID the gig with
rail fence, with rifle leveled, and called upon Dr.
MAtt0xs who Immediately descended to the ground
hat before be could bring his gun to bear, the ind
vidua the other side Of the fence fired Instead
however, Of hitting DR. Mattox, the ball entered
the knee Of Mr. Barnard-the breast of the Doctor
being about upon q level with Mr. BIS knee. ME-.
e was famed for life. do not mention the name
Of the individual who fred the rifle, from fear of
error at the present moment.
The difficulty had It's origin in the appointment
ot ME- GQny, who was Lieutenant of Horse, OVER
goa Crane 10 Tho office Of Brigadier General in the
Z nalli5a Two parties were ultimately formed by
saH friends Of Crane on the one side, and of Gen.
I gany on the other. The fend was exceedingly BIT
fsrs +
fter my return home, believe for some weeks,
g. Mss called upon ~ perhaps should say. Col.
ana spent pretty much the whole day, dining with
me at my boarding. house, c0nYersing freely and
most ineelgently to my great delight and instruc
non. dla aot dream Ct any approaching hostili,
ties, although on going to dinner Col. Crane asked
permission to disarm himself in the ante room
whom IHaw that he was heavily armed He was
ec interesting n conversation, never thought Of
asking myself the motive oil his long visit. It was
nnIy " the following morning that the matter was
explained.
Il appears that challenge had passed between
ny. Samuel Wells and Dr. Mattox, growing out Of
Thy general difficulty, and 1t was this duel which
called the gentleman from Alexandria to Natchez,
and NOT any of Col. Bowie's affairs There was
certainly much ill-blood between Coils. Bowie and
Crane. Is We one Of The stipulations which Col
Cuny was not to come upon the duelling ground,
A. be was fearful Of collision it being generally
understood that such Twas the temper Of the par
tiea that fash Of gunpowder would have been
deemed declaration Of war, involving all the indi-
viduats on both sides. Such we will see was the
ease ultimately, for the general fight which did
take place was 90 part Of the programme, though
IL Eas thought possible that other regular dueIs
might be fought before The return Of the Louisi.
AniAns to their homes.
y Dr. Mattox and Mr. Samuel Wells met on the bar
ADORE Natchez, on the Mississippi side, Col Crane
III DR. Mattoxas second. The name of Mr.. Wells
second have forgotten at the present moment
Two Intellectual shots were made, when having
really no personal enmity, the seconds nterposed,
and the principals made friends. The four who,
alone, were on the open bar, walked up to the
woods on the bank together, for the purpose of
taking glass Of wine. Immediately on entering
the woods ,on turning to the right, Gen. Cuny with
l,is friend Gel Bowie, appeared on the left; Gen.
Gnny, called to Col. Crane, 6 II is good time
Col Crane, for you and to settle our difeulties'
Col Crane deeming the appearance Of Gen. Cuny
on the ground as violation OF the compact made,
twas said between all parties, and knowing Col.
Bowie 70 be the most dangerous man, without
omentas hesitation, fired the pistol which he held
in his hand as second Of Dr. Mattox and still held
atf,ol B0svic. ~ |
The shot took effect, bat COL Bowie was brought
70 bis knees by the pistol which Col Crane threw
immediately after firing, and which struck Col |
5owie on me head Gen. euny fred without effect.
ssoi frame crew his other pistol and fired at Gen.
Aanyt tne haal passing through the femoraI artery
Of MS ielt thigh, causing him to bleed to death |
almost instantly Twenty pistols were fred in half
l.e number OF seconds. Mr. Jefferson Wells (now
Gen. Wells1 fred at MIR. blanchard who. with Major
Wright, was rushing upon the wounded Hoy;e
with their sword canes, breaking Blaneharls arm
Major " attempted to run Bowie through. INIT the
latter, though receiving the sword in Ms hadu |
ErappIed with his assaiiant drawing him dowyn,
upon himself tlirnstiug his knife into Wrirhsss
heart, and, a. heard him say Immediately alter
he twisted it to cut his did heartstringsh Col.
Bowie received wounds from three balls and four
slabs, and was, Al be expressed himself after his
wounds were dressed, Odd badly wounded y but
how he lived was mystery to me.
Drs Denny and Cox, Of Natehez, who attended
the duelists, we're the only noncombatants on the
ground, for Col. William Barnard, the brother of
IhUmaa, had good intentions to shoot for he rushed
down with his double barrel gun. crying, 'wlo
shall Ishoots who shall Ishootsu Those who knew
Col b knew very well that, IL he had been less of
stranger, and had known one party from another.
ha wonl have blazed away at any one pointed
cut 70 him under the feeling of evaporation pro-
anced by the manning of his brother. DR.. Denny
Pa ne peenliarity Of catching one By the button
hana- On this occasion be caught friend BY the |
roaS enchanting, sright hand raised This thing
Mest ne atoppeas sit; this thing must be sfanped y