The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1866-07-13
Assault upon Gov, Falrchild-He is
Struck with a Slung Shot

Struck with Slung Shot.
We publish the following accounts Of a
dastardIy assault upon the person of Gov.
! FA,Rcn1LD on :be night Of the 81 inst, +,
from the Madison papers, only adding that
there is not the slightest reason to sup
pose that the affair has the remotest rela-
tion to the Governors political views or
to his political position. 1t ITO be hoped
that the cowardly miscreant will be found
and The punishment netei out 10 him
that he deserves:
From the State Journal July 3D.
A most cowardly and brutal assault
was made on Monday night upon Gov
Fairchid, apparently with the intention of
numbering him.
At the suggestion o. the police, moth
ing was said in the city papers yesterday
respecting the affair. As no further pur,
pose is to be served by continued silence,
we state the facts as they occurred.
Gov. Farchild stepped into the garlen
in the rear OF his residence at about III
O'Clock in the evening. None of the fam
ily had yet retired. and there was Gas
| light at the kitchen door ,ha. she'd a
strong lie BIT over any Que passing out, so
that they would be readily recogbizo:1 hy
a person watching from tie outside.
The night WAS intensely dark and cloudy
AS Gov. F., was passing along the walk,
which was made more obscure by the
deep shadow Of some fir trees, he heard
a step behind him, and, turning SUD enly.
saw the figure of a man, indistinct in the
darkness, approaching him in threaten
ing manner. He spoke out shsrply, on
the impulse Of the moment: What
do YOU want?' At the same instant the
ruiian rushed upon him. exclsiming: {:
"You God Id Yankee - and struck
heavy blow with what seemed to be a
slung shot, aiming at the Governors head
The Governor jumped aside, and the blow
struck him grazingIv on the forehead
making considerable confusion through
the felt hat he had on. At the same in
slant Gov F. drew revolver and snapped
it. The first barrel missed fire. Mean
tine the rufian, whether hearing the
click Of the pistol, or whether startled hy
the failure O! his blow, turned and fed
The second barrel of the revolver explod>
ed, bu. without biting the nyirg assassin
The Governor snapped two more barrels,
which failed, the pistol having been for q
lorg time loaded. The whole affair W as
over in the briefest space Of time.
These are the facts as they occurred.
Sheriff McDougal was Immediately in
formed Of the occurrence, and has been
active in endeavoring to search out and
arrest the perpetrators and accompices,
If any, Of this cowardly and brutal attack
upon the chic: magistrate of the state.
There are varied theories a. to the
source and object Of the attack AS long
ago as February last, Gov. Fairchld re-
ceived Al anonymous letter mailed at
Washington, telling him that an attempt
would be made on bis life and advising
him to 60 armed constantly. 1t is stated
that a southerner, who heard a remark
made by the governor at the Revere
( house, in Chicago, last year, at the time
of Lincoln's funeral, concerning jeff Da-
WIS., had sworn to wreak vengeance On
him. The letter seemed very absurd, and
the governor attached no special mtor-
tance 10 It, ror does he now believe it
possible that the assault can have origina-
ted in any such motive. Whoever made
he attack probably had been prowIing
around the premises watching for an OBJ
portunity for some time past.
Ero,, tho Noa;,on T,;o,
A murderous assault was made upon
Gov. Fairchild, at a very late hour on
Sunday night last, 10 the yard IN the fear
of the Fairchid residence, On Wisconsin
avenue. Gov. Fairchild had been Up
town and left the Office Of mayor keves
about l o'clock p IN. After arriving al,
his home he felt disposed to walk in the
ample and beautifully decorated grounds
attached to the residence While there
ne met stranger Git was quite dark of
W ON he asked, "what ale you doing
here = The only reply was a terrible
blow with a sung shot, or some other
murderous instrument. Which hit the cos-
ernor just on the brirn of his hat which
partly relieved its deadly intent. 1t fell,
however, with fearful power upon his
forehead, and partially .tunhins him,
made an awful bruise.
The governor drew & rerolser and had
an excellent aim at the would be ASSASSIN
but the cap Of the pistol snapped, and the
cartridge failed TO explode. The trigger
was pulled OF the second barrel with ef
fec, but the assailaut had turned and fed,
and was probably not hit by the bullet
which followed him.
| The blow caused A severe confusion on
the forehead, which was dressed and pro-
perIy cared for, so that no more serious
results followed
| TIE CHILp MURDERER LIxpsLEY.-