The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1867-11-14
DEATH OF NED BUNTLlNE'S
WIFE.
a Curious Career.

| uCIC NtlG' III INV P''Nh''"'S 49, ''''~
county, and was buried last Saturday at
the expense ofthe public, q woman who
was at one time the wife of the famous
Ned Buntine, and at another the mis-
tress of Ben. McCulloch, the. ranger
The date other registry was "July
2G." The name entered was "Martha
Lcguire," but she went by various
pseudnyms, and originally a Cuban,
born at Havana, and raisd in New Or
leans. Her true name was Marin Cor
dova.
The story other life, as given to US
is rather more romantic than common,
ly turns up in the every day experience
Of local reporter. Her father was a
tobacconist, and the first mention
made OF her was when she was y girl
fourteen or fifteen years Of age. when
she was known in the Crescent city as
"thc pretty cigar girl of Canal street"
She attended at the patriarchial shop,
both wrapped and sold the choicest
principles. and added to her charms and
ner reputation by an exceeding coy
modesty that dcfied assault.
Buntline--bcioreh he came to Nash
vile and was involved in the fearful
tragedy that is associated with his name
lived a thrifl,ess, daredevil life ip
Texas, on the prairics, upon the gulf
coast, and about New Orleans. He
was handsome young fellow of Oh
scurc origin, ready talent, neat address,
and varied accomplishments.
His meeting with the pretty cigar
Girl was an accident, and his snit was
long and difficult, AT last he had to
marry her, and, three weeks after the
marriage, the couple suddenly disap'
peared.
There are VA ious accounts of their
absence. 1t WAS said that the cap
tain,' as Ned was then callcdi he is 4
General now,) commanded a brig in
the Caribbean seas, and did busines as
an active and fearless pirate. 1t was
reported that he had gone to Texas to
see Judge Wartrous, and claim the for
tune left by Lailtt. 1t was sworn to in
court that he had retired on the proceeds
of faro bank, in which he was inter
ested, and fitted INN up q ranclle at
Corpus Christi.
Most likely the latter is the correct
version.
In 1917, when McCulloch appeared
at the head Of the scouts or rangers, by
which Old Zack set such store, he had
with him an orderly, remarkable for his
retiring, reticcnt, modest disposition,
and his handsome girish face. This
orderly, it will be remembered accompa-
MED him through the campaign, being
wounded in front Of perrote, and being
left with the monks at Santa Cruz, at
the old convent near Pareda's hacienda
McCulloch was always careful Of the
secret, but somehow it leaked out. The
ordily was person Of the tender sex;
vas, in fact, the pretty cigar girl OF
Canal street.
Where the ranger lad found her,
how the pirate had become separated
from her, are points on which we are
unable enlignten the reader McCul-
loch never saw her again He left her
ut Perrote. was wounded himself at
Cherubusco, conveyed to Vera Cruz,
and thence ordered to Washington.
Whether he ever made IN effort to re
gain his lost orderly is unknown. She
remained at tho monastery tor nearly
ten years
Not yet shom other beauty, she ap
peared in the city Of Managua, Central
America, at the entrance of General
Henningsen, and there made the &C
quaintancc OF 4 gambling tillibuster,
we'll known in New Orleans and Nash
vile, whom she accompanied back tc
the States. Her descent from q cathe-
dral to the monte table, and from a
gambling hell to q common brothel,
and from intamy to paupcrsm, was
very gradual, but also very sure.
She found herself, during the winter
of 1865, at the close Of the war, in this
city. She had been sent north from
Atlanta, by Sherman, when he dcpop
ultated that city, first to Cincinnati
and then to Louisville. The last of an
eventful career opened in little out
house of this city, west of the Capitol.
For few weeks she employed herself
rs sewing woman, but gave way to
drink, and, after the customary seasons
of arrest and punishment, rclapsed in
to hopeless mendicancy and finally in
to the poorhouse.
Here she died, and hence she was
carried to an unmarked grave. One
who saw her after the body was decent
ly clad for interments represents that
she presented most beautiful but sad
ening spectacle. The traces of the Or
ig;nal charm that had singld her out of
Il city full of Creole girls still remained
though dim and marred by the signs
of want and sorrow and dissipation to