Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-09-25
Fatal Shooting Affair in Fayetteville.

The town of Fayetteville was thrown
into state of mingled gloom and excite
ment on Friday afternoon last by one of
the most unfortunate occurrences that that
good old town has ever witnessed. A shoot
ing affair took place at the Fayetteville
Hotel between Nh. r. W. Steadman and
DIR. w. H. Morrow, which resulted in the
death of both parties. Politics was the
main spring of this action, Mr.. Steadman
being a warm Demo crat and DR.. Morrow,
though formerly Surgeon in the COnfed-
crate army, a native North Carolina Rad
ical-one who had taken the test Oath-and
who held the position Of United States
Deputy Marshal.
The facts of this affair, which We have
derived from an authentic source, are these:
Both Mr. SteaGman and DR.. Morrow were
at Jonesboro' on Friday to hear the discus
sion between Coils. NIcKoy and Dockery,
| the Democratic and Radical candidates for
Congress from this District. Whilereturn-
ing on the cars to Fayetteville they became
engaged in an alteration, during which
draw, Il pistol. Mr.. Steadman was unarm-
cd, and remarked the fact at the time
| Nothing more then came of the affair until
after their arrival in Fayetteville. Mr..
Steadman, ii seems, armed himself with a
pistol, and after proceeding quietly up the
street until he arrived at the Fayetteville
Hotel he there CHANGED to meet DR.. Nor
row who, immediately on Mr.. Steadman's
approach, drew his pistol. Mr.. S. then in
turn drew his weapon, and while DR.. NJ.
was still in the act of aiming, fired, the
ball entering the body of his antagonist
just below the heart. DR.. NJ. then fell to
the floor, but raised himself up to fire.
Three shots each we're exchanged, the sec
ond shot fired by Mr.. S. taking effect in
his antagonists right side, and the third
missing him altogether. The first two
shots fired by Dr.. NJ. missed the object en-
tirely-the third, however, passed through
the right lung of Mr.. S., who, after receiv-
ing this wound, turned upon his heel and
walked off several PAGES, when he stag
gered and would have fallen but was caught
by some one standing near. He was then
taken in the Hotel and died in about tif
teen minutes. Dr.. Morrow lived until the
following morning, when he also died.
The affair of course could not transpre
without excitement \ leading Radical
negro in the crowd, named jim Bowman,
was heard to remark that this was "but the
beginning Of what was to come" Seeing
that he was treading on dangerous ground,
he took care to retire rather hurriCdly.
Mr.. Steadnlan was native of Eayctte-
VILE and much esteemed by those who
knew him, being man whose high sense
of honor and cool personal courage gained
for him great respect. His course during
the wal was such as to give reputation to
any man. At the Bethel fight he killed the
first Federal soldier known to have fallen
IN the war. Afterwards at Battery Wagner,
while in Captain Ramsey's Company, 5lst
\. Z. Troops, he prominently distinguished
himself. During the bombardment at that
point, on one occasion he loaded and fired
gun twice unalded and alone after it had
been deserted by the eunners Still later,
at the Wilderness in Virginia, seeing a
light piece of artillery upon the field be- |
tween our lines and the enemy, the horses
to which had all been killed, and the nnn
forsaken by the cannoneers, he called for
volunteers, headed the squad he was thus
enabled to form, and under the most gal |
ling fire brought the piece off in safety
For this act he was personally compliment !!
ed by Gen. A. P. Hill, his corp comman-
der, and other of his superior officers
These are prominent among his many dis