The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1869-04-17
THE LATE MURRAY sHcCOy-
NELL.

The recent assassination Of Gen. DC.
ConDell, at his home in Jacksonville. has
caused the publication Of many incidents
OF his early life that were unknown to the
public, and many others, no doubt, will
DC related hereafter. In many respects,
Gen. Mcconnell was man of mark-a
man OF decided character, not met with
every day in any country. Judge Pier
son, writing from Dangille, ILL.,, to the
Springfield Register, relates two interest
ing and exciting incidents that occurred
in the early days of the career Of this re.
markable man, as follows -
"soon after coming to Illinois. or bc.
fore settling at Jacksonville, he took q
trip to Texas through Arkansas, and
while passing through Arkansas, he came
across an cmigrant with wife and three
daughters. The man in attempting Ia
cross stream, found it deeper than he
imagiued, and in doing SO had his wagon
carried down stream and overturned. and
one of his daughters drowned. After as.
slsting the poor man in getting the
drowned daughter from the water. Il was
near night, and the man had, for help and
safety, togo back FIVE or six miles through
a thick wood, and leave the dead child
there. Mcconnell volunteered TO stav
with her. and keep the wolves from eat
ing the corpse. He kindled fire. but il
was not long before the voracious mon.
sters came hogling around, and the only
way he could scare them off was TO keen
The fire burning and hurling brands at
them. This was kept up all night aud
until the father and friends came 10 re.
lieve him in the morning. Mr McCon-
nell, in describing the scene said ahe had
never seen, and never expected to sec.
such monsters again; they at times seem.
ed thousand, and such howling and
gnashing of teeth no maa ever saw more
terrific" but the general remarked: "aIone
as was, ! stood my ground, kept the fire
burning, and casting fre-brands all night.
thus | saved the corpse and myself"
When in Texas, he met with another
adventure. Sometimes, said be to me.
81 would have to travel ten aud twenty
miles from house TO house. / stopped at
log cabin and asked the man how far il
was to the next timber? His reply was.
L will go With you and he got on his
pony for that purpose. They Travelled TO
the timber, about fifteen miles, and they
halted He took off his saddle bags and
spaneeied his horse, and turned him ont
to Craze while he rested. He he'd two
pistols with him, one in his saddle. bags.
end the other, small one, on his person.
AS he went little way for water and re-
turned, the desperate, for such he proved
to be. had taken out pistol and cooked
It, and when he came up, demanded his
money and horse or death. Mcconnell
drew his pocket-pistol, and the villain
fired, missing Mcconnell, but grazing
him near the cheek. The scoundrel was
then in his power. Mcconnell presented
his pistol and told him, if he moved foot
he was dead man, that he had forfeited
bis life, but that he (McConnelD would
not take il, if he would Immediately get
on his horse and ride towards bone and
not follow him ady further. The desper-
ado did so, and after he was CIT of sight.
Mcconnell gathered his pony and reaah-
ed the next settlement, where be further
learned the true character of this robber
and would-be murderer / asked the
general, Glow did you feel when the vii
lain held the pistol to your breast in that
wild place y The general replied, g |
thought at first he was sure to kill me.
but when he missed, I did not want to
take the poor devils life, but was as
cool and collected as at this moment"
No man who ever saw General MoCon-
nell would doubt his coolncss aud cour-
age, But he died at last by the hand of
base assassin, where no coolness or cour-
age could avail him-struck down in a
moment, without notice or warming. Il
will be long time before Illinois will
have more gifted or talented man, or
one that has won wealth and distinction
from smaller beginning, and by more d.
rect means"