The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1870-07-02
gelttt Mistellaug,
TOM HAWKINS.
A NewSchapser Of Political Eistory-.-Eow the
little Giant" was to be put out Of theway.

1
The Washington correspondent of tn
Chicago Tribune relates the following story
of the Golden time," before the great war
"Did you ever hear of Tom Hawkins ?
said man of politics to me yerterday
"Tom Hawkins is the greatest duelist IL
Kentucky. He is now Governor Stevenson
tobacco inspector at Louisville, a handsome
man, with black moustache and large,
gariag black eyes, which seldom or never
wink, but look out like tigers and show
lerocity. He is, perhaps fifty years of age
now, but still one of the best shots in Ken
lucky, and he has fixed up more quarles,
and been a second on more fields, than any
man alive. Personally he is gentle, truth
ful, faithful fellow, but ne is deadly when
he has made up his mind to eat somebody.
Tom is one Of the best of his class,t he fin
ished duelist of the South, always nice up
on points of honor and prompt to advise
anybody to fight whom he thinks has been
injured His last appearance in proximity
to the field of honor was occasioncd by a
mooted duel between the Cincinnati editors,
which never came to shoot. People who
know him, send for him in case of a duel,
just as you send for the physician and the
preacher when your are sick. Hewas wound
ed at Buena Vista, and was with Hender-
son, Crittendcn, Lopez, and the rest when
they invaded Cuba. During the war he was
on Breckenridge's staff, and the affairs Of
private blood in which he has been engaged
are innumerable. For instance, he was Ben
Johnson's second when he killed Tom
White. Did you ever hear of that ?" "No"
"Oh Tom Hawkins had to leave the State
for some years alter that duel. Old man
White was there when Ben shot his son,
and he went on awlully. The papers raised
a bowling row about that duel. rom white
and Ben johnson had a fuss ovel cards, both
pretty full, and challenge passed, The
woman aud families on both sides took
big interest in it, and Ben.'s mother mould
ed the balls with her own hands. She was
all up and alive about it. | reckon she'd
shot Ben. herself if he hadn't gone to the
field. Ben was all crippled up with rheu-
matism, and they had to set him up and
hand him his gun. They fought with shot
guns loaded with ball. There was old man
White, hagging iu the field about points of
honor, terms of apology, etceteye etceteri,
when pop went the guns, and his son laid
dead at the old mans feet with hole right
through his forehead. They say it was
dreadful to hear him go on. l don't know
what became of Ben. johnson.
'Oh! yes, bless your soul Tom Hawkins
scared John Pope most dead once. They
were at old General Wool's table, when
Pope impugned the courage General -
and Tom Hawkins just glanced at him and
opened out. John Pope had to take water
"Tom was Breckenridges second when
the challenge passed between John and
Cutting There Tom showed the general
ship of Alexander the Great. Cuttings
second was old President Monroe's son Of
the regular army, and Tom turned him in
side out, He put him on the defense, thun-
aered at him, and got John Breckenridge
off with all honors.
Tom Hawkins is terrible fellow. If he
looks at you with his wide open eye, full of
ferocity, you are half gone up already.
When they tried Henderson in New Or
cans and Judah Benjamin Was employed |
BY the Spanish government to assist in the
prosecution, Tom, whose trial was to follow,
Jaw what terrible tongue Benjamin had,
md he followed him out of the courtroom
md said:
"Look here, Mr.. Jew, I want to tell
you something. If when my trial comes off, |
7ou say one word against my character,
III kill you in your tracks, ear .aH
Benjamin saw those big eyes ready to
ump out of Toms head, and he said:
"'Mr. Hawkins, I shall not want to have
my difficulty with you, sir '-
"They did not convict Henderson, and
Iom never came to trial.
~ reckon you never heard of Tom Hen
lerson's connections with the Fitch and
stephen A. Douglas'trial, did you? That
las never been published, to my knowledge;
,ut it was remarkable episode in the pre-
ace of the rebellion. You see, it was coming
N toward the political conventions Of 1860,
nd Douglas had all the strength, so that
t was hard on to certainty that he would