The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-12-19
Remtniscence of Daniel Webster.

George Kent contributes the following to
the Boston Advertiser
The " Baltimore mob" of 1912, which
resulted in the death Of the Revolutionary
patriot, General Lingan, and the partial de-
struction Of the Federal Republican press
OF Alexander Hanson, was supposed, to
have been largely participated in by. a
whose alleged atrocities were for some time
the subject Of newspaper comment through
out the country. 10 set himself rightwith
the pnblic, and, in the instance to be re-
lated, with his political opponents, seems
to have been an object with him in after
time.
When young man, listened with abb
sorbing interest to a story told by Daniel
Webster Of an incident occurring to him
while member of Congress from New
Hampshire during the war of 1872. He
was on his way to Washington not many
months after the events above referred to,
and in great haste on some especial busi-
ness. Arriving at Baltimore late in the
evening, in the midst of dark and heavy
rain-storm, he entered his name on the
hotel register, and inquired for some con-
veyance to carry him on dozen or twenty
miles further toward Washington that same
night. He was informed by the hotel
keeper that he had no team at command,
and knew Of none to be hadat that time
! that would be willing to 60 in such travel
ling, and on such dismal night. MIR. Web
ster lett the landlord to make inquiry for
| him while he should take supper, stating
The extreme urgency Of his case, and no.
ticing at the time well-dressed but burly-
looking man inspecting the hotel register
as he left the room.
Finishing hasty meal, Mr.. Webster
again saw the landlord, who reported his
&c THn orr WINS
found in the bar-room, and immediately
spoke to Mr.. Webster, offering the service
OF his team. Without knowing who he
was, the offer was ut once accepted, in the
eagerness to 20 on. The stranger very soon
drove up to the door with a span OF horses
and covered carriage, and offered himself as
driver. They started in the rain near mid
night, and, within few miles after leaving
Baltimore, had to pass through dark and
dense piece OF woods. Not word had till
then passed between them, when the
driver, in deep and sepulchral tone,
broke the silence by saying: q" have often
thought this an excellent place in which to
commit robbery and murder"
Rejecting for the moment that he had
committed himself to the guidance OF an
entire stranger, and participating some.
what in the excitement about the then re-
cent Baltimore atrocities, and the alleged
actors therein, Mr.. Webster's apprehen-
sions were still more aroused when bis
companion at once added: Perhaps you
don't know who ! am am Mummy, the
butcher, ~ ... .-
He Immediately entered into an explana-
ton with MIR. Webster about the charges
against him, denying the report OF his active
agency in the riot and bloodshed, and EVIL
IDENTITY seeking this occasion to set himself
right with representative of the then Fed
eral party, whose name, as even at that
time prominent New England member OF
Congress, he had ascertained from the hotel
register. The drive Of dozen or fifteen
miles was extended far into the night
and, on being landed at the country tavern
door, Mr.. Webster expected and urged ME-.
MS putting up the team, and staying at.
his expense, besides paying him liberally
for his seryices--to the extent even of SO
or $40. But all this was declined. Mr..
Mummy refused any pay, and Immediately
took his solitary drive home, In the, midst
of O drenching rain and the deep mud, ap-
parently fully satisfied with the favorable,
impression he had made on Mr.. Websters,
mind as to th<kfglsity Of some Of the ag.'
graYated charS AGAINST him.,
The communication Of the above has
been suggested by recent reference to the
subject Of the Baltimore mob, from cor
respondent, whose recollection In regard to
1t was Incorrect as to his impression that
the murdered Lingan was the editor of the
Baltimore paper referred to. ,.f r.s.ssz,