Pioche daily record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1872-1876, 1873-08-21
ROMANTIC CAREER OF .sI.yr

RDNANTsC SAnEEH OF \ SLAVE.
William Duke. colored deck hand
fell between the gang-planks of the
steamer Alice. 1T Dover landing. on Sat.
urday morning, about o'clock, passed
under the boat and was seen no more
The turbid waters of the Missouri scarce.
ly syer closed over a more eventful life
tlan was William Dukes. Born n slave
to DIR. Basil Duke, of Kentucky. he at.
tracted the attention OF the family at an
early age by his sprightliness and good
temper, and in consequence was granted
unusual indulgence.
When eighteen years Of age he had ac-
qnired from association with white bows
fair English education, and accompa-
MED his master to Mexico in the capaci.
ty of a servant. At the battle OF Cerro
Gordo he was wounded in the leg. At
first the wound WAS supposed to be Slight.
and received but little attention; subse-
quently it became alarming, and an in
vestigation revealed the fact That the
wound had been inflicted by copper
missile. The professional skill and as
siduous nursing of his master saved his
leg and his life, tut from that tune he
was slightly lame.
About the year 1866 he was manumit-
ted and apprenticed to barber in st.
Louis. After completing his apprentice
ship he practiced his trade on the Mis-
sissippi river, and in two years became
the most popular and best known barber
on the river.
In 1858 he married quadroon girl in
St Louis, who had attracted some at.
Ia, hav 80,
her in comfortable house. surrounded
with many circumstances OF luxury. She
proved unworthy, and within IL months
Of the marriage be committed n HON.
cde in his house under circum-
stances which called forth in his behalf
the sympathy of the people of st.
Louis generally. He was indicted for
murder. and on his trial was ably de.
tended by Basil Duke. Esq, and other
distinguished lawyers; but notwithstand-
ing the proof entirely failed to establish
highor crime than that of murder in
the second degiee, the verdict, under the
rigid ruling oil Judge Clover, was murder
in the first degree, and he was sentenced
to suffer the extreme penalty OF the law.
4 petition for Executive clemency was
quickly gotten up, numeronsly signed by
leading citizens, and presented to Gov.
Stewart by his counsel. A full pardon
was granted. and the Colonel, as be was
called, was at liberty, broken down in
health and spirits. His health continued
to decline, and he rapidly contracted the
habit Of excessive drinking. ....
When the late civil war commenced he
asked permission TO go to Kentucky,
which was granted, and within few
days thereafter he was once more in
camp in service of his old master. His
health. rapidly improved. and in few
months be was as well known in General
Williams brigade as the General himself.
He participated in several engagements,
was twice wounded, once at Fayetteville
very seriously #....
When the war closed be located in New
Orleans; was a member of the Legisla.
lure of Louisiana during the session of
6s; distinguished biinself by his conserv-
aiism and opposition to the administra-
ton ring legislation. He was prescribed
by his race, and Systematically prosecuted
by white Radicals to such au extent that
he was forced to leave New Orleans His
Old habit of drinking obtained the mas
terry, and for eighteen mouths his life has
been that of an aimless vagabond. Re-
Gently he was stimulated to make an ef-
fort to reform, and with this view he
sought and obtained employment on the
Alice. For six or eight weeks previous
to his death his habits were good Lex
tngtou, Mo-, Intelligencer.