The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1873-07-16
Omaha Correspondent New York Tribune.
WIPED OCT In BLOOD.
4 TRAGIGAL CHAPTER IN THE LIFE
or THENEW COMMANDER AGAINST
THE MOD0CS.

AS | have never seen the exact
facts Of the Galt House tragedy
published in the West, l will, at
the risk even Of making this
sketch TOO long, here recite them:
General Nelson was in com.
mand. He stood in the Office of
the Gait House one evening when
Davis entered. Davis was in
command of the disorganizcd and
irregular companies for the de-
Tense Of the city, and wishing to
know the position: condition and
availability of the troops under
him: Gen. Nelson turned to Davis
and inquired:
How many men have you,
General Davis?"
"AbouL so many" replied Davis,
stating as near as he could the
number.
do you know, sir, how many
men you have?" cried Nelson,
growing very angry.
"The men of my command. as
you know, general, are unor-
ganizcd; new ones are constantly
coming in, and it is impossible for
me to tell you exactly how many
Il have"
"a soldier should know how
many men he has. l am ashamed
Of you, sir! You are not fit to
have command. l will relieve
you, sir" cried Nelson, now in a
towering rage.
Some other conversation fol-
lowed; when Nelson was seen to
draw back his hand and strike
Davis across the face-some say
with q glove.
Davis instantly left the room,
and Nelson commenced q conver,
sation with some gentlemen. as
though nothing had happened, but
Soon-started to so up stairs. Mean.
while, Davis smarting under the
insult be had received, had gone
into the bar and borrowed a pistol
from some one, and re-entered the
Office just as Nelson was leav.
it. Following to tho foot of the
stairs he fired at Nelson, who was
on the steps, and with fatal effect
the ball entering Nelson's body
The wounded General caught hold
of the stair-railing, and support
ing himself until he was helped
down and laid in one Of the side
rooms.
From the moment the shot
was fired, Nelson believed his
wound was mortal, and the sur
geon soon confirmed his fears.
He had exhibited no alarm, anc
met his iate as he had lived, lik.
q brave man. At his request. the
Rev. DR.. Torbett, who was in tho
hotel at the time, Tas called to ad
minister to the dying man. Hav
ing arranged his worldly affairs
the General was baptised and de
voted the remaining brief time al
lotted to him on earth to prepar
ing his soul for the other world
A little later and he was dead.
1t is likely that Davis has seer
Nelson's skeleton, and that he ha:
many times sincerely regretted
killing him. The provocation wa:
very great, and let no man say
what be would do under like cir
cumstances until he has been tried
We must remember that the
shooting occurred at q time wher
there was great excitement
throughout the country, and wher
men were fearfully wrought up
and we must remember, too, that
Davis was in feeble health, anc
his mind rendered sensitive BY
bodily suffering.
After the shooting of Nelson
Davis gave himself up to the au
thorities, who confined him fo'
twenty days, and then released
him, in obedience to the almos
universa! demand of public opin
ion.
A Brooklyn sea captain, just re
turned from tour Of the Holy Land