Wilmington journal., 1874-07-10
From the Memphis Appeal

From the Memphis Appeal
TUscUMB1A. June 2S-Tuscumbia, if
we except Salem, down east hard by
Boston, is the oldest town in America.
1t was finished, fenced in, and label
led "done for forty years ago. Thir-
ty-tive years ago it was famed as re-
sort for young ladies who proposed to
shine in fashionable life, but the pol
fishing school lost its sheen, and Tus-
cnmbia had nothing left of which it
might boast, save it's melodious Indian
name, significant of the fiOwer-clad
forest that hedges in the waters of the
Tennessee. It is as quiet town of
old, unpainted dwellings, and moss
covered roofs as one will encounter
anywhere in the South. The people
walk about very slowly, and have as
little to do or think about as denizens
of Sleepy Hollow. They are prayer
fnl, church-going people, distinguish
ed everywhere for intelligence, good
breeding and good morals. When,
therefore, q man is shot down on tie
streets III Tuscumbia, absolute amaze
ment must possess everybody and ex-
traordinary provocation must have be-
SOblcu jHC ueeu.
THE FACTS.
More than a year ago Geo. Z. Long,
of this place, began to evince a show
of affections for Miss Sloss, the youth
full and attractive daughter OF the
present member of Congress from this
| district. When Mr. Sloss discovered
the facts he objected to any intercourse
| whatever between his daughter and
the young gentlemen. The latter was
| deeply incensed, d accustomed to
denounce the father, and assert un
worthy acts on the part of the daught-
er. His language was such, and his
assertions We're so commonly known,
that the pretty girl had withdrawn
from society, and led a life of per.
feet seclusion. Meanwhile the father
was i'll Washington. He came home
Friday afternoon, and heard the whole
| story from his family and friends.-
Long was advised to leave Tuscumbia
and said to-day, just before he was
shot, while sitting in front of Aydlett's
Hotel, that he "never expected tc
| spend another Sabbath in Tnscumbia. ,
HE NEVER WILL.
Rising from his seat, he went into
the bar room, drank a glass of ale, and
sauntered along leisurely down the
sidewalk. He turned to the right, and
was going toward his home, and at the
very instant that he souched his hat
and bowed to a friend approaching
him gun was fired. from the second
story window of Warren's store, on the
opposite side of the street, and Long
fell, two buck shot penetrating his
body. one passing through his neck,
but failing TO touch the artery. and
another entering the skull Just behind
the left ear. He fell bleeding profuse
ly. Even now broad, blackened
nlaTk of blood extends across the bricl
sidewalk, and stains the sand in the
gutter. Long was soon removed tt
his home, and DIR. Alternately and 9th
er surgeons sent for, but their skill
can avail nothing. The young man is
surely dying. He said inst now tha
he thought he was shotby young War
rem, nephew Of Colonel Sioss, bu
since it was Colonel Sloss himself. i
was "all right" Nothing could iustif,
Longs assault upon the girls honor
and
NO ONE CONDEMNS COL. sLoss.
The manner of killing is general,
disapproved. I heard it commonl,
said that if the deed had been done th,
day Colonel Sloss reached home, ther,
would have been never question a!
to the prepriety of his conduct. HI
had the perfect right, it is argued, an6
properly, to regard the man q savage
wild beast who traduced his daughter
and If he killed Long as,soonas he wal
satisfied the girl had been assailed b,
the breath of slander, there is an enc
of it. In any event Sloss need neve
fear jury, one of its members havins
a daughter. If Sloss had taken TIN
gun into the street and gone through
the form of telling Long to defend
himself, there would never hav,
been even the form of a trial
But we can not reason about
matter of this sort. He who wrongs .
woman's fame deserves death, ant
that's the proper verdict of juries ant
OF mankind. Mr.. Long was often TOLD
that he should leave Tuseumbia before
Sloss came homo. He had at lenetl
agreed to go away, and in this con
fessed his guilt and admitted the pro
priety of Colonel Sloss' conduct. Lone
was wholly fearless, and it was only
because urged to do 50 by his friends
of whom he has many here, that he
had consented to leave Tuscumbia
His father and kindred are excellent
people, and it is only said Of the young
man III derOgati0n of his worth thai
he had been a village idler for some
| months. An idler will talk too mnch,
and if he habitually airs his eloquence
in front of the corner grocery there
| is often death and damnation In very
innocent words that bubble up from
fountains of whiskey.
LONG MAY DIE
within the hour in which he was shot,
and within which this is most hurried.
ly written, aid he may survive one OF
two, or even three days. No vital or
gan is touched, but die he must. Such
| wounds in such weather must prove
| fatal. Col. Sloss is in charge of the
| sheriff, and one of his deputies occu-
pies the room from which he fired
| upon Long.
/ BLOODY SPOT.
| Desperate deeds have distinguished
| the spot whereat Long fell. Bayless
| Morton. even there on the self-same
sidewalk, shot Mr. Henderson; a ne
gro was killed on the same identical
| spot, and man was stabbed to death
one hundred yards away, and the
bloody knife of the assassin was found
hard by. These were incidents of the
devilish period of Internal "recon-
struction," and it is only singular that
Long fell On this fatal spot. X.
MISS LAURA sAALEXANDER.
The Richmond Enquirer prints the
comments of the JOURNAL and Char
LOTTO TYO9,3o n ralo{11,, - Al.