The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1874-08-06
Old Hickory's Pistols.

ID who has been writing some inter
esting Renaissance for the FrankFOr
(Ky.) Patriot, contributes this to the las
issue:
Isaw some time tesA brace Of dueIIiOi
pistols in the possessSh AfThomas Ruth
orford, Of Sumner county, Tennessee. :
They we're steel barrels, auted within, AM
highly oraamented with silver.
The history received ofthcm was a
follows:
Many years before thebrillinnt triumph
Of the war had lifted General Jackson
high above all competitors into the Presl'
dental chair as the Chief Executive oftht
nation, it was lis custom to have some ono
to take Misplace 10 the dirty street bro'I'
waich might come up.
1.-THE time to which refer, ono Fer
guson was the man irregular knock do~n'
aud drag out sort Of a fellow, dreaded BY
oil who wcro ever SO unfortunate as to
come into contact with him
An Uncle Of Col. Rutherford, By the
same name, visited Nashville to sell a pair
Of match horses. Ferguson offered to
purchase them on short credit and to give
General Jackson as security. This ar.
raugement was made and the horses were
bis.
Before Mr.. r. left Nashville he learned
The character Of the man with whom be
had traded, was told that il he ever asked
for tho money or the note which hc had
ceivcd for the horses, Ferguson would
whip him.
1t happened that Rutherford, was rough
customer-nothiDg suited him better than
q ground scufile in defence of his rights,
and so DO was impatient for the day Of the
coming conflict.
Eearly on the morning the note fell
due, Rutherford visited Nashville, saw to tue
same man r presented bis note Tor pay
ment, telling him at the same time what
hG had heard Of him, and further said to
him that, if he didn't pay the money right
away, he would thrash him like dog,
A word and the blow followed. Never
was q man more thoroughly thrashcd than
Furguson on that occasion; in fact, he was
supposed to be dead for q time. This
aroused the Generals sywpathies for his
man who had received such cudgcIlng,
and to the resent it was his first impulses
but in fsticulf he would DO onlya child
in RS hands, and SO challenged him to
to fight a duel next morning, distance ten
PAGES.
Though r. had no experience with tirt
arms, he instantly accepted the challenge
AT the appointed hour all parties wer'
at the place Of rendezvous. All preIimi
naries made, the distance measured, TIL
words one-two-at this juncture Jack
son, who was Dead shot, having eyOt
bis antagonist closely saw there wa
no aiuchipg in him, but that he was q
cool and deliberate as il nothing was oc
curing, stepped forward and addressed
Rutherford: BY the Eternal, sir, woult
despise myself to sacrifice such noble ma
terial as you are made Of. Sir, please &C
ccpt these pistols from ono who ever ad
mires true courage and pluck, such as yOl
have to-day demonstrated, and accept then
from me as an evidence Of my apprccia
ton of you as a mar who darcs to dCfenc
bis rights
General Jackson paid tho money du
on Ferguson's note. Ever afterwards til,
rutherford family have been Jackson
supporters, and none lamcntod his dealt
more than they, The pistols will be KEEP
! in the family forever as priceless souven