Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-04-27
THE FIGHTING EDITOR.

The FIGHTING EDITOR.
New York SUM-
The recent visit to New York of
Colonel Horace Featherstock, the
veteran Arkansas journalist, recalls
an animated and hitherto unpub-
lished passage in the earlier DAYS
Of that gentleman's variegated ca
reer. In that time and place a Wig
.orous muscular development, quick
eye, and steady nerve were counted
of no less value in the editors
equipment than a powerful mind.
The rugged and impulsive nature
of the inhabitants led them to
hastiness in the settlement of per-
sonal disputes that prospered the
undertakerS even at times when all
other business pursuits languished,
In this respect they differed mate
rally from their more philosophi-
cal fellow-citizens of the East.
Here, if, as might happen in even
the best regulated Office, an error
crept into the paper, the aggrieved
party would call quietly and court
eously and state his case, securing
as courteous correction; there the
offended person walked in behind O
pistol, and casually expressed a be-
lief that if the editor was rapid
writer he might possibly get the re-
traction written before he had fin
ished all the shots in his revolver.
In many cases this aggressive ac-
ton aroused equally combativet
qualities In the editor, and it not
infrequently happened that one or
the other was killed. These cir
cumstances gradually developed the
so-called fighting editor, a pictur-
esauo and powerful character pecu-
liar to American journalism. To
him were referred all questions of
dispute involving personal argn-
ment, He was the chivalrous, open
hearted, and brave representative Of
a class now nearly extinct, whose
character has suffered only from the
reckless exaggeFation of local his
torians, themselves luxuriant pro-
ducts Of the same soil.
Colonel Featherstock was scarcely
twenty-one when he entered the
Office of the Eagleyille Tri-Weekly
Tomahayk and Mirror, and he had
been there scarcely three weeks
when the summary and scientific
manner in which he elected pow
erful backWoodsman, who had ven
tured to remonstrAte against a saw
age personal reference to himself,
determined the chief to appoint
Featherstock tothe arduous and re-
sponsible position of fighting editor,
a post which he held for seven years
with honor to himself and credit
to his paper. He was q good shot,
and similar in his suddennesS TO
lightning. 1t is faid that during
his stay in the Tomahawk Office he
killed nineteen men. In fact, the
number of those who blundered in
their dealings with him was so
great that it became a current hu-
morOus saying in that region that
Featherstock Kept graveyard of
his own.
There lived in a neighboring
county a gigantic and blood Thirsty
rufiisn, who had often heard of the
renowned Aghting editor of the
Tomahayk, and, having held his
own, and sometimes more, With
everybody he had ever met, he re-
solved to go to Eagleville and clean
out the Colonel. When he ap-
peared in the Tomahawk office he
might, but for his great size and
ferocious aspect, have been mistaken
for the drummer Of a firearms es-
tblishment. All his pockets were
full of assorted weapons, and his
belt looked like a fence with pistol
pickets. He stslked in With an air
Of brutal insolence, and said to the
Oolonel:
care you the Tomahawk's fight
ing editor?"
The Colonel modestly allowed
that he was.
Understand that you keep a
select burying-ground of your
own, (" ~ a.
eyes, said the Colonel, g must
admit that | 40 find it necessary to
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