Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1877-10-20

lars, which only an eye witness can
give of any scene, the actors, the place,
the joyous opening of the day, and Its
terrible close, how Rembrandtlike the
tragic story was as it fell from the lips
of the impressive old man. 1t was a
painful subject to him, and he rarely
spoke of it. 1t is to be hoped he has
left behind him an account of that great
national calamity, by which the illustrl-
Gus Secretary of State, Able z. Upshur,
and the gallant Gilmer of the Navy,
with other distinguished men,fell ghastly
mutilated victims on the deck OF the
Princeton. Mr.. Lucas was the first
person who picked up and helped TO
resuscitate Thomas H. Benton, as he
lay wounded and insensible on the shat
tered deck. President Tyler had but
moment before the explosion descended
to the cabin. That evening, as ne was
entering his carriage at the Washing,
ton wharf, and while the mourrful
cortege was leaving the ship, the Presl-
dents horses took fright and ran away,
killing the driver aud dashing up the
street like mad; but for the second time
that day his lite was almost miraculous
ly spared. "Luck for Tyler" said MIR.
Lucas with smile; 'the horses headed
for the White House where they were
overhauled and stopped, and the freslc
dent descended i'll short distance OF
his own door without scratch or hurt;
"but," he added with merry twinkle OF
his eye, she was awfully shaken up and
scared" "Take him for all in all" ex-
claimed Mr.. Lucas, che was the lucklest
man l ever knew-was that same John
Tyler, of James City county, Virginia.
With the exception of the assassination
of Mr.. Lincoln, this distressing affair
evoked deeper and more universal greet
throughout all parts of the Union than
has ever been called forth by any other
visitation in our history.
Mr. Lucass well-krown courage and
stern temperament made him an authorl-
ty among those who recognized what is
falsely called the Code of Honor. lie
was the second of Governor Francis
Thomas in that gentleman's duel, thirty
five years ago, with William Price,
afterwards called Treason Billy, nick
anne given him on account of his hav-
ing brought forward during the war OF
1S6l-65 a treason bill in the Maryland
Legislature. The duel took place near
Berkeley Springs, Virginia. Reverdy
Johnson was Mr.. Prices second. DR..
Nathan II. Smith, the Emperor OF the
medical profession, was the surgeon on
the occasion, but happily his services
were not brought into requlstlon. Al
ter one exchange of shots between the
principals, Mr.. Lucas dictated with his
usual GOODNESS and decision of character,
and Reverdy Johnson wrote out on the
crown of Mr. L. s hat, the terms OF an
honorable adjustment. Mr.. Lucas I'M
derstood as well as any man alive how
to enjoy the rapture Of the strife; or
as somebody once amusingly said, che
would fight rattlesnake, and give him
the first bite" Hence. when it became
known that he was the author OF the
Thomas Price adjustment all sides were
satisfied, and no blood was shed.
In politics the deceased gentleman
was Democrat of the Jetfersonlan
school. lie was grounded in principles,
and had forgotten more about public at
fairs and Federal and State policies
than would make the reputation OF half
dozen latter-day statesmen. Ills
knowledge of our constitutional history
was profound. He regarded Alexander
ii. Stephens Constitutional Tiew as
the greatest work of the kind which has
ever appeared in the United States. He
searched a subject through and through
with keen analysis, and was unmercitul
on all shams and demagogues. lie
would strip the mask from pre'ender
with blunt sledge hammer strokes, and
make him fairly writhe again. Yet,
withal, he had warm heart, aud was
man of sturdy attachments. His great
insight into character rendered him one
of the last persons in the world to be
deceived, and cue of the first TO discern
merit in others. As he advanced in
life, he loved to sit at his door in sum-
mer, or at the firesde in winter, with
some congenial companions, and talk OF
the "brave days OF old" lie was quite
well acquainted with Webster, Clay,
Calhoun, Jackson, John Quincy Adams,
John Randolph. McDuffie: Silas Wright,
Mcdowell. iliud diuinum conciiium-
those massy pillars of the Republic,
whose loss he maintained was irrepara-
BILE, as they left none behind them TO
take their place. eve would have
had no war;" he often said, ''if we had
had such men in Washington from
1850 to 1860, as were there from 1910
to 1880"
Mr.. Lucas married Miss Bedinger, of
Jefferson county, whose family also en-
joyed a revolutionary distinction. She
was a sister of the talented Henry Bed
niger, late Minister to Denmark, and
also of the widow Of the late venerable
Edmund j. Lee. Mr.. Lee only pre-
coded Mr.. Lucas to the grave by few
weeks. Mrs. Lee is still living. Mrs.
Lucas died many years ago. leaving,
besides her devoted husband, family
of four children to mourn her loss, of
whom Daniel B. Lucas, of the Charles
town bar, one of the most brilliant
lawyers in West Virginia, is the sole