The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-08-05


The following reads rs u It might be true;
and yet It lie strange that such ~, occur :.
renee should first have been brought TO
Hight i'd South Carolina. rather than IN tue
state In which the lady resides: .
lf An incident IN Naples.
vow AN INSULT 70, a DAUGHTER OF GENERAL
LEE WAS RESENTED By SOME OF HER coUN-,
TRyaES.
4 Letter to the Columbia Rssfster.l
NAPLES, ITALY, July 10.--It has been con-.
adhered to be proper by a number OF Ameri-
cans now In this city to give your readers
n, account OF the shameful treatment OF
xiistinpuisbed American lady by one OIL the
proprietors OF the Hotel Royal des Etran-
Z rers. one OF the largest hotels IN thls CITY,
and OF the Just punishment which ne re-
s,eiyed d. the hands OF gentlemen VINO were
ready TO peril their lives Ia the cause OF
ri0hf ana truth against imposition and OPP
pression upon an unprotected lady:
- Miss Mary Gusts Lee. daughter OF Cen
eral r. T.. Lee, arrived here few days since
i'm company with some lady friends from
Nalta, who registered at the above.named
hotel. IL appears that during the night OF
The 9Th Instant the mosquito-bar around the
bed ignited accidentally from candle which
Hiss Lee had lighted. In few moments
the flames spread and caught the lace cur
tains, and the room was soon enyeiopea IN
flames. which Miss Lee heroically endea.
yored TO suppress, but without success and
fearing that the hotel might be burned. she
gave the alarm Of fire, which was soon beard
by some gentlemen who were occupying
rooms on the same floor, when ex-
Judge Samuel w. Melton and Mr. W.
A. Clark, OF Columbia, S. C., were the
FIRST who came to the rescue OF Miss
Lee, and succeeded in saving her money
and valuable iewelry from the flames.
The morning following the fire, Miss Lee
expressed her willingness to pay all uaL-
ages, though the fire had occurred from ac-
.cident. The proprietor, taking adVautase
OF the lady, demanded 1000 francs Wilt
was preposterous and enormous cnarse
Tor The damage. A gentleman from ONO,
Mr, Poland, guest OF the hotel, VINO mas
been yice-president OF an Insurance COM
many for number OF years, estimated the
damage at $40. The friends Of Miss Lee at
once demurred to this enormous charge.
THE American consul, Mr.. Duncan, at this
MACE. was exceedingly kind, and protested
AGAINST the payment OF any such sum. The
nToprietor now being foiled in bis disgrace
13nl effort to overcharge for damage occur
ring from accident, became lnsoient,
and spoke in manner when re-
flected upon Miss Lee The insult
was quickly resented. MIR. Clark, OF Co.
llmbia, S. c., struck him over the head
with an umbrella. In a few moments the
proprietor was surrounded by number OF
Italians, who were clerks, walters, and at
tachfs OF the hotel, but they were met by
Judge Melton, Colonel John I. Sloan, Sr..
Mr.. D. A. P. Jordan, of South Carolina,
and DR.. i. B. Roberts, of Georgia. who by
their courage and determination caused
them to stampede and call for the police.
A large crowd soon assembled about the
hotel. The proprietor was denounced by
Colonel Sloan for his conduct towards Miss
Lee, and challenged him to 20 into the gar
den and answer for the same with swords
or pistols, which the proprietor declined to
accept. Itwould be we'll for all Americans
10 avoid this hotel when coming to Naples