Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1878-10-31
S. S. Prentiss' last. Duel.


son of Henry Clay--The Trag.
icaI End.
! Sergeant S. Prentiss had won {
worldwide reputation in Mlssis
sippi as an orator and a lawyer
His TWO duels with Governor Hen
ry S. Foote in 1888, in which be
was both times challenged, and
each time wounded his adversary
had established his reputation fol
courage. The witchery of his ell
oquence surpassed any living ora
tor of bis times, or, indeed, any
that had preceded him, from Pat
rick Henry down to the present
day.
He first came to Natchsz, Mis-
sissippi. in 1927, and was employ.
ed as tutor in the private family
of the widow Of the late Judge
Shields, of the Supreme Court of
that State, and availed bimself OF
the fine library of that noted ju-
rist. Although a native of the
State OF Maine, Prentiss had pone
of the prejudices Of bis people,
and readily adapted himself to
Southern customs and institutions.
In 1889 he was admitted TO the
bar, and formed a law part
uership with General Felix Hus-
ton at Natchez. In 1881 he
removed to Vicksburg, but FIRE.
quently visited his old home in
Natchez. The writer first met
with Mr.. Prentiss at Natchez, af
ter bis wonderful defense of DR..
Wilkinson, OF Mississippi, in 1889,
for the killing of Boutwell, and
Meeks in the celebrated tragedy
at the Gait House in Louisville,
Kentucky, on which occasion be
was associated with the distin-
guished Judge John Rowan.
His argument on this occasion
was considered his great master
piece of forensic eloquence, and
which resulted in the acquittal of
DR.. Wilkinson, although the best
t,lent of the State of Kentucky
was employed for the prosecution.
His repartee, sprightliness Of wit
and whitening sarcasm were un-
surpassed. The resul. OF bis pow
er lay in his wonderful applica.
ton and adaptation of classical. his.
torical. aud poetical quotations
with which be adorned and illus
trated his speeches and arguments
Mr. Prentiss was small in stat
uTe, not being over five feet eight.
inches in height, and was deform-
ed by bis right foo: being smaller
than the | 1t one, and which turn
ed under, SO that he used cane
in walking. He had a massive
cliff forehead, large blue eyes,
handsome features, with remark
ably intelligent expression, in
which nobleness, daring and mag
uanimity were singularly combin-
ed. He had a very slight lisp,
which gave certain words hiss
ing sound. and the expression Of
his features gave great force to
his language. In those days there
were more wealth, aristocracy and
cultivated refinement within a cir
cumference of twenty miles a.
round Natchez than in any other
portion OF the States. During the
time Prentiss was teaching in the
family Of Mrs. Shields he was in
vited to q neighbor's party, and,
being a total stranger, and ut the
time extremely sensitive as to bis
deformity, he felt himself neglect
ed and looked down upon by the
aristocratic planters and fair Ia
dies, and unjustly attributed the
cause to his being poor, lame
school master. From this time he
secluded himself from society and
wholly devoted himself to his
books, having resolved to himself
that he would, to use his own Ian
guage, some day bring these peo-
pie to his feet" To relating this
incident to the writer, be said it
was to the modification he felt on
tha. occasion that be owed his fu,
ture success.
On one OF Mr.. Prentiss' visit to
Natchez. the writer who had then
Just been admitted to the bar.took
a stroll with him 70 the Natche9
Blufff, which are some 500 feet a.
bove the level Of the iyer,and from
it's long reach commanded q fine