The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1878-08-02
An Incident in Naples.

In$Hp TO an imGricm Lddy Promptly RcSCntrl-
GaiUnt Conduct Of oW Coirm6id Tourists
NAPLES, ITALY, July 10, lS7S.--lhc wide cir
cuation Of your valuable paper is such that it
has hocn considered to he proper by number
of Americans now in this city To give your read
ers an account of the shameful treatment of
distinguished American lady by one of the pro
prictorS of the Hotel Royal dies EtranGcrs, one
Of the largest hotels in this city, anil Of the just
punishment which he received at the hands of
gentlemen who were ready 10 peril their lives
in the cause Of right and truth against impo-
stiou and oppression upon ~ unprotected lady:
Miss Mary Custis Lee II daughter of Gcncrak
Eobcr. r.. Lee, arrived here u few days since in
company with some lady friends from Malta,
who registered ut the above named hotel. it
appears that during the night of the Slh instant,
the mosquito bar around tho bed ignitcd acci
dcntally from q candle which Miss Lee had
lighted. In few moments the flames spread
AMI caught the lace curtains. and the room
500; envclopcd in flames, which Miss Lee he
rocaily cndeavorcd to suppress hut without sue
cess and fearing that the hotel might be burned
she gave the alarm Of fire, which soon was
heard by some gentlemen, who were occupying
rooms on tho same floor, when cX-Jul,cc Samuel
W Melton and MIR. ". \. Clark of Columbia,
:. G., were the first who came TO the rescue Of
Miss Lee, and succeeded i'll saving her money
and valuable icwclry from the flames. The
lnorung following the fire, Miss Lee expressed
her Willingness tu pay oil damages, though the
fire had occurred from accident. The proprio-
tor taking advantage of the lady, demanded
1000 francs; which was prcposterous. and
enormous CHARGE for the damage. \ gentleman
from Ohio. u MIR. Pollard, n guest of the hotel,
who has hccn vice prcSilcAt of an insurance
company for number of years, estimated the
damage at $50 The friends Of Miss Lee at
once dcmnrrcd to this enormous charge The
American consul, Mr.. duncan, at this place was
exceedingly kind, and protested against the pay
mcnt OF any such sum. The proprietor now be.
ing iocd in his disgrncctul effort to ovcrcharge
for damage occurring from accident, became in
solcnt and spoke in manner whic' reflected
upon Miss Lee. The insult was quickly rcscn-
ted. Mr.. Clark, Of Columbia, :. C.. struck Lin
over tho bead with an umbrella In a few mo-
ments the proprietor was surrounded by num-
Lcr Of Italians, who were clerks, walters and
nlrachc"S Of the hotel. hu: they were met 10y
Judge Melton, Col. John 7. sloan, .r Mr.. y.
A.P Jordan, of South Carolina, and DR.. l. j..
Roberts, of Georgia, who hy their courage and
determination caused them to stampede AMI call
for the police. 4 large crowd soon assembled
about the hotel. The proprietor was denounced
hy Colonel Sloan for his conduct towards Miss
Lee who challenged him to go into the garden
and answer for the same with swords or pistols,
which the proprietor declined 10 accept.
II would be well for all Americans To avoid
ihis hotel when coming TO Nar!cS.-IIAL. ut Co
iumJid Register.