Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-08-04
MARY CUSTIS LEE,
The Daughter or GeneraI Lee, InsuIted
by Hotel Keeper in Naples. is
Promptly Avenged by south
ern GentIeme3.
Letter to the Columbia IS. c. Register.


NAPLES, ITALY, July lot has been con-
sidered to be proper by number of Ameri-
cans now in this city TO give your readers an
account of the shameful treatment of a dis
tInguished American lady by one of the pro-
prietors OF the Hotel Royal DIES strangers,
one OF the largest hotels in the city, and OF the
just punishment which he received at the
hands Cf gentlemen who were ready to peril
their lives IN the cause of right and truth
against imposition and oppression upon an
| unprotected lady. Miss Mary Gusts Lee,
daughter of General Robert f. Lee arrived
in this city a few days since In
company with some lady friends from
Malta, who registered at the above-ramed
hotel. 1t appears that during the night of the
eighth instant the mosquito bar around the
bed ignted accidentally from a candle which
| Miss Lee had lighted. In a few moments
| the flames spread and caught the lace cur
! taiHS, and the room was soon enveloped IN
| flames, which Miss Lee heroically endeavored
/ to suppress, but without success, and fearing
thlt the hotel might be burned, she gave the
| alarm Of ire, which soon was heard by some
| gentlemen who were occupying rooms on the
| same floor, when EX-JudSe Samuel w. Mel
| ton and Mr. w. A. Clarke, OF Columbia,
| South Carolina, were the first who came to
| ther rescue of Miss Lee, and succeeded In
saving her money and valuable iewelry from
! the flames. The morning following the ire
| Miss Lee expressed her willingness to pay all
| damages, although the fire had occurred
! from accident. The proprietor, taking ad-
vantage of the lady, demanded two thousand
francs, which was a preposterous and enor-
nous charge for the damage. A gentleman
| from Ohio, a Mr.. Poland, guest of the no.
| tel, who has been vice. president OF an insur-
ance company for number of years, esti-
mated the damage at seventy dollars. The
friends of Miss Lee at once demurred to this
enormous charge. The American consul, Mr.
Duncan, was exceedingly kind, and pro-
tested against the payment of any such sum.
| The proprietor now being fooled in his dis
graceful effort to overcharge for damage &C.
curing from accident, became insolent and
spoke IN a manner which reflected upon Miss
Lee. The insult was quickly resented. Mr..
Clark, of Columbia, S. c., struck him over
the head with an umbrella. In few mo-
ments the proprietor was surrounded by a
number OF Italians, who were clerks, walters
and attaches of the hotel, but they were met
10y Judge Melton, Colonel John L. Sloan, jr..
Mr.. ID. A. P. Jordan, Of South Carolina, and
DR.. |. 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 toward Miss Lee, and chal-
lenged him to go into the garden and answer
for the same with swords or pistols, which
the proprietor declined to accept. Il would
be well for all Americans to avoid this hotel
when COMING (; - NaT,lpS