The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1879-02-19
Two Dollars a Year.

two young men, which was fought shor,.
ly afterwards on the vest bank q
the Mississippi river, opposite Grand
/ Oulf. he weapons used were mus.
kets. At the first fire both parties fell NOR.
/ tAiy wounded. They were immediately
/ brought across the river to the house OF !
{ friend and placed in the same room. For.
I glvenesses were ipterchanged. and on,
DIED in a few honrs. The other Ian
gu'shed several months and then died of his
wound.
A the time designated for the purpose
/ stockton and Payson met at New Orleans
/ and fought with pistols. At the first fire
/ Stockton was shot through the head, and i'm
a moment the gifted scion of an illusTriouS
house lay dead upon the field OF honor
| Before leaving the ground the seconds
| found paper in the pocket of Stockton,
written by himself, stating in substance
that his own conduct had been rash and
wreng from the beginning; and that it " as
his intention ii he should survive the first
/. nre, To know ledge his error and MAKE the
dmeHde honorable. But, alas, His good in
tentions came too late. Mr.. Payson, the
survivor, lived a yesr or two and was acct
dentally drowned in the Mississippi River
at New Orleans.
Here the reader will permit an episode
which may prove interesting. Among the
lady guests at the Springs at the time of the
events above narrated was a wealthy, cle-
CANT and accomplished middle aged widow
who was recognized as leader in the So
clety OF the place. Stockton. who WAS =
bachelor, was thought to be a suitor for her
hand. Ia the year 1912, when shs was quite
young, She was engaged to be married co a
brilliant young lawyer, of wealthy iami-
ly. He became involved in a quarrel which
led To a duSa in which he was killed. The
next year, 1913, ut which time we were at
war with Great Britain, his antagonist
who had military command, was assigned
orduty at Fort Minis, in Alabama. In
the memorable Iadian attack aud nj ssacre
at that fort, lie was killed. The lady, some
time after the affair a the Springs, married
worthy and talented gentleman, who was
afterwards United States Senator. This
lady distinguished herself by noble act of
philanthropy, which has become n part OF
the judicial history OF the State. She and
her gifted husband are long since dead and
have left hOnored memories.
The thrilling events here narrated could
not be forgotten, but continued to " live in
the awe-struck minds of men," and would
not down The season at the Springs
never opened again, and from thencefor-
ward, the place, as fashionable resort
became deserted and ruin.
Soon after the Springs were closed as y
public resort, the property was purchased
for cultivation by \ planter named Martin
Lewis, whose name is given by the writer
of this article as tribute to his moral
worth, and AS token of gratitude for the
kindness OF which he has been the recipient
IN MS hospltable home many days aud
nights in the years gone by when planter
hos pitality was something worth realizing.
This excellent old man died many years
ago, and was buried i'm the family grave
yard near the Springs, where a marble slab,
with the epitaph, 81 know that my Redeem
or liveth," marks the last resting place of
Martin Lewis. Peace 10 his ashes and hon
or to his memory.
All the buildings erected for the use of the
watering place have long since decaVed or
been removed, except the main building, a
large two-story house, which is still there
and occupied by a family. The large hall
on the first floor with its high brick fire.
place and deliberately carved wooden man
tlepiece' is still there, "A ghostly reminder of
the gay throng who once foated through
the maZy dance. But now, "Its lights are
fled, its garlands dead" and the place is
desOlation. The events herein described
were once matters of well-known public
history, but of living witnesses only few
survive, and in a few years more all will be
gone. The spring Is still there near the
roadside, occasionally visited by a traveller,
with that weird interest which we may
suppose to attach to the spring of Sybil
Gray so beautifully described in 'Marmion.'
1t still gurglcs up from its fountain depths
and trickleS and dances down its graVelly
descent to the branch below, unchangiug
ever. Just AS it ran when the morning stars
sang the hymn of the new born creation.
like the brook immortalized by the sweet
lines of Tennyson, it flows on singing,
q" Men may come and men may go,
Rut1 go on forever"