The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-03-20

IN opDHBSit1 Cl41 H-1A
seeing the efIe { or his shot he did no
attempt to Shoot again. He was
bleeding himself copiously from the
wounds iu the mouth and III his hano
He said to Treasurer Renfro: We are
bo'h Of US killed ~ aud then he went
iato the front room ard laid down up
on the lounge. The shots had been
heard all around and through the build
ing, and men came running to the
scene of the tragedy. The spectacle at
this juncture beggars description, and
sickened al who saw it. The floor OF
the room was slippery with pools OF
blood, AID yet the faint blue smoke
from the pistols was creeping along the
ceiling in search of an outlet. One of
the men was lying upon the floor at
at full length, with the blood
streaming from that horrible
shot in the head, and the other was
moaning upon the sofa four or five
feet away, with the blood choking him
and flowing from his mouth and his
land dripping as though taken from a
pool Of crimson blood. On the floor
were found a pistolsball and some of
the teeth knocked from Mr.. Cox's
mouth when he WIS hit. The picture
a one that baff1ed imagination and
nothing so vivid IN it's silent testimo-
nv Of the desperate ARRAY SO fatally
closed could be put upon canvass or in
printers ink upon this page.
The wound in Col. Alston's head was
at once pronounced mortal; those of
Mr.. Cox were deemed plinful but not
serious. Col. Aston vas placed in an
easy position and re~stOrativeS applied,
while his wound was sought to be
staunched aud his head bathed. The
affair came on at 500 p. m, and ior
nearly two hours the men were thus
tenderly cared for by physicians and
friends. Col. Aston became very
restless, and urged his way nee clear
across the rom in his struggles. He
returned TO consciousness once but
only for a brief or two. Mr..
Frank Gordon, son of Senator Gordon,
was promptly at his side aud In reply
20 bis question CO.. Aston once, pressed
his hand as a sign of recognition and
called his NAME, "Frank"
Thea with a struggle he said. 81 am
dying. Let me see my wife,"
THE OF COLONEL ASTON
at GAO p. m. He was sur~
rounded by his wife, daughter and son,
bhN W OuS L IL
and did not recognize his
wife or children. Mrs Aston bore the
situation with great fortitude until tho
moment of the struggle and then the
scene of grief and woe was one Of n
utterable awe. Tears and sobs of sor-
row filed the air and followed after
the spirit in its flight into the great
unknown.
Col. Aston was born in Macon, Ca,
On tt last day Of December, 1882. AZ
ter emerging from his school days he
in mercantile pursuits in
e., and at the age of "a
years married Miss Charlotte MaGill,
daughter of a large pisnter. He began
the study Of law and was admitted to
practice in 1853. He pursued tie law
until the war came on, when he en- err
ed the service and rose to distinction
rs one of the leading spirits in Mors
raiders. He was one Of the bra
vest OF that brave band, and through a
hundred fights recklessly invited death
out never received a wound. AT the
hat he lost his breakfeass by having
Col. Aston has often remarked to
he writer and to others in the realis-
language Of the west. that he felt as
.hough be could Mt be spared to a
peaceful death, but that DO Should
,one day Idle with his boots on :" He
'aid this to Captain Ell. Mercer, one Of
lis mos devoted 5admirers, and when
yesterday Capt Mercer looked upon
lie dying form of his friend he recalled
he almost prophetic words. And
when the body was carr led to . bed
the faithful friend followed it
md tanderly drew from the feet of Col.
lstOn the5boots in which he stood
when he was shot down. He did not
ant 10 see hat prophecy fulfilled to /
: letter. Immense crowds hung
bout the doors begging for news IS to
is condition as long as he lived, and
he whole city is borne down with sor-
OW.
Cox is in q critical condition and the
'ublic indignation is very high against
WASHINGTON, March II, 1879
The murdered man was Welt Know
4 Washington. where he wa q fre-
uent visitOr during the seasons Of the
ession Of Congress. He was here as
as last Thursday; spending
iuCI VI MS TIME III tnc CDtlpdIy y
.nator Gordon, with wbo'a he was Oh
erms Of close friendship. Tiieed. upon
5ceiving the news Of Al, as def II
enator Girden, who is iii and coutinod
} his room. was greatly shocked. A
as hehad recovered his c ,l~nposafA
e telegraphed TO his son, F.ank Go
in Atlanta, to assure the widow q
list n that beswould be a protector q
er and a powder for her children re
est OF his life
ASTON s PRESENTIAENT-