The New York herald., 1879-03-28

messed in the city There attempts whatever
at lynching Colonel Buford and will be none. The
most bitter regret prevails throughout the country
BuFoRp's CAREER.
WASHINGTON. March %, 1870
TON" Buford. although scarcely past middle life
and reared in one Of the most civil and peace loving
sections Of the State OF kentucky. has had
occasions to invoke family influence to shield him
from the consequences of his desperate acts. The
HERALD has been able to obtain from former resi-
dents of tho "Blue Grass country now in this
city the following particulars Of his eventful
career His family for generations had been noted
for their susceptible honor ana fiery temper, and
these qualities copspicuous almost to exaggera-
ton in Tom Buford. Horse racing and such sports
were the recognized pastimes Of the community in
which they lived and the Bufords participated in
them with zeal. Bowie knives and revolvers were
tho constant companions of the young bloods, but
sort of local tradition had authorized the use OF
weapons to heal wounded honor. and offences
against that delicate sensbilty much rarer in
consequence than might be supposed.
A FAMILY QUARREL.
Tom Buford wild. reckless and daring as
any. but he also distinguished by proud
servo toward acquantances that threw him almost
| entirely upon his own resources for amusement.
The frst.dculty that brought out his recklessness
grew Of tho division Of his fathers estate That
consisted chiefly Of about six hundred of land
lying sixteen miles out OF Lexington. toward
Versailles The dying directions of his father had
beon that the estate should be equally divided
| among the three brothers and the sister
Mary Buford. The expense of the dover
right of tho mother was to be shared
by tho children. General Abe Buford's share was
duly set apart and he entered into possession Of it,
When it came to the division among the others Tom
and Henry Buford disagreed. and Tom. thinking that
the other seeking undue advantage. refused to
consent to the proposed apportionment. Henry.
despairing Of any other settlement. finally offered
his interest for sale r. A. Alexander whose magni-
cent stock farm adjoins the Bnford home estate Tom
Buford it is said hearing that Alexander inclined to
favor the proposition, told him that if he bought
buckshot along with it, Mr. Alexander declined the
bargain Tho brothers quarrel about the partition
grew in ranoor, until one day in May, 1851 Tom and
Henry met in the streets of Versailles. Hot words
ensucd and some intemperate remark by Henry 80
nfuriated Tom that he drew his revolver and fired
three Shots all of which went close enough to show
that rage only shook his aim and saved him the guilt
of fratricide Henry' it is said stood and received
them, although he. too, was armed. Many farm folk
i'll the streets Of the town. and the danger that
they came near taking the law into their own hands
when they learned that Henry could not be made to
| prosecute his brother
FIGHT
| This fracas made Tom Buford extremely unpopu-
| lar. Old friends frowned him, but he bore him.
self with his accustomed haughtiness, frequenting
fairs and races and ndulging in any game Tor which
he could find IN antagonist. He managed to repress
| any outspoken manifestation of his unpopularity
until the great Lexington fair which happened in
| the september following. lie met George Thomas,
Of Mount sterling in the Phoenix Hotel Lexington.
| quarrel had in the barroom which was
suppressed before the pistols could be brought into
service. just what the quarrel was about
| transpired, although the angry interchange con-
| tanned some allnsion to Buford's attempt on his
brothers life. Those who knew the best said
that 1t would never stop with words, and the pre-
diction proved true. Next day. when not less
fair ground. Bnford and Thomas approached
each other. When at about fair dueliing
distance pistols drawn. and they began
| popping at each other. There lively scat
tering among the bystandcrs, but the principals and
| General Abe Buford, who seemed to act his
brothers second, and one Ferguson, who oflciated
for Thomas stood their ground firmly. Thomas
eniptcd his pistol and Tom Buford. cooking his for
the sixth time. pulled of the cap Noticing this he
cody lowered his weapon got another cap out Of his
vest pocket. and was about to adjust it for
another % shot hot, when hen. Ferguson handed Thomas
Abc Buford this at the time and made q
rush for Ferguson, who was rctreating rapidly when
and jetty hair made slash with his bowie knife that
took OIL considerable section of Ferguson scalp.
ISLANDERS interfering the shooting stopped. The
| only person other than Ferguson hurt. was negro
girl who got bulletin her mouth that nearlDkillod
| her.
The hundreds of quiet people whose lives had
been endangered by this reckless affair terribly
indignant against all the parties. Loud threats were
made of lynching all the participants and it is
than probable that had the color of the wounded
girl been white Tom Buford would not have lived
assassinate Judge Elliott. The feeling against him
became intense that even his proud Spirit could
not brook il. Absence was prescribed for him aud
lie went to Louisville to try his hand at
pork packing. Two years of business experience
sank his ready capital and immersed him IN debt.
To meet these liabilities no forced 10 consent to
the sale OF the homestead estate, and 1t is said that
lnx
| buy 1t. Tho bargain was soon made and the old
Buford mansion is now the home of A. j. Alexander,
who maintains the family reputation for boodcd
stock.
| A SISTERS AFFECTION.
During all the family troubles it would seem that
Miss Mary Buford inclined to the side of her brother
| Tom. She gave him the management of her share OF
tho estate and accompanied him TO Henry
tract Of land belonging to the Guthrie
heirs. 1t after this event that ne again
manifested his Hotspur disposition. A quarrel of
long standing was to be settled by appeal to tho
| code He acted second OF the challenging party,
gentleman OF great skill with firearms but so deaf
that he would be at great disadvantage il they were
to frc at command. The other party knowing this
had chosen rifles ~ the weapons and 100 yards as
the distance. The antagonists on the 1e!tl and
the only preliminary to be settled was whether they
were to fire by signal or command The challenged
Buford Withdrew his principal. He then raliantly
offered to put himself in hts pnce. but the generous
| sacrifice not accepted and tho duel was not
| fought.
buford fsid ms sister had resided only short time
on their newly acquired estate before IL discov-
cred that their claim to it fatally faulty. The
readers OF the HERALD already femiliar with tho
| legal tight Ia which Tom Duford exhibited oil his
characteristic tcnacty OF purpose against plain legal
right. He only knew that he had bought the prop
orty in good filth and had paid for II IN good money.
After he had been beaten In the hrst Court writ uf
| elec'ment was Issued against him. but when the
Sheriff came TO 1t he found uuford barricaded
in the house, determined to resist at all hazards.
Attempting 70 storm the house the official
strained to desist by Iufords threat of buckshot
The electors then decided 10 await tho slower
| of judicial determination.
MAIL ROBBER ARRESTED.