The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1879-02-19
A Mississippi Tragedy of Fifty Years
Ago.
From the n. o. Picayune.l
BY ELIAS STAFFORD, ESQ.

| us ALICE up the liver anu Inefc you VIII
find marked the old town of Columbi
which brings you near to what the lawyers
would cali the e0ae" of the principal
events about to be narrated.
Columbia the county site of Marion coun-
", is a small town, never having popula-
ton of more than doZea families, and
these mostly the families OF officers OF court
and merchants. The map shows roads
which the reader may Igine to be stage
roads, but no stage was ever there, the
mails being always carried on horseback.
The county has an area of over 1900 square
miles, with less than 600 voters. When the
winter rains swell the channel of Peal Riy
or, one or TWO steam boats from New Or
leans come up bringing freightS for the
country and return laden with cotton,
making but few trips during the short
son OF navigation. The whole region there
ab0uts is mostly barren "piny woods" and
the loneliness OF the decayed old town has
lately been EN- hasiZed by a telegraph line
running through ii between other points of
i'm portance. In 1921, the seat of the State
government, by some log-rollng or other
parliamentary triekery, was fixed at Co
lumbta, and the session OF 1872 was held
there, from whence the old town is now
sometimes facetiously spoken of as 1.-The
ancient capital OF the roSin-h heel empire"
The capital was then removed and Co
umbI became herself again. Now, reader,
you may almost naturally ask what interest
can possibly attach to such a region as that
just described. But wait and learn. Re-
member caledonia stern and Wild and
and YOU shall yet see that this unpromis-
ing region possesses a weird and even ro-
mantle interest beyond anything that
comm cree, wealth, or any of the constitu-
ents of progress could possibly throw
around it; an interest which under the
magic influence of the pen OF the "wizard
of the north," might have awakened to
new life even the dying numbers of the
| Lay of the last Mirstrel."
| About three miles north OF Columbia, on
Xyt oh rallal wi H.a
in lovely spot near the road, is Spring,
giving forth then as now, cOpiOuS flow of
| water, which had at that time acquired
celebrity for its mineral aud curative prop
| critics. As soon as the seat of government
| was located at Columbia, an arrangement
| which, though it proved to be only tenn po-
rary, was thought by many to be pprma-
nent, an enterprising and thrifty citizen by
| the name OF Stovall conceived the idea of
making that place fashionable resort, and
| in pursuance of his design built at Colum-
bia large, and for that day, an elegant
| hotel, one wing of which was occupied by
| the Legislature during its session at that
| town. He also about the same time bought
the plantation at the Springs, and erected, a
| short distance from the Springs. a large
| frame hotel and the outbuildings necessary
| for a watering place. the whole fronting
/ and overlooking the river. The game OF
| columbia Springs" or "Stovali's Springs
/ as they were sometimes called, spread
! through the country, and the attraction OF
| the waters, and more than that the superb
deer hunting and fishing facilities of the
! place soon attracted large numbers of sum-
mer visitors, most of whom came from the
| region near the Mississippi River, between
Baton Rouge and Vicksburg, including the
| counties of Wilkinson. Adams, Jefferson
aud Cl2i )Orne, AMI many from the cities of
! New y. leans and NatcheZ. Nearly all came
| in their own convevAnces, which Gurin z
| their stay afforded facilities for driving
/ over the level roads in the vicinity of the
/ - lia-x amt and hl
crowd passed their time in feasting, dance
| Ing. driving, rowing, Billiards, ten-pins,
hunting, fishing, and other gayeties and
| amuSements.
| In the summer of 1926, when the sea-
son was at its height, the crowd at the
| Springs was unusually large and brilliant,
! there being quite a number of distinguished
| persons there, and, for the better preserva-
| ton of ord rand dtcOrum in the social ar
! rangement5 of the place, the guests formed
! themselves into a sort of social organiza-
| ton, and by one of its acts well known
| gentleman, planter of high position living
near NatcheZ, was made master of ceremO-
| MES at the table, and to him were referred
! all questions OF precedence As to seats, etc.
| Among the guests was Judge Richard
| Stockton of Narchez, who. as will be seen,
| is the central figure of this tragedy. He
| was the son of the Richard Stockton, of
| New jersey, who signed the declaration of
| independence, had been a Judge of the SUI
! perior Court OF Mississippi, and was at the
! time of these events Attorney General of
the State. His family name and illustrious
| descent gave him prestige which was fully
sustained by his splendid scholastic and ju-
dcal attaInments, and his brilliant and
amiable social qualities. Another visitor
was a merchant of New Orleans by the
| name of Pavson, who was accompanied by
his wife. One day a lady friend of the
| Paysous arrived from New Orleans, asso-
| ciating at once with them. In taking seats
| at the dinner table, the PaysOns took the
seats usually occupied by thrm, and, with
out consulting the proper authority or any
one else, and, as Mr.. PaySon afterwards de-
clared, without intending or even thinking
| of any i'm proPriety, seated their visitor by
| their side, thus crowdiDg others OF the COM
| pany lower down the table. The mistake
was at once noticed. and Stockton, who sat
near Payson. made spirited remark about
| it which called out from Payson a sudden,
angry and insulting response. The mas
ter of ceremonies in vain called Them to
order. The excitement in moment in
| fected the whole company at the table, and
both Stockton and Payson were about draw
| ing pistols at each other. when a distin
guished lady threw herself between them.
and with vehement aGd wild protestatiOns
besought them 70 desiSt, which after some
| further persuasion they did, and the COM
pany went on with the dinner. eating. how
ever, hastily and in silence, the recent ex-
element disqaalifying them Tor the enjoy
ment of their accustomed wine and cheer
| full conversation. AS the guests were retir-
| ing, Stockton made a remark to the effect
that he would have satisfaction from Pay
son, which, being overheard by the latter,
he gave back words which greatly aggra-
waited the quarrel. All was now intense
excitement. and the talk was entirely of
| redress under the code of honor" which
was con siderej the proper thing at that
day. Stockton must of course chal-
| lenge PaysoD, but here difficulty arose. As
| Mr.. PaysDn had few if any acquaintance at
the Springs, his social status was not salts
| factorily defined; and, as he was not known
| by Judge Stockton to be gentleman, the
| friends of the latter insisted that he should
not compromise himself by sending chal-
lenge. Pavson signifled his assent to this
mode of arbitrament; but, for the reason
| just given, no arran cement could be made.
| Thus, with the feeling augmented by delay,
| the matter remained in suspense for two or
| three days and nights, when, to the relief OF
all concerned, Gen. Ripley, of New Orleans,
/ arrived. Rayson saId he would refer the
| question of his social standing To Gen. Rip
| ley. whose civic and military renGwn, so
well known to the readers OF the history of
our second war with Great Britain, would
give to his decision a character beyond
| question. On being inquired of, Gen. Rip-
/ ley said In substance that he knew Mr.. Pays
| son well, that he knew him to be gent.e-
| man, and that wherever he was known he
was 50 recognized. On one of the friends
of Stockton suggesting that he had heard
| something disparaging of Payson, Gen.
| Ripley promptly replied, 81 have said Mr..
Pays0n is gentleman. If it is disputed, /
| profess myself to be one.s Finding that the
old soldier meant Cuisines" the question
was treated as settled, the challenge TO fight
was accepted, arrangements were made. and
| by the cartel some time was given for ar
engagements, when the parties were 70
/ meet and fight In the city of New Orleans.
1 While negotiations were going ON at the
| Springs quarrel on the all-engrossing topic
arose between two young gentlemen named
| Ross and Gibbs, the one q wealthy planter
jefferson county. This dispute Al the
Il Springs eliminated ia q duel between the