The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-03-18
A Thrilling Incident in the Life Of
Alexander II. Stephens.

Howard Caryll, who has been giving
sketches of the lives of prominent Amer
leans in New York paper, has an article
on Alexander Fl. Stephens, the material
for which was gathered from the lips ol
the ex-Vice President of the Confederate
States. The following incident in the
career of this well-known Georgian is
graphically told by Mr.. Caryll:
During Mr.. Stephens congressional
service, and pending the campaign OF
184S, he returned from Washington to
Georgia. He was fresh from the great
debates on the acquisition Of California
and New Mexico as United States Terri
tories, and for having taken, against the
wishes of a majority of the Southern
members, most prominent part in oppo'
sition to such acquisition, he was met
with much adverse criticism. Judge
Cone, who was at the time one of the
leading politicians of Georgia, was par
ticularly severe in his comments upon
Mr.. Stephens action, and was reported
as having publicly denounced him as a
traitor to the South.
Hardly had Mr.. Stephens reach his
home when these and similar reports
were conveyed to him. At first he did
not credit them, but as one kind friend
after another informed him that Cone
had called him traitor, and advised that he
owed it to himself to demand what is
called satisfaction" the fires of pugnaci-
ty in his nature, which are always smold.
ering, blazed up, and he declared that if
Judge Cone would admit having called
him a traitor to the South he would
'slap his face" Not long after this be
met the Judge at numerously attended
Whig gathering, and going up to him
quietly, said:
"Judge Cone, I have been told that
you, for reasons of your own. have de-
nounced me as traitor to the South,
and I take this opportunity of asking if
such reports are true"
"No, sir" was Cones reply, "they are
not true"
81 am very glad to hear you say So"
said Mr.. Stephens, cordially, and in the
same friendly tone continued: "Of course
1 do not desire to be in any way offensive
to you, Judge Cone, but in order that we
may have no futher misunderstanding
through the Misrepresentation of others,
I think it right to tell you thatI have
said would slap your face if you admit
ted having used the language attributed
to you."
Upon this the Judge again disowned
having spoken disrespectfully of MIR.
Stephens, and so for the time the affair
ended. 1t was the subject of much dis
cussion all over the State, however, and
the general vedict was that Judge Cone,
very powerful man, by the way, had
shown the white feather to "Little Aleck
Stephens" In such a community no
public man resting under such charge
could hope either for political preferment
or popular respect. Cone, of course,
knew this, and, very much annoyed by
the comments which were being made
upon him, wrote to Mr.. Stephens demand
ing an immediate and public retraction
of his threat. In reply Mr.. Stephens
wrote that the threat of slapping the
Judges face had been made contingent
upon the truth of reports regarding him
which he had pronounced untrue, and
that such being the case there could be no
cause for offense or angry feeling on either
side. Unfortunately this letter was not
received by Judge Cone. Three or four
days after it was written, however, he
met Mr.. Stephens on the piazza ofa hotel
in Atlanta, and, disregarding that gentle
mans friendly greeting, said in very
offensive tone:
"Mr. Stephens, l demand that you make
an Immediate retraction of your threats
regarding me-"
Sick aud weak though he was, Alexan-
der Fl. Stephens could allow no one to
speak to him in the fashion described.
Judge Cone was very giant in size aud
muscular development, but the frail man
whom he addressed, with aggrivating
politeness and without hesitating mo-
ment, replied: Pardon me, sir, have
already written you fully on that sub
ject; / must decline to discuss it fur.
ther."
Gam to take this rs your answer 2"
asked Cone, excitedly.
"It is the only answer I have to give
you," was the calm reply.
"Then I denounce you as miserable
little traitor" cried Cone, mad with ex-
citement. The last word had hardly left
his lips when little cane welded by the
quick hand of the man he had insulted
left its red scar across his cheek.
Wild with pain and passion, without
uttering word, he drew keen pointed
dirk-knife and made one furious thrust
at his weak little adversary's heart. In
stantly as he did SO, however, Stephens,
seizing stout umbrella which he held
in his left hand, interposed itas defense,
and was able for moment to hold him
at arms length. The knife fell short
of its mark. Once more it was thrust at
Stephens, cutting deep cash in his arm,
but reaching no vital point; eighteen
times it cut into his breast, arms and
body, and still be did not fall. Then he
could hold out no longer. No courage,
no spirit, however firm and unyieldiDg,
could long Withstand such an attack.
Cone was determined to finish his work.
He threw all his great weight against the
umbrella which held him away from
the man which be intended to kill. 1t
broke; Stephens, half faiuting, fell upon
his back. The giant Cone was at his
throat in moment; his head, by grip
of iron, was held against the cruel floor
the keen and blood-dripping knife was
held aloft before him ready for the last
fatal thrust, but still the poor pale face
of the little hero was set and defiant
his black eyes still flashing undaunted-
ly. -
"Retract or I'll cut your cursed throat p'
hissed Cone.
"Cutl I'll never rctractp gasped the
almost lifeless Stephens.
Like fash the knife came down.
With an almost superhuman effort the
PROSTATE man caught tin his right hand
Clean through the muscles, tendons and
bones of the hand it cut, then stuck fast
and reached no vital part. With despe-