The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1880-09-04
McCLUNG.
An Interesting sketch of HIs Char
acIer. and incidents Of His Career.
The Weary spirit Seeks Rest In self
Destruction.
BY HON. SHIELD L. HussEY.

l am pleased TO see that you haV
reproduced Col. Meetings. Enlogy OF
Mr., Clay. was present at its dellv
cry in the Representative Hall in tn,
City of Jackson, before n large ant
splendid audience, composed princi
pally of the Wing families of Jackson
1t was regarded as II very superior
effort. The orator read generally, from
his address, already printed,-bu
sometimes fell into impr0visat ton.
well recollect the concluding sentence
(as spoken,) Peace to thy ashes
Henry Clay"
Perhaps some "reminiscences of this
singular man might not be unaccepta
bic to your readers.
Col. McClung did not die as early as
1852, as was stated. commenced
boarding at the Eagle Hotel early
in 1854, and found him there. Oul
rooms were only separated by II thin
partition wall. / recollect that he
passed one summer at Cooper's Well,
after my acquaintance commenced
with him in 1854, and my recollec-
ton is that he died in the Spring OF
1856. | had made bushes visit to
Vicksburg on the day of his death,
but was informed on my return in the
afternoon, that Col. McClung ate n
hearty fish dinner, (he was very fond
of fish, and left the table early-soon
after, and while many of the boarders
were still at the table, Il weak pistol
shot was heard from his room. Poo
pie FASTENED there at once, and found
him lying on his back, with arms and
legs stretched at full length, quite dead
the pistol lying several feet from the
body. The ball had entered the back
part of his head, below and behind
the right ear. 1t had passed through
the brain, broke the front skullbOne,
and lodged just under the skin of the
upper part of the left eyebrow from
whence DR.. Craft took it, by cutting a
little cross in the skin, with his pen
knife. The hotel was an old building,
and in one place there was an inden-
tatiOn in the floor the head was found
in that lower place. Apparently he
had sat himself down ON the floor so
that his head would fall there, and the
blood run from him. Certain it was,
that though some blood eXuded from
the wound in the back of the head
none from that in front, his clothing
was not in the least soled. The body
was borne to Kentucky for interment'
He had come from Kentucky.
Col. McClung was said to have been
strong and brilliant writer. He
edited the " True ISSUE" campaign
paper in the interest of Gen. Harrison,
in the exciting contest of lS40-the
time when log cabins, coon skins, and
hard cider, $50 called, though it was
really whiskey,D played so prominent
part. The paper did not survive the
decisive victory achieved by the Wing
party.
Col. McClung fought two duels, and
escaped unhurt from both. Col. AL
len, his first antagonist, was killed on
the field ; Mr.. Menafee, his second adj
versary, died few days after the
meeting, from what was regarded at
first as only a slight wound received
in the manner stated by your late cor
respondent. | have heard it said that
McClung and Menafee were very
intimate and friendly, being both
Kentuckians. Both were in the babit
of drinking freely. One night, while
Menafee was playing billiards, Nc
Chung came into the room, IN
his cups, and began to tease Menafee,
and interrupt his game. Menafee
bore it for some time and tried to get |
clear of him-but finally lost all
patience and knocked him down with
his billiard cue. McClung was lying
on the floor, Menafee carried away
with passion, kicked him. This was
to mnch; McClung admitted to his
friends that he had done wrong; that
he deserved beating, and that if
Menafee had stopped at that, he
would have been content but that
he kick indicated contempt, and was
IN affront and an insult that he would
not submit To. Accordingly, he chal-
enged Menafce, and they fought, as
stated.
McClung was Lieut-C0l. of the First
Regiment, which won so
much glory in the Mexican war. At
Monterey, he called TO the company of
which he had been captain, "Tom-
,igby volunteers, tOLlOW"--and they
lid. AS he mounted the breastwOrk
lie was riddled with balls. He was
wounded, and lay in hospital ;
Dr. months, lowering between life and
eath, and disabled from participating I
irther in the triumphs of the inn {
Mortal First Regiment. The State ,
resented him with Il handsome sword,
which he was justly proud and he !
forwards drew pension from the +
Tnitcd States government. / do not I
now the amount. but, as his Only q
lcome, il was not sufficient. His .
arty friends would gladly have re- +
eyed him, but refrained from pro- "
Dsing il, knowing his sentitive pride. q
inally, one of these, Maj. Horne, of
he banking firm of Adams & Horne, |;
/ heard, offered 10 lend him. Il
cClung refused, sternly-almost re- /
mo Sir" "No Sirn' 81 o
ont borrow, for have no means of e
turning it," d
Col. McClung seemed To me the UNI u
lppiest man that / ever knew. He ii
dom slept while Others slept. All el
I III