The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1880-03-13
a TERRIBLE RNCOUNTKR.

York Times I;
Dur,rg Mr.. Stephens Congressional
service. and pending the campign OF
1913, be returned from Washington to
G-orxia He was fresh from the
great debates on the acquisition OF Cali
forn,s ard New Mexico as United
States Territories. and for having
taken, against the wishes of Q majority
Of the Southern members. . most
prominent part in the opposition 70
such acquisition. he was met With much
adverse criticism. Judge Cane. who
wss at the time one Of the leading poll :
.ic,ans Of G.orgis. Vas particularly
severe in his c~Inments upon Mr..
Stsphen,' action aad was reported ~
having publicly d.nou"ecd him - .
traitor e. oVe South.
Ha,dly hsd Mr. Stephens reached
hi, hsme whom these and similar re-
pcrts were conveyed 10 him. 1t 6rst
be did not credit them. but % one kind
trend after another informed him shat
Core had called hin traitor. snd I'D.
vis.d. iu the true Southern spiflt, thet
he owed it TO himself to demand what
is c,lled satisfaction. tho fires of pug.
h.ciiy in his nature. which are always
smoulder'ng, blazsd up. and he de.
clared that IL Judge Gene would cd
init having called him . traitor to the
south he would slap Lis face Not
l. NJ after that be met the Judge ct .
namerou.ly attended Wing gathering.
aud going up to him quietly. said
Judge Conc, have been told that
you. for reasons Of your own. have de
nounced me as traitor to the South.
AID l take this opportunity Of asking
you II such reports are true
No. SIR. they are not true was
Cones reply. 4
l." very glad to hear you cay 70.
said Mr.. Stephens cordially. and. 10 the
same friendly tnne. contioued: OF
course. do not desire to bs in any
way offrsive to yon. Judge Conc, but.
in or!er ,n-t We nay h.v. ua further
Misunderstanding. III Ongh the mis
IONS nf o'h.rs. I think il
riyh. to tel You that l have said l
would slap your face il yOu admitted
having used the language attributed to
you n 81
Upon this the Judge again d tlowned
hsving spoken di.respectfuily Of Mr..
Stephens. ani so. for III. time. the af-
fair ended 1t was the subject of
much discussion all over the State,
however. and the general verdict was
that Judge COne-a very powerful man.
by the way-hsd shown the white
feather TO Little Altck Stephens In
such community, no public man rest.
ing under such charge could hope
either tor political perfsrment or pop.
ular respect Cone. Of course, knew
this, and. very much heated and an
noyed by the comments which were
being made upon him. wrote to Mr..
s ephens. demanding an immsdia&e aud
public ret raction Of his threat. In re-
ply. Mr.. Stephens wrote that the threat
"t slapping the Judges face had been
male contingent upon the truth of
reports regarding him. which he (xr.
Camel had pronounced to b untrue,
and that, such being tho case. there
could be 10 cause Of offsnse OF angry
feelings on either si,ie. Uniost usately,
this letter was not received BY Judge
Cone. Three or four days after it Vas
written. however. he met Mr.. Stsphens
on the piazza Of hetel il Atlanta.
and. di-regstdiog that gsntlemaais
friendly greeting. said. in . very Of
f-nsivc tone:
.Mr. Stephens. demand HAT you
make On immediate retraction Of your
threats regarding me-
Sick and weak though he va,
Alexander H Stephens could allow 10
one TO sp. ak in the msnser described.
Judge Cone vas . very giant in sixs
aud muscular dsveIopm snt. yst the
fra,l man whom be addressed, with
ssgravAiing .pslii~nesa and x;thopt
hs-itsiinx : moment. replied !: .HArdqn
me, sir, I have already written y6u
fully "'that subject; ! must decline to
discuss it further
'Am to take this % your answer ?
asked Cone. excitedly. ig ee~r
1t i, the only answer baye to give
you wa the calm reply.
Then denouuce you - 1Disoe-
able little traitor cried Co.'S. mad
with excitement. The last word had
hardly left bis lips when . light cane
welded BY the quick hand OF the qan
he bad insultsd left IL ssd scAkE ace6ss
hi. che~k.
Wild With pain and pssjss, vish-
out altering . word, b drew . hosn
poiGted dirk knifs snd made one fpsi>
ous thrust 1t his w0k little - dteeDsry's
hesrt luatantly = hs did -. hbessyr,
Strphens. .slxing . stous cmneeIla
which be had in his left hand. inter.
posed il ~ defence, and was able foe
q mowent to hold hfo q arm's length.
The knife fell abort efits mark. Opos
mors il wss thrust = 6tsphue Aettbg
. dep eash ID his asa. b6t fsikhfs8
No vital point eighteen timer il cut
deep into his breast. aens snd body,
but still he did not fall. Then hs
could Told out no longer. No courage.
NO syirit, hovevss 6fm ssi upyieldi0G,
could loug withstand s0ch an astSek.
Cone WAS detrrmined 10 iioish hia work
lie threw ah his gseaa weight Teeeiest
the umbrella which lid Ihim day
f.sm the man hs had dsteruiaea. .
kill;is broke; 6tephss .. hall taintlng.
fell upcn his bnck The kioAs Cooe
VA 1t bis Threat In > woAsst: bic
bead. oy . Gnp of iron. vss held
against the cruel 1eOE khe zksea and
blo.,i DIP ping knife vas held ale9
before him rsady for the .leae }aeal
sL.u-t bstss.ll ihsrase ~ - q
the little hero was st and 6<uGE-oje
black eyes still AaAhed undauntsdly.
R.trs1.f m I'll cnf Y0n1 cafoe4