Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-04-18
MALEDICTGON FULFILLED.

A True and Romantic Incident of the Late
Civil War.
il. w. Avery, Colonel Fourth Georgia Cavalry,
in Cincinnati Enquirer.
In the domain of fiction the use OF a
verified malediction is a tavorite artifce
OF dramatic effect. Upon the stage, that
scene of simulated passion, we find it
used with impressive influence. In the
realm of the real, history recalls no we'll
authenticated instance ola realized curse.
The following is literal case that &C.
cured during the war, under the personal
knowledge of the writer, and has been the
theme of much speculation. Whether it
was a mere coincidence, happening with
out real connection, or whether it was
one of those mysterious matters of mex
plicable romance that break the current
of staid prosaic facts, must ever remain
an unsolved problem. 1 will vouch
for the details alone. The reader must
exercise his own judgement upon them:
OLD AUNT RACHEL STONE.
The incident began in the early part
of 1868. The writer commanded
regiment OF Georgia cavalry. Most of
the members of this regiment came from
Whitfield and the adjoining counties in
the northern part OF the State of Georgia.
Among the soldiers was youth named
Stone, who enlisted in the company
raised in Murray county by Capt. Reu-
ben Keith. The mother of young Stone
was a very notable character. She was
called Old Aunt Rachel Stone. Her hus-
band was dead and she was still widow
supporting her family OF small farm.
She was a woman of marked and pecu-
liar appearance, very large, erect, mas
culine creature, with the frame, muscles
and stride OF man. She was over six
feet high. broad shouldered, massive,
sinewy, of immense physical vigor and
strength, performing manual labor on
her farm with the power and readiness
OF man, plougbing, splitting rails and
such other work requiring force and en-
durance. III She had face, clear, open, de-
cided, of remarkably positive expression,
large, bright blue eye, of piercing pene-
tration, nose OF character, broad thin
tipped mouth, firm set, a conforma-
ton of jaw full of will and power.
broad high brow, and unkempt
blonde hair that was often hanging loosely
on her shoulders and which, when so
futterlng around her expressive counte-
nance and heavy frame, gave an effective
individuality to her appearance. The
most impressive thing at least about her
was her manner of talking. She had a
deep, clear voice, and an oracular way OF
uttering her words that were singularly
fercible. She spoke with dehberatlon
a precision, measured emphasis and a
ringing earnestness that always held the
attention. She was naturally oratorical
IN her manner and utterances. A public
speaker might have learned something
from her. She expressed herself with un-
usual directness and u sort of dramatic
flavor that lost nothing from the fact
that it was couched in rude words and
uncultured idiom. There was always,
also, an originality in her opinions and
expressions that interested nearer. Her
mind was bold and independent, though
nneducated, and her intelligence strong
and picturesque, though unframed.
She took her toddy at times, and even
exceeded prudent ration OF spirits on
extra occasions. But there was never
anything against her chastity, and
she prided herself very much upon her
unblemished character. Said she once to
the writer In her peculiar manner, with
an added ring to her earnest voice, and
dwelling with her oracula1 emphasis upon
each distinct syllable.
"Mebbe you think am drab. But
ANTI am one of JEFF Davis daugh:
ters.''
She prided herself very much upon
being good, worthy subject of the con-
federacy, which she habitually epitomiz-
ed under the name of Jeff DAVIS" Take
her all In all, with her strong sense, her
original intelligence, her decisive meth
DDS, her keen penetration, her impress
slve expressions, her shrewd OBJ servat1on
of public matters and her rough, but
picturesque individuality, and she was
a very remarkable character, and to me
study Of considerable interest.
CAPT. REUBEN KEITH.
The other leading character in this I'M
common and tragical affair was Capt
Reuben Keith, one of the best officers in
my regiment. He was a well-to-do,w DWELL
educated farmer of Murray county, aged
SOnGWu6Ie DSGW6eu GulTly-1INc anu lOrGy,
man of high character and standing
He was conservative, straightforward,
practical citizen and soldier, universally
respected, his just, deliberate, decided
methods carrying great weight and
influence. His appearance was
an index of the man. He was a
stout, we'll proportioned, sturdy looking
gentleman, erect and solid, with fine
open face, full of intelligence and will,
and good temper. He looked the Anglo
Saxon all over, with his fair skin, rudy
color, light hair and fine blue eyes, so
clear and direct in their gaze. He had
an unusually clear judgment, and was
noted for his truth and integrity. He
had the quality of reliability to an
uncommon degree. He was brave and
skillful officer and an excellent discipln-
arian. His command was thoroughly
within his grasp. His final destiny was
pulling and illogical sequence of his
character and career. 1t violated every
antecedent and experience of the man,
and, connected as it was and interviewer,
with the little incident l shall narrate, in
which old Rachel Stone figured so dra-
matically, it has bafled philosophical con-