The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1880-07-17


ing, these same young men came
0 down for bath themselves; and
| while in the water, the little boy that
4 had been made the subject Of the sport
: on the previous evening, slipped out
I and tied knot into the shirt sleeve OF
; McClnng. When they came out
and. McClung found his shirt sleeve
s tied into II knot, and the young boys
| standing around in noisy sport at the
| transaction, he became enragcd, and
gathering IL switch, began to use il on
; the little fellows back. The high soul
of Menetlee became indignant, and Il
. difficulty took place between these
+ two fiery young men, of which it is
! said, the gallant young MenefIce got
;; the best of it. The next day, Col.
| McClung sent a challenge to Meneffee,
, which was accepted, and the two,
with their friends repaired to Vicks-
burg, and crossing the river, duel
WAS fought with rifles. AT the first
! fire, the ball of McClung's rifle struck
the hammer Of Menefiee's gun, split
ting it in two one half of which
glanced dup and struck the unfortunate
Meneffee in the forehead, splitting his
skull, from the effects of which. in IA
few days, he died. The history of the
unfortunate McClung from that day
forward, was the history Of u remore,
that was rs scoring to his mind and
conscience as rods of heated iron, and
more terrible than that death, which
he thereafter 50 often sought, but
which would not come to him, though
it would have been as welcome as the
summer evening breeze to the tired
and care worn traveller, across the
weary wastes of life.
When the war with Mexico broke out
out, he was elected Lieutenant-Colonel
of lst. Mississippi Reg't commanded
by the gallant jefferson Davis, and at |
Monterey, nj the head of his men, he
scaled the walls, seeking perhaps, |
some friendly bullet that would for
ever allay the fever of his SOUL and |
quiet the throbbing brain.
With the sword waving over his
head, and the batle-cry on his lips,
the friendly messenger came and bore
him to the ground. But death sweet
death came not to his care-worn soul.
Like the wandering Jew, he saw others
pass into the deep waters, but it was
not given for his feet to plunge into
their icy depths, and find relief from
lifes burdens. For six months he lay
upon his back, and at length, hateful,
come forth and resume its battles.
Like Gain, forever fleeing from that
phantom that was forever pursuing
he sought an appointment from the
Government, and was sent Us Consul
to the Argentine Republic. Having
embroied himself in difficulty with
Il South American Generals duel was
fought, and another victim was added
to the list, to torture the memory, and
urge him on to the commission of that
crime which, ended his own weary
life. One summer day. in 1852, the
citizens of Jackson were shocked, to
hear that Col. McCIung had ended his
life in his room ut the Eagle Hotel
Having shaved and dressed himself, it
is said he poured water on the floor TO
see i'm what direction the current of
that life, which he was about to pour ,
Dut would run, and placing the pistol
to his head, a duh report echoed !,
through the halls of that old building;
md the life which had been such n
burden to him, was forever withdrawn !.
rom the sum Of human existence.
As Il writer, Col. McClung had few
uperiors. Both in prose and poetry IL
lis gifted pen was turned. His eulogy d
lpon the life and character of Henry
LAY, was said to have been one of the Il
inest productions of the kind in the g
english language; and this writer u
would feel grateful, as all the readers u
f your valuable COMET would, if some Ii
ne who has II copy OF that eulogy az
would hand it in for reproduction. I Ii
m satisfied it would be read with IN
luch interest. u
1t is said that the evil that men do is W
ured with them, but that theid good NJ
eeds live after them. Let il be So. In III
~ boyhoOd days have looked upon I'll
he form and features of him whose hi
fe, perhaps, was made desolate by Ii
ne false step. Let us beware how we co
Ike that step. Vengeance is mine,
nth the Lord; | will repay" Young su
ian, seek not TO take that life which N
cd has given to another. Our bless F'
| Saviour said TO Peter, "Put up on
gain thy sword into his place: for all If
icy that take the sword, shall perish Id
ith the sword" The lesson which Ou
lis eventful life has impressed upon OF
J, hope will be the means of turn he
g aside angry words, that lead TO Jec
rife and an untimely death. ha
SOLOMON TIFF. AT
Far TO the east of the land that
We birth to the lamented Quitman, 'iii
d shaded by the same range of a"
anite hills that cast their cooling ma
adows over Sergeant $. Prentiss i'm "a,
: LoyheOd, another New England ""
nth turned his steps from his boy I
DDS home, and wandered into the w,
Itry savannas of the Mississippi. \ :,
w England school teacher, poor and ia
most friendless, young Solomon Tiff ide
ne b. the proud capital of the State {
Mississippi, in search Of a school. at
those blessed days the people knew w:
North, no South, no East, no West, to
4 it mattercd not upon what soil a of {
IN was born; if he was a gentle ma
IN, and knew how To behave him agC
{, he was sure tO receive hearty HI.
lcOme and helping hand. Du
solomon Tiff was not long i'm estab- puI