Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-01-03
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
Illustrations OF the LatBer's Grit
The Former Waiting for a Reply.
Washington special Cincinnati TGmes7Star,
1st inst.

Washington special Cincinnati TTmes-StGr,
1st inst.
Although statments are made this morn
ing that the Burbridge- Blackburn cores
pondence means nothing, gentlemen who
are acquainted with both parties say that
the matter will not be dropped without fur
ther explanations. There is no doubt that
both Burbridge and Blackburn will fight at
the drop of the hat. Indeed, the courage
of the former is not doubted; and, in refer
ence to the latter, an old friend OF Black
burns said to your correspondent to-day:
"l have heard that Colonel Blackburn,
when quite young man, hsd meeting
In Kentucky, but / am not personally con-
Yersant with the affair. However, know
sufficient of Colonel Blackburn to say that
he is not afraid to meet Burbridge or any
other living man.
"He did have some trouble with Gath,
the correspondent in Washington. Colonel
Blackburn is much respected among the
correspondents at Washington, but this one
bad taken pains to criticise his course in
Congress.
when just recovering from illness,
Blackburn was called on by some friends,
and while standing in the office of VII
lard's, Gath came up and addressed one Of
the party. Representative McGinness pre-
sented Townsend to Blackburn, who re-
fused to recognize Gath. Gath made some
remark, when Blackburn turned upon him
and assured him, In unmistakable language,
that he considered him a Id scoundrel,
and that II ever he mentioned his Black
burn's) name in his newspaper again he
would cut his ears off. And his name has
never since appeared in any letters Of the
correspondent.
81 forget now the cause of the feeling,
but think it grew out of the Belknap trial.
81 remember another incident: While Col.
Blackburn was In the army, he desired to
cross the Mississippi river, which at that
Time was very dangerous thing to do by
reason Of the many gunboats and conveys
passing. The stream was high, almost
flood. Mrs. Blackburn, with her infant son,
attended by an old and faithful negro, were
hidden in skiff in the bushes which lined
the bank, and where she hoped to meet her
husband.
''It was above the bend of the river, and
one gunboat had just passed up stream.
The Colonel, thinking the coast was clear,
struck out in his small boat for the oppO-
site shore, but found another gunboat close
upon him. The officers OF the boat de-
manded him to pull aboard, which he re-
fused. In the meantime the gunboat con-
tinued to close in upon him, and finally
the small skiff struck the bow of the gun
boat and was upset; Blackburn held on to
the skitf as it turned round and round in the
water. He was finally caught at the stern
OF the gunboat and taken aboard. When
he left the shore he was smoking 8 pipe,
which never left his mouth till he was taken
on board the boat.
"This will serve to show, not only his
courage, but also his presence of mind.
The crew of the vessel then demanded that
his wife and child also come aboard, which
they refused to do. The lady showed great
courage, and that in the very face Of half
dozen muskets pointed at her.
81 think he also came near having meet
ing with Colonel Marshall, of Kentucky,
who, finding Joe to be thoroughly game let
the matter drop"
PHILADELPHIA, December 91.-General
Burbridge, who has been credited with
having sent challenge to fight duel to
Congressman Joe Blackburn, said to-day
that Blackburn had sent him a most insult
ing message through a friend of Blackburn,
and he had forwarded a reply, couched in
such language that Blackburn, or any man
In Kentucky, If he had a spark of manhood
about him, could not fail to take notice of
1t. He expects reply TO his letter, and
says that the contents will be noted Bur
bridge is clerk in the Office of Postal In
spector Barrett, Of this city. He was once
an extensive slave owner, and has been for
some time an aspirant for South American
mission. He is a deadly enemy of Black
burns, over circumstances growing out of
the war. Several of his friends have yolun-
teered to act as a seconds If duel is arranged.