Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-07-25

| soon uleus LIS WIDOW married Capt. James
Graham, OF the U. 81 A., but died before
her father. Judge Reid's son James w. I
became midshipm7n In the 8. Navy. and
was lost In a gale off Cape Horn with every
soul on board. The daughter Rosalie died
at the age Of seventeen, and his daughter
Florida Forsyth married Lieut.. T. L. Dancy.
Both yet survive, and are residing on the ST.
| Johns river. The son Robert Raymond ia.
| think, vet living and at Palatka, Fla. / do
not know IL the other son, Raymond
Jenckes, is living or not
The Charles Black named was the brother
| of Edward j. Black. They were orphan
nephews Of Judge Reid, aud were reared by
| him. Edward j. was much like his uncle In
the brilIiancy of his intellect, the polish Of
his manner, and his chiValric bearing.
| Judge Reid lived to see his paternal care
and labor rewarded, in the high stand Ed
ward j. took at the bar and in his election
to Congress In 1888 and 1912. He was ger
rymsndered out OF Congress in 1874, and
| died in 1S49. His life, though short, was
| full OF interesting events. For expertness
| In debate, and readiness and brilliancy of
repartee, he had no superior, If indeed an
equal In Georgia. / cannot trust myself to
write Of him. When was a boy Of twelve
he won my admiration, which in my after
| life reached enthusiasm Some day may
sketch him, but cannot hope to do him JUS
tice. so exalted is my opinion of him. Geo.
R. Black is bis son.
After this episode, and as appropriate to
Judge Reid's marriages, and likewise illus
trating his poetical temperament and nObili-
ty OF soul, / will introduce few lines from
some verses he wrote at his last marriage,
which he styled
"THE OLD MANS WEDDING"
Alas that death should ever set
His seal on such precious clay;
Alas that thought Of fond regret,
Should cloud my wedding day.
There are two graves in a distant land
And tears have watered them well;
Even while clasp this lovely hand,
What tales does memory tell.
Oh. l love the dead, the old man said,
The more when look on thee,
For the blighted blossoms that long have fed
Come back and bloom for me.
These were not his only verses, for the
poetic sentiment and ideas are inseparable
from one of his culture and emotion: occa-
sionally he Yielded to the impulse and wrote
short poems of merit; one called the "Sick
Mans Dream" is peculiarly so.
The most touching incident In the life OF
Judge Reid, as deduced from his journal, IS
the pride he showed in the promotion of his
son James to command in the navy, and the
anxiety manifested for his safety while in
danger, and his grief at the realization OF
his tragic death.
There is q naval monument at Mount Au-
burn to commemorate the officers who per-
ished on the Wilkes exploring expedition.
description Of It at the time In the Ian
guage of the Boston Mercantile Journal, win
De worth repeating, and is here copied:
"A new charm isadded to this sacred rest
ing -place Tor the dead. A beautiful ceno-
tapn OF native marble has just been erected
Dy tne oincers and scientific corps of the late
exploring expedition to the memory OF four
OF their promising young associates who
lost their lives in the'serytce of their co,,rt-,
This chivalry of feeling, which embalms the
memory OF brother officers, is noble trait
In the character of brave men, and is touch
Ingly displayed in the plain but beautiful
and appropriate monument, on which, under
chaplets OF exquisitely wrought flowers,
each forming the shape of an urn, is in
scribed the following simple story:
"On the first side, TO she Memory OF
Lieut.. Joseph A. Underwood, Midshipman
Henry, U. s. Navy On the second side,
To the Memory of Past Midshipman
James W. A. Reid, Frederick A. Bacon, u,
). NJ On the third side, This Cenotaph
Is Erected by Their Associates, the Officers
and Scientific Corps of the U. s. Exploring
Expedition On the fourth side, Lieut..
Underwood and Midshipman Henry fell by
The hands Of savages while promoting the
Cause of Science and Philanthropy at Mo-
olo, one Of the Fiji group of islands, July
"a, 1S4O. Past Midshipman Reid and Bacon
we're lost at sea off Cape Horn, 1S39'n
For most OF the facts given, am indebt-
ID to the beautiful and interesting sketch
# Judge Reid by Stephen F. Miller, In his
Bench and Bar of Georgia. [ will let that
loble and kind-hearted gentleman tell the
ad story Of Judge Reid's death and of two
'ther members of his household within
Tery few days.
Miller says: "The reader will at once con-
dude that to heart so sffectionate as that
4 Governor Reid, to a nature OF such ex-
Iuisite sensIbility, this bereavement 1.-THE
oss OF his son at sea- was indeed over
No attempt will be made to de-
cribe the anguish of a father on such an
ccasion. He continued to discharge his
ficial duties, and those of a citizen, hus-
and and father 10 his usual bland and
aithful manner. But the last scene is at
and, and the earthly career of Robert Ray
lond Reid is soon to close.
"Oa the 28sh day OF June, 1S41, he was
eized with fever at Backwood, his resi-
ence, seven miles from Tallahassee. His
laughter Rosalie was likewise III under the
anne roof. Medical aid was called in with
ut effect, and on the third day Gov. Reid,
nth tranquil spirit, yielded his soul to its
faker. Without knowing her orphanage,
be gentle R9salie, in her seventeenth year,
ollowed her father to a better world the
ext day. On the 10th OF July, his grand
laughter, Rebecca Black, a lovely girl in
er twelfth year, also passed away and rested
q the third fresh grave at BlackWood. It
Vas indeed house of mourning
"The death of Governor Reid created a
eep sensation in the public mind, He was
man of exalted qualities"
II history is of anv value-if it
pleasant, entertaining or profitable to
cad Of persons and events of preceding
enerations, having a local as well
S general interest, then the people of
Feorgia owe Stephen F. Miller a debt OF
ratitude, which they have not, and fear
I'LL never, pay. When l realize how much
e accomplished through SO much bad
ealth, and how poorly he has been paid, in
lther money or appreciation, my deep
Vmpathy for him begets indignation for
nappreciative GeOrgians. His sufferinps
re at an end, and his gentle spirit is In the
better land" He was one of the few
rho to well feeling was a stranger, vet he
'as always striving and always the gentle
Ian.
Danger at Port Said.
O4aiOn SnecinI Tn " Y E,,e,,s,,<, r,.f....