Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-03-22
Mlistellauenns &eadiug.
"REMINISCENCES OF STEPHENS.

returned from Washington tOGeorgla. lie
was fresh from the great debates on the ac-
QUESTION of California and New Mexico as
United States territories, and for having
taken, against the wishes of majority OF
the Southern members, a most prominent
part in opposition to such acquisition, he
was met with much adverse criticism.
Judge Cone, who was at the time one OF the
leading politicians of Georgia, was partlcu-
larly severe in his comments upon Mr. Ste
phens' action, and was reported as having
publicly denounced him as a traitor to the
South.
Hardly had Mr.. Stephens reached his
home when these and similar reports were
conveyed to him. At first he did not cred
it them, but as one kind friend after anoth-
er informed him that Cone had called him
traitor and advised, in the true Southern
spirit, that he owed it to himself to demand
What is called stsatisfaction," the fires of
pugnacity in his nature, which are always
smOuldering, hissed up, and he declared
that if Judge Cone would admit having
called him traitor to the South he would
"slap his face" Not long after this he met
the Judge at numerousy-attended Whig
gathering, and going up to him quietly said {:
"Judge Cone, / have been told that you,
for reasons of your own, have denounced
me as a traitor to the South, and take this
opportunity of asking you if such reports
are true"
"No, sir" was Cones reply, "they are not
true"
81 am very glad to hear you say So" said
Mr.. Stephens, cordially; and in the same
friendly tone continued "Of course, L 90
not desire to be in any way offensive toyou,
Judge Cone but in order that we may have
no further misunderstanding through the
misrepresentation of others, think it right
to tell you that have said | would slap
your face if you admitted having used the
language attributed to yOu."
Upon this the Judge again disowned hav-
ing spoken disrespectfully of Mr.. Stephens,
and so for the time the affair ended. Itwas
the subject of discussion all over the State,
however, and the general verdict was that
Judge Cone, very powerful man, by the
way, had shown the white feather to "Little
Aleck Stephens" In such a community no
public man resting under such charge
could hope either for political prefermentor
popular respect. Cone, Of course, knew this,
comments which were being made upon
him, wrote to Mr. Stephens demanding an
immediate and public retraction of the
threat. In reply Mr.. Stephens wrote that
the threat of sIapping the Judges face had
been made contingent upon the truth OF re-
ports regarding which he (Mr. Gomez had
pronounced to be untrue, and that such be-
ing the case there could be no cause for Of
fense or angry feeling on either side. Un-
fortunately this letter was never received
by Judge Cone. Three or four days after it
was written, however, he met Mr.. Stephens
on the piazza Of a hotel in Atlanta, and, dis
regarding that gentleman's friendly greet
ing, said in very offensive tone:
7 nI
an immediate retraction of your threats re-
garding me-"
Sick and weak though he was, Alexan-
der H. Stephens could allow no one to speak
to him in the fashion described. Judge
Cone was very giant in size and muscular
development, yet the frail man whom he
addressed, with aggravating politeness and
without hesitating moment, replied:
"Pardon me, sir, | have already written
you on that subject. 1 must decline to dis
cuss it further"
cam 1 to take this for your answer"
asked Cone, eXcitedly.
''It is the only answer l have to give
you" was the calm reply.
"Then denOunce you as miserable lit
tie traitor" cried Cone, mad with excite
ment. The last words had hardly left his
lips when light cane, welded by the quick
hand of the man he had insulted, left it's red
scar across his cheek.
Wild with pain and passion, without ut
tering a word, he drew a keen pointed dirk
knife and made one furious thrust at his
weak little adversary's heart. Instantly as
he did so, however, Stephens, seizing stout
umbrella which he had in his left hand, in
terpOsed it as defence and was able for
moment to hold him at arms length. The
knife fell short of its mark. Once more it
was thrust at Stephens, cutting deep cash
in his arm, but reaching no vital point {;
eighteen times it cut deep into his breast
arms and body, but still he did not fall
Then he could hold out no longer. No
courage, no spirit, however firm and un-
yielding, could long Withstand such an at
tack. Cone was determined to finish his
work. He threw all his great weight against
the umbrella which held him away from
the man he intended to kill. 1t broke.
Stephens, half fainting, fell upon his back.
The giant Cone was at his throat in mo-
ment his head, by grip OF iron, was held
against the cruel floor the keen and blood
dripping knife was held aloft before him,
ready for the last fatal thrust but still the
poor pale face Of the little hero was set and
defant-his black eyes still flashed un-
dauntedly.
"Retract, or I'll cut your cursed throat"
hissed Cone.
"Cut! III never retract!" gasped the al
most lifeless Stephens.
Like flash the knife came down. With
an almost superhuman effort the PROSTATE
man caught it in in his right hand. Clean
through the muscles, tendons and bones of
the hand it cut, then stuck fast and reached
no vital part. With desperate strength,
Cone tried to wrench it free. With grasp
almost of death the horribly mangled and
mutilated hand still held it fast. In the
struggle Stephens was once more dragged
to his feet. The blood was rushing in
streams from his many wounds. His hold
upon the knife which sought his brave
heart began to relax. He was dying. But
even when he believed the next moment
would be his last, strong men came to his
relief. The mailman Cone was secured and
held fast. Then quickly the wounds which
Mr.. Stephens had received were examined.
1t was found that one of them had penetra-
ted to within a sixteenth of an inch of his
heart. An intercostal artery had been cut.
The doctors declared that he would surely
die. Happily their predictions were not
verified. His life was saved by the unre,
mitting care of a surgeon, his devoted
friend, who, as good fortune would have It,
happened to be in Atlanta at the time
When he recovered, with a magnanimity
of which few men are capable even OF un'
derstanding, he refused to prosecute Cone
and that person, instead of getting his des'
erts in the dark cell of a State prison, was
fined 81 900, and, with his "honor vindica'
ted" was allowed to 60 free. To the day
of his death Mr., Stephens spoke OF MIN MN
in terms of consideration and forgiveness
Not long ago, referring to the terrible
struggle, I have attempted to describe anc
Showing me the great hole In his manglec
hand, he said with quiet and far-away
look in his deep, dark eyes: "Poor Cone
Pm sure he'd be sorry if he knew Wha