The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-03-10
A MEMORABLE ENCOUNTER.


This charge was made III public by
Judge Core, u distinguished member OF the
Georgia Bar, in 1913, and led to the famous
encounter with knives IN which Mr.. Ste
phens WAS engaged, and from the effects OF
which he suffered till the day OF his death.
The charge made against Mr.. Stephens
was disavowed, but IN demanding the re-
traction he used words which afterward
led to the .encounter. The scene occurred
in the piazza of Thompsons Hotel in AZ
lanta, Ga, on the 4th OF September 1913.
Mr.. Stephens WAS unarmed, but his antag.
onis,, who was more than twice his size
and weight, began the attack with an open
knife. This he for rome time parted with
an umbrella, receiving several wounds up.
on his arms and breast; but his assailant,
rushing upon him with all his superior
force and weight, threw him upon his
back. One blow with the knife aimed AT
the hear, would have done ITS fatal work
but for the fortunate position of the blade
OF the KNIFE. Another blow on The other
side, passing between two ribs, severed an
inter-cossIery artery. The strong man
then, with IS lett hand on the forehead of
his adversary and the knife in his right
hand, said, Now, 1870 -, retraCt or |
will cut your - throat" The reply
was, "No, never! Gut" As the knife
came Mr. Stephens caught i. in his right
hand ami with his lett seized the right ell.
bow of Inn who welded II. la this way
the struggle lasted until both parties were
on their feet again and others came to the
rescue. The right hand, that seIzcd the
knife az it was aimed at the throat. was
horribly msnglcd by the turning and
twisting Of the blaze in efforts To get j,
out of the grip.
SECESSION.
| Nothing II more certain than that Mr.
Stephens was always sincere in his pOllti-
cal course, and the only foundation for The
charges made against him was in his ready
acceptance of accomplished facts He re
sisted what was called the California com
promise, but after 1t was passed he accept
ed il as the will Of Congress. In all ,bt
contests in which the rights Of the Sou'l
were concerned his action was similar
This accounts also for his sudden chan %
from a stcadfast unions, to thorough
gong secessiopist and his acceptance u
the wee presidency of the Southern Con
federacy At the time Georgia seeded
from the Union Mr.. Stephens great speed
a, Milledgeville in November 1860 VA:
the text OF Unloulsts both North anc
South, and 1t was not three months iron
the time of its delivery till he became ,ht
rebel Wee President He simply wen
with his state, and was glad to return will
his State to the Union.
ARRESTED.
He was arrested there after the surrende
of Lee and taken to Fort Warren, Nher
he remained for five months u prisoner
Previous 10 his arrest Stephens made ~
effort to escape, but was found az his hom
, quietly smoking his meerscLaum. Ill
had no companions save two negro ser'
3 ants and dog. and lived almost cutircl.
} I'm solitude After his release he mad
r many conclilhtory speeches but he posi-
. lively declined Il re election t. CCngres:
though his disabilities we're remove
among the first Of the leaders Of the II
- belliOn who were partoned by &C: Of Cor
: irress. His scruplcs were at length over
come, however, and he was chosen n meu
her of the Forty-third Congress. But Ia
u health, always feeble since his entry iOl
90 public life, was such that he was not sbl
! to I've in HIS seat oitCn.
Two years ago be expressed his inter
tIOu 10 retire from Congress and publ
life at the close Of his term In March lSs
but he was subsequently,, agsins, his vii
. Nominated and elected Governur OF D
4 native state, and in tho faithful dlschars
of his duties as such Is cUt down by deaf