The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1884-01-18
Old Jackson's Nose.

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Jackson, it will be recollected there oc-
Cured SCI eral events of thrilling inter-
est. The old hero's career in the war
of 1912 with Great Britain was marked
with events which will long be remem-
bered. His sturdy defense of New Or
leans, the grand and successful battle
before that city, were eminently sug-
gestive of the terrible energy involved
in Jackson's composition and marked
him as one of the foremost men in the
then young nation. The people did
not forget him, and ere many years he
was called to fill the great office of
President of the United States. What
he did in that position is so imprinted
on the historic pages of the country as
never to be forgotten. They have come
down the years in trumpet tones and
are yet reverberating in the list of cele-
brities of the land.
Andrew Jackson's civil battle with
the United States bank, his stern, I'M
yielding and successful grapple with
the secession serpent in the person of
John g. Calhoun, and other noted dis
plays of his indomitable will are proud
incidents of his history and veritable
laurels of his administration. Every
true patriot loves to recall them to mind
and record his approval of their value
and Importance.
OF the many incidents occurring du-
ring the life of ''Old Hickory was one
which eminently brought out some of
the main points of his character. When
filling, we believe, his second term as
President, his Secretary of the Navy,
on the completion of one of our war
frigates, planned an excursion
down the Potomac and to some of the
Atlantic cities. To this excursion the
Secretary invited the President and his
Cabinet. 1t proved pleasant one.
While lying at anchor, we believe at
Philadelphia, the people were permitted
TO board the vessel and examine its va
rious points. Among other visitors
was one Lieutenant Robert A. Randolph,
who had been an officer in the United
States Navy, but had violated some i'm
portant order and been dismissed from
his office. General jackson, as Presi-
dent had signed and approved the re-
port of the naval court in the case of
Randolph. He (Randolph) being of
determined, fearless nature, vowed on
revenge on the President when oppor-
tunity offered. Making his way into
the room on the vessel where the Pres
ident was receiving calls, he impudent-
ly improved his opportunity by vio-
lently pulling the nose of the President.
True to his combative nature, Old
Hickory showed fight by using his cane
or his umbrella on the audacious assail-
ant. Before, however, Randolph could
be secured he escaped to the shore and
disappeared. At the time of its occur
renee, the bold nature of the act of
course made quite stir in the public
mind, and without doubt is yet remem-
bered by many of the present genera
ton.
Randolph never regained his position
in the navy. 1t seems he had, during
his navy career; been induced to invest
some of his means in the then "West-
ern" country, now our own great state
of Ohio. Persuaded by his brother
(another irascible old bachelor), he had
bought some four hundred acres of land
near what is now Washington Court
House, Fayette county, o. His brother
also bought quite q tract of land near
jamestown, not many miles from
Washington Courthouse. In the pur-
chase of these tracts of land the papers
growing out of their acquisition became
so joined as to tempt his brother to
treat both tracts as his own. When
dismissed from the navy the attention
of the sailor brother was directed to his
landed purchase, and on attempting to
possess himself of it his brother resisted
and would not give up the papers. Of
course direct feud ensued. This line
of events was kept up between the two
brothers for number of years, one
striving to regain his rights and the
other resisting. Occasionally the BROTH
er living near jamestown would visit
Washington Courthouse, but he al
ways failed to make restitution to his
sailor brother. 1t seems if certain pa
pers could be secured, the right of the
sailor brother to the land could easily
be maintained. Hearing that his
brother would be absent from home at
a certain time, the lieutenant visited
jamestown, sought out his brothers
room, though he found it strongly
guarded, knocked down the guard,
burst the door open and secured the
papers he wanted. This brought the
matter to a head, and the lieuten-
ant almost Immediately thereafter sold
his land to citizens of Washington
Courthouse, who are now enjoying
some Of the finest farming lands Of
that quarter.
The sailor lieutenant was veritable
character, a rough swearing man, but
rigidly honest In all his transactions.
Many curious stories are related by
those who knew him, showing his many
points of character and eccentricity.
He was of Southern birth, and had many
traits of that ilk.-Cincinnati Com
Gazette.