Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-07-10
TOOMBs OF GEORGIA.
Incidents in the Stirring Life of a
Wonderful Man.
Louisville Confessional,


Louisville courier-Journal.
The appearance of Robert TOombs,
the great fire-eater of the South, ms d
deleg ,te to the district Methodist con-
ference at Harmony Grove, marks
new era In his life. 1t is an era In
strange contrast with the stormy
career of one of the most brilliant men
has ever produced, and Is the
closing scene In biography which
must soon become com, lete volume,
The manner OF his conversation was
characteristic of the man. Bishop
George +. Pierce had been college
mate of Toombs. Together these two
young students, the one from Wilkes
county, the other from Greene, the one
the petted. self-willed son of substan.
tial gentleman, the other the Thought.
ful child of laborious Methodist min.
lister. Meeting Bishop Pierce one day
about a year ago, religion was men
toned.
George" exclaimed Toombs, im-
petuously, 81 want you to bapti2e me
When / ain dead do not want these
young men who drift 50 naturally into
infidelity TO claim me as an unbe-
lever"
This determination caused sensa-
ton throughout the state. 1t sent as
constituent through that class which
laughs ut holy things, while /: brought
joy to every Christian heart. Once
more there was IA tender feeling for
Toombs, such IA had not been felt since
the days when he was the pride
of Georgia manhood. 1t was
tenderness more full OF
sympathy than ever went out 10 him
before. When the appointed Sunday
came it found the old statesman sur
rounded by the neighbors of fifty years,
among whom was his brother, whose
Joy at the event about to take place
found vent In tie irs. Toombs hi nself
was affected, and for once found hest
fancy in speech when Biahop Pierce,
taking him by the hand, greeted him
as IA brother I'm Christ.
Looking from the bent figure which
stood the other day on Greene street,
though yet bearing traces OF former
years, one instinctively turns 10 the
prints which give the shadow of the
Toombs of 1855. He was then in the
zenith of his physical beauty and in
tellectual strength. He had already
won the attention OF the republic; his
fiery eloquence had made him as hated
in the home Of abolitionism as he was
worshiped by his followers In the
South. When he spoke nation
listened. With the impetuosity of
Niagara he precipitated the
in which cannon took the place of the
ballot. From the Confederate senate
and the cabinet of Jefferson Davis he
QnnUhf m m hn H.tl aas.
that the place OF every man was In the
front. The qualities, however, which
made him formidable In debate made
him weak In the field. He was not
born to obey. Gen. Toombs was not
destined to become one of the military
heroes Of the age. The stories of his
disobedience Of orders and his refusal
to consider himself under arrest are
numerous, some of them incredible,
were they not vouched for.
AS IL by the irony Of fate, the
struggle which To0mbs had done 30
much to bring about was destined to
come to an end at his home. 1t was
within few miles of Toombs' resi-
dence that Jefferson Davis held his
last cabinet council, wnen Col.
Pfitchetps Michigan regiment, fol-
loving up the fleeing chieftain, over
took him in Irwin county. Toombs
was informed of the presence of the
FEDERAL soldiers jus. In time to seek
fight on that most unromantic crea-
rure, the mule. For few days he
found refuge with Col. II A. Tate ia
the lower part of Elbert county. In
Col. Tate's residence there was q
life-slzed engraving Of Toombs, and 80
great was the resemblance that one
seeing the picture could not mistake
the man. The colOred people noticed
the similarity between the mysterious
stranger and the picture. The planta.
ton was coon overrun with federal
spies, who offered large rewards for the
fugitive-yet, though hundred col
Ored people could lay their hands on
him, not one revealed his hidiDg.place
"a wonderful example Of colored
fidelity. For some months after his
final escape hu lived in Paris.
On his return home he lived quietly.
but was much annoyed by the visits Of
the numerous correspondents. One Of
the worst OF this class WAS George w.
Smalley; now the London corre-
spondent OF the New York Tribune.
The kuklux sensation was at Its highest
when Smalley arrived Ia the village
The correspondent soon found Toombs,
who determined 10 have little fun at
his expense. Smslley asked the gem
eral about the kukIux
YES, yes" said Toombs, "I'll tell
you all about them, but first let Us get
= safe place. a
Taking him off some distance Gen.
Toombs pointed out an unsuspectiDg
Jewish merchant. whose physical up
pearance was rather against him.
There he ", said Toombs. "Tbat
is the great bead OF the kuklux khan.
Ny friend, you must come over TO my
house; u IL the only place where you
would be safe from Ills observation. i
VII DO my best 70 get you safely out OF