Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-06-24
LITTLE GIANT OF AnACHUA.
by an Old Personal
Friend and Intimate Associate.

Ia
ing of June there passed away by the
orn, route of death from Gainesville to
somewhere, as brave, bright and gay a
little fellow as ever called for gin cocktail
before breakfast. knew him we'll. He
was fellow of infinite jest and most I'M
onenchabe thirst. His name was Leon
ard Il Dennis, known to ali as "the little
Giant of Alachua." Although living in a
little Florida village, he attained to ma
tional nOtOriety, and made his name as
familiar in the inner circles of politics as
a household word. Few there be that
never heard of him.
NV acquaintance with him began in
1871 at Tallahassee. l had gone down
there with the idea that the carpet-bap-
GERS were not only the salt of the earth.
INT the seed of the church also. / soon
found out my error, however, and in later
wears brought forth fruit meet for repen-
lance. At that time Dennis, or Little
Dennis, as he was at1'ectiOnately called.
was one of the su preme rulers of the land.
He was not only State Senator from Ala
cbua county, but he carried the whole
county in his trousers pocket, controlled
all the Offices, and had good time gener-
ally. The county he represented was
black one, as black as the record of his
party. AS the negroes at that time con-
sidered the carpet-baggers as the Lords
anointed, you can readily imagine this
mans power. 1t Is currently believed
that some of them carried his picture
hung around their necks as a protec-
ton against rebels, Democrats, and the
devil.
Dennis could not have been over five
feet in height, slender and active, a mere
bundle of nerves. His hair was very
light and scanty, his moustache ditto, and
his eyes bright and twinkling with hu-
NOR. He was noticeable figure in those
stormy days. He was an able speaker,
interruptions in his political methods,
ready for any emergency, and of unques-
toned personal bravery. Aside from pol
tics he was generous to q fault, witty,
genial, and companionable, and was per-
soually liked even by his bitterest politi-
cal opponents.
Enlisting as a private in a Massachu-
sets regiment in 1861, he came out of the
war in 1865 a Captain whose knightly
bars were wOTthiiY won upon the field Of
battle. To the turmoil of Southern POLL
tics was an easy transition, and to the
Land of Flowers he came, bearing Gre
dentials from his patron saint, b. F. But
Ter, and many others. AS a member of
the constitutional convention OF 1868 he
was not particularly conspicuous, but
after that illustriOus body of htghly-col-
Ored and highly-fiavOred statesmen had
faded into history he cana rapidly to the
front. and stayed there until the Waterloo
OF 1884.
have spoken of his personal bravery;
now for an illustration. OF course, the
irritation Of the Southern people during
ouvIr Aarc Of 81.
great at the dangerous and savage tao
tics OF these alien politicians, and it
sometimes cropped out in violence, or in
threats of violence. This was the state
Of affairs in nearly all the counties, and
Alachua was no exception to the general
rule. On one occasion, when political
feeling was running very high, quite
mob assembled around the hotel where
Dennis was staying, and made many
angry threats against his person. Den
MS, by his adrOit strategy, had moulded
the negroes into compact mass. and
controlled them politically, mentally. So
caliy, and in every other way. 0fcOurse
this was a standing menace to the white
people, and they resented. Hence the ex-
element and the threats.
Dennis friends gathered around him
and trledto persuade him not TO leave the
house while the crowd was elamoring
outside. But the little fellow was deaf to
all entreaties. His blue eyes flashed as
be threw open the door and strobe out
with cooked revolver in each hand, and
passed through the crowd, looking nei-
Their to the right nor the left. There was
kind OF dazed silence for a moment, and
then a tall, raw-bOned cracker from
baskerville, Cracker county, Wayback,
exclaimed, admiringly: "Dog bite my
hide, If that little man hain't got grit.
Let's give him three charsl" and they
were given with hearty good will, for
tne southern people admire man with
plenty of sand in his craw. l have heard
many versions as to how he got his name
Of The Little Giant" but believe the fol-
lowing is about the true one:
IN the House of Assembly was a good
natured Irish Hercules known to
lame as Santa Rosa Butler, Santa Rosa
beng the county which had the benefit of
his varied talents. He was about six feet
three inches in height and weighed about
ZoO pounds. Dennis could have walked
under his arm, and probably between his
iegs, as he was a second Colossus Of
Rhodes. He and Dennis were playing
billiards. in Otis saloon one night. Some
ulllng misunderstanding arose, both be-
llng several drinks ahead of the game, and
Dennis dropped his cue and wanted 10
lglt. Butler gazed down upon him from
MS Olympian height for moment, and
lhen, with the expression, "Wel. Pll be
HamnedW picked him up bodily, carried
nlh To the bar, sat him down on IL with a
mud, saying to the barkeeper: "Give the
Llttle Giant of Alacbua "A pint of cham
payne to cool him Otfp7 The name chung
70 Aim ever afterwaTd.
During Dennis term in the State Senate
ne was chairman of one Of the most i'm
pDfIant committees, and TO this commit
we very important bill had been re-
eIea. The gentleman who was inter-
esIeu IN this bill was very anxious to have
reported, and SO were his friends. One
tueun, more enthusiastic than discreet,
s"as b0asting around town that be bad
fs,VO TO use in the interest of this bill.
Dehhls heard Of the Boosting, and was
oReWhat incensed, but he kept silent
suu Dlded his time. IL soon came. The
Moneyed man, becoming somewhat inn
patent, approached him one day with the
INJURY: "Mr. Dennis, when are you go
iag 70 report that bill to the SenateY Adj
putlment Will soon be here, and we are
SUING very anxiOusY
au,A are yOuY Dennis asked, quizzically.
veil / Will report that bill when you
n ns,u over to me that $1,000 you propose to
oo ,ue Dill was not reported. and Dennis
5 ls,,leu u home with hun when the Legis-
azure adjourned.
VIA G an good-natured fun and deviltry
8 ab ,u " hich the boys euliyened the hours
+ ei,l,i eElslation Dennis was the ackn0wl-