The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1885-09-17
ROMANCE ON ROMANCE.

ROMANCE ON ROMANCE.
strange accidents in Real Lifs-Ths story
calls.
General Simon Buckner, who re-
manned and surrendered Fort Donel-
son to Grant after Floyd and Pillow
can away, was married at Richmond
recently to Miss Della Claiborne, one
If the society bells of that city. He is
IS and she q years of age. Some OF
che Incidents directly and indirectly
connected with General Buckner's ca
ceer are full of romantic interest.
They are thus sketched in the New
York World:
he was always a conspicuous man
IN society and when he was made q
General in the Confederate army he was
the popular idol of the day through
out all the Southwest-a popu-
larity which was intensified even
by what was considered his misfor-
tune at Fort Donelson. Handsome.
brave, with fine figure and gallant
bearing, a perfect horseman and an
accomplished man of the world, he
was the typical young cavalier of the
South. He was married some time be-
fore the war to Miss Kingsbury, who
died after few years of married life,
and whose brother was an officer in
the regular army. Lieutenant Kings
bury and his sister were joint heirs to
a large fortune, mainly in Chicago real
estate. Beforeleaving for his post with
the army in Tennessee, General Buck
ner had an interview with his brother
in-law, and made over to him all of
Mrs. Buckner's estate. This was to pro-
tect it from confiscation, but it was
verbally understood between them
that the property was to be held in
trust. If General Buckner survived
the issue of the approaching conflict it
was to be returned to him. If not, it
was to be made over to his only child,
Lille Buckner
Lieutenant Kingsbury fell mortally
wounded in one OF the first battles in
Virginia. Realizing too late that he
had made no testementary provision
by which Mrs. Buckner's property
should not 90 in with his own estate
he told to comrade the story of his
agreement with his sisters husband.
For some reason his dying wishes were
disregarded by his wife, his only heir,
and she entered into possession of the
entire property. The war closed, Gen.
eral Buckner came back to Louisville
and asked of Mrs. Kingsbury the re-
storation of his daughters estate.
Mrs, Kingsbury refused to consider
the question, and suit of recovery
was brought. 1t was one of the great
cases of the day, and was finally, af-
ter years of litigation, fully decided in
General Buckner's favor. His counsel
was Robert Wooley, of Louisville,
brother of Colonel Charles Wooley,
of Cincinnati, and a near CON
nection by marriage with Sallie
Ward, the famous Southern beauty.
1t was said that his fee was 800, 900,
General Buckner at once began to ex-
tensively improve his Chicago proper
ty. The fire came, and in day he
was poorer by half million dollars.
When, however, his daughter married
Morris Belknap, of Louisville, two
years ago, she was one OF the great
heiresses of the South,
Mrs. Kingsbury lived in Newport
after her husbands death. Shewas a
beautiful and charming woman, and
remained a widow only for few years.
Then she married General Lawrence,
eldest son of Ex-Governor Lawrence,
the richest man in Rhode Island.
1t will be remembered that, after the
peril which the arrival of General
Buffers troops barely averted, the
cadets and appliances of the Naval
School at Annapolis were removed to
Newport. The young and lovely Mrs.
Kingsbury was easily the acknowl-
edged belle among the impossible
cadets, and when the class of 1979was
graduated it was generally understood
that she had engaged herself to Hugh
Mckee, a member of that class from
Kentucky and brother of Major
George Mckee, OF the ordnance, who is
now stationed at Sandy Hook. Hugh
Mckee was marvellous young fellow
in his way. He was brave to reck-
lessness, with magnetic elements of
character which made him not only
the most popular man ofhis class, hut
even, without the circumstances of his
tragic death, the best remembered of
the young officers of thenavy. Hewas
killed while leading small detachment
up the walls of a Corean fort during
our short but decisive war with that
people some twelve years ago, and a
memorial tablet to his memory hangs
on the walls of the academy chapel at
Annapolis-one Of Q dozen con1mems
Grating the most HEROIC ACTS in the
history OF our navy. The story OF
what just preceded his death is told by
one of his associates.
When Hugh Mckee was ordered to
the Pacific squadron he left these
shores with the promise from Mrs.
Kingsbury that she would become his
wife on his return. One day, in Nagas-
aki harbor, the American mail was
brought to the mess-ro0nl of his ship.
A young lieutenant looked up from a
letter he was reading with the eiacn:
lation: Say, boys, guess who is mar
ried!'' Mckee was standing just back
of him, fronting classmate who knew
OF his engagement. cts Mrs. Kings
bury" continued the first speaker.
."She was married to General Lawrence
amonth ago." -
The narrator says that Mckee made
one step forward, his handsome face
distorted, his teeth set and his fists
clinched as if he would strike the read
er. Then he recovered himself, went
above and walked the deck all that
hight. TWAS shortly before that time
that an American trading snip, the
General Sherman, while ascending the
Piengyangriver, in Corea, was attacked
by natives, destroyed and her officers
and crew murdered. Admiral Rodgers
started with his fleet from Nagasaki
Immediately ON receipt of the news,
sailing for Corea. Arriving at the forts
in the river Yam, 2 force Of marines
and sailors were landed. McKeebegged
to beput in command ola detachment,
rushed in advance of his men up the |
mud walls of the fort and fell dead in
side pierced through the heart by a
Corean spear
The hapless announcement of the
marriage to General Albert Ga1latin
Lawrence will be recalled. Mrs. Law
renee A. few wears Sinco o1onod will, NJ.