Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1885-07-10
A ROMANTIC CAREER.
The Ups and Downs Of Maj. Lee
smith, of Border Fame.


The story of Maj. Lee Smith, so
we'll known in the south and west, as
gathered at his old home here. writes
4 Jonesbore, Ga, correspondent to
The St. Louis Globe-Democrat, Is of
romantic interest He was student
at the Georgia Military institute, in
Marietta, at the outbreak of the late
war. He was then only IL years of
age. but at the first call for volunteers
he entered the 7th Florida regiment,
and was made FIRST lieutenant. Here
he remained for few months, but
one day he became engaged in diff
Guilty with his captain, which was
ended by his shooting that officer.
Lieut.. Smith rendered his resignation,
procured letters of recommendation,
and went at once to the confederate
capital, Richmond, Va. There he
called on the secretary of war and ask
ed for an appointment. The secretary
commissioned him as quartermaster,
with the renk of major, in which
ca pacity he served until the end OF
the war. He then returned to Georgia,
to find all his property swept away.
He borrowed few hundred dollars,
and began business in Atlanta, but
after a short career he failed in bust :
| ness, and the scene ended by his shoot
ing one of his creditors, Col. William
Lowe. He then skipped" the coun
try, and next turned up in New Or
leans, where he found the q. S. gov
eminent fitting up ship to run from
New Orleans to Central America.
SIN it'll asked for the position of mail
agent on the vessel, which was given
hlm. He served in that capacity for
a year, until the ship was wrecke | in
the Gulf of Mexico All of the crew
were drowned except Smith and
three others, who were picked up by
Spanish bark and carried to the
island OF Cuba. He then returned to
Atlanta in 1859, called upon Gov.
Bullock, and asked to be pardoned for
the shooting of Col. Lowe, which the
governor granted.
Once more peacefully located in
Atlanta, he built tie celebrated
Bonanza saloon, run it for six or seven
years, and sold it out, having made
SO, 600. Next we bear of Smith he is
United States marshal in Wyoming
territory, with another Jonesboro boy
as his deputy John Henry Holiday.
He served in this capacity for about
one year, when Holiday shot and kill
ed three brothers named Urpe. After
this Smith went to Denver City, Col. .,
aud built the frst dining room and
saloon car ever introduced in the
United States; then made contract
for three years, with road running
west from Denver, TO carry his car
over their line. After running his
car for two months he sold it with his
contract with the road for profit of
$4,000. Smith then bought up some
gold and silver mines in Colorado.
He then went on TO New York city,
worked up stock company, and sold
one of his Colorado mines, which cost
him 5000 for the snug sum of $85, 900,
and was elected president of the COM
pany. Two years ago he went to New
Mexico, bought mine for LOCO
worked up stock company, and sold
two thirds interest in it for $65, 900.
He is now in New Mexico superin
tending that mine. 1t is said he has
made over 100000 since he went
west. is 40 years old, never married,
nor drank, chewed or smoked, but is
ready to fire his pistol at the drop of q
hat.