Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-11-06
ROMANCE OF HARRY NtAURY.
The Man Who Made His Captor Cap
tive and Sailed Away.
From tac Neto York Stdr.

From the NetD York Star.
W AsHINGTON, Oct. 27.-So much has
been said recently about Harry Maury,
with many of whose exploits Gen. Dab
ney Fl. Maury, the new Minister to Col
umbla, has been credited, that widespread
interest is revived in that singularly pic
turesque ana attractive character Meet
ing gentleman on the avenue to-day
who knew him intimately from nOyhoOd
asked tor brief resume of the more
salient features of Maury's UNIQUE career.
He answered:
THE Gen. Henry Maury who shot the
Frenchman. DE Riviere. in Mobile, was
born in Norfolk, Va Four of his elder
brothers wentinto the naval service, Capt.
Sihrlen Maury, living in Baltimore, and
Commodore JEFF Maury, superintendent
OF the Pacific Mail Steamship Company,
alone survived him. When about II
years old Henry, then at school in Able
marie county, Va, disapproved of his
teachers conduct. threw an inkstand at
NM, went to Norfolk and shipped as
sailor. Alter many rough experiences he
made Mobile his home. His wonderful
personal magnetism and eager daring ma
ture soon made him loved and respected
by all who met him. When scarcely 81
years old he was, at time of violent
political excitement, elected Marshal OF
mobile, and quelled a dangerous mob,
seiZlng with his own hands the rnglead-
ers. During the operations OF Gen.
walker in Nicaragua, Maury COM
manded vessel aboard of which some
hundreds of recruits for the tilibusters
shipped. Secretary Marcy ordered him
not to sail out of Mobile, and sent rev.
enue cutter with the United STATES Mar
shall TO detain him. Maury feigned entire
acqutescence, invited the Marshal into
his cabin. and persuaded him to remain
aboard all night, 50 that he might be sure
OF his capture, When that Marshal came
on deck in the morning he was out OF sight
OF land, bound for Nicaragua, When few
days out Maury put him aboard of a
homeWard bound snip, with an explana-
tory letter for Secretary Marcy.
III ls ship, the Susan, mad rough time.
She was wrecked. and the tilibusters were
cared for by the British Governor of the
island OF Ruatan, who was so beguiled by
Maury's charming ways that he exceeded
the proprletieS of an official of neutral
government toward the enemies of d
friendly power, and was severely cen
sured by his home government.
"SOon after Maury got back to Mobile a
Capt. de Riviere, lately of the French army
and then of the tlibuster deported him
self so in his intercourse with some Young
solved to punish his insoIence. 1t was easy
to fix quarrel upon the Frenchman who,
bad as be was, had nerve. A duel was
arranged to be fought near PascagOula.
The leading physicians and many scores
OF prominent citizens went down on the
steamer to see the fight. At the first shot
Maury doubled the Frenchman up, but
did not kill him, because, as Maury and
his friends said, piece OF armor stopped
the ball. At the second shot the French
man dropped shot in the face. He was
taken to the house OF Col. Blunt. Some
years after he married Miss Blunt, and
the Marquis and MarchiOness de Riviere
were afterward leaders of the fashiona-
bic circles of Paris.
when the war began Maury was ap.
| pointed Colonel, and while in command
OF Fort Morgan ne did one of those acts OF
generous daring which won to him the
| love and confidence Of men and women
| One evening the steamer for the fort lett
him at Mobile. He called a little sail
boat with one 'DagO' for captain and
crew. and set out tor the lower forts, over
thirty miles away. The wind freshened.
They could not land at Fort Morgan and
were drifting rapidly out to sea, when
Maurg leaped overheard, swan to the
fort, called for volunteers to man the big
launch, took the helm himself, went out
into the Gulf and brought the 'DagO' SAFE
ly back with him.
"Hls life was gemmed by many acts
like this. He was ever ready to imperil
1t for others sake, and this with his many
graces of person and of nature, his ever
ready wit, his varied accomplishm ents
and bOundless generosity, have caused
his memory to be loved as mems memoir
ries are seldom loved in this world"