Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-12-22
REPRESENTATIVE REAGAN.
some Interesting Stories About

Scme Interesting Stories About Him.
The Washington correspondent of the New
York Herald. speaking of Representative
Reagan, says that appearances indicate that
he will be chosen to succeed Mr.. Maxey as the
next Senator from that State.
Mr.. Reagan is 6s years old, He has held
| pubic office the greater portion of the past
| forty years. He was serving his second term
| IN Congress when ne resigned to join his for
| tunes with those of the Southern COnfederacy.
| He was member of JEFF DAVIS Cabinet, first
| as Postmaster General and afterward as Sec
| rotary OF the Treasury. He was one of thu
| Confederate Presidents suite at the time Of
| his capture. While prisoner at Fort War
rem, Nd, Reagan wrote to his Texas constltu-
ents urging them TO unite in favor of negro
| suffrage. He said the Federal government
would ultimately adopt this course. and ad-
| vlsed his friends to ANTICIPATE 1t. The effect
| Of this advice was to make him very unpopu-
| lar until Congress did precisely as Mr.. Rea-
gan predicted, when he regained his prestige
and became stronger than ever.
Mr.. Reagan moved to Texas when a young
man. lie was born in Tennessee. He left
there between days, and the cause of his re-
moval is said to be as follows:
One day his father sent him with a sack of
corn to the mill few miles distant. The Gus
tom in those primitive days was first come
first served" While young Reagan awaited
his turn big, burly mOuntaineer, who
Thought to save an hours time, coolly lifted
Mr.. Reagan's sack from Its position and sub.
stituted his own. The young man remon-
strated as aid the miller. The fellow impu-
IDENTIFY asked Mr.. Reagan the question which
BOSS" Tweed half century afterward asked
the people of New York--"What are Won
going to do about it?" For answer Mr.
Reagan seized him about the waist and car
rying him to an open window threw him
bodily into the mill pond, twenty feet below.
Then, fearing he had drowned the man he
rushed from the building, mounted his horse
and, 1t is said, never stopped until he reached
Texas.
Mr.. Reagan located at Palestine, his pres
emit home.
Palestine at that time contained probably
200 inhabitants. He studied law and was adj
nitted to practice. In those days the frontier
OF Texas was ovcrrun with marauding bands
of Klowas, COmanches ant other wild
Indians. In the torays between the whites
and redskins Mr. Reagan bore a conspicuous
part. He was very athletic and alb olutely
fearless. These qualities made him popular
and resulted in his election as Circuit Judge
One day a noted desperado Tom Downev NV
name. rode into town. lie was armed with
sX-shooter and double barreled shotgun.
Mr.. Downey would ride his horse into a sa.
loon or shoD and demand that the place ha
instantly closed.
As Mr.. Downey's character as n "tourhu
and dead shot were well known TO the people
Of Palestine any intimation Of this nature
met with speedy compliance. In few
hours every business house In the
town was closed. Judge Rea-
gan was trying case az the court
house. He instructed the sheriff 10 20 ont
mitted that he dare not. Judge Reagan told
him To take half dozen deputies, hut no one
volunteered his assistance. The Judge there.
upon hastily adjourned court ana stepping
into the adjoining grove cut himself a stout
hickory club about feet long. some one
told Downey that Mr., Reagan was coming.
Downey dismounted and started up the street
to meet him.
Each man walked firmly toward the other
until they were about ten feet apart Judge
Reagan was then seen to tighten his prasp
upon the stick. At that moment Dnwnp.
faced about and started for the woods on a
dead run. Judge Reagan bounded after him.
At one lime the Judge drew near enough to
strike at DOwney. lie ESCAPED the blow, bot
the club split his coat from collar to waist
and rs he ran the two sides futtered In the
wind like the pennant from yachts mast
head. Downey, however, proved the better
runner and finally made his escape
Subsequently Jack REYNOLDS, another
"tOugh,' took possession of the tow n OF Llme-
stone, where Mr., Re gan was holding court.
The same objection was urged on the part of
the local constabulary against the arrest of
MIR. keynol ~ that had been made in Downey,s
case at Palestine. "If you are all such COW
ards rs to be intimdated by ono man. OK.
claimed the Judge, ~ won't hold court for
you" He accordingly adjourned the court
and left the towr 10 disgust.