The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-02-15
COLONEL ENsLEY.
A New York Reporter Chat with til
Prominent Memphian.

A New York Reporter Chat with the
Prominent Memphian.
From the New York Tribune.
One OF the men who have made large
fortunes by the development OF the big
iron fields Of Alabama is Col. Enoch
Ensley, who is now guest at the Fifth
Avenue hotel. lie is a man OF magnificent
proportions. His six feet Of hight carry
a large chest, square shoulders and massive
head. lie wears muslache and an i'm
perial, which give him Napoleomc air.
lie has been Napoleon in the coal and
iron business in his State. II was his idea
| upon which Birmingham, Ala, was found
cd. The place has come to be a marvel.
Col. Ensley was for several years at the
head of the Tennessee Coal and Iron COM
pany. He resigned to go abroad on ac-
count OF his wiie's sickness and spent a
long time in Italy in the unavailing effort
10 restore her health. Shielded last fall
after their return TO this country. Col.
Ensley's words in speaking of the
region in which he is interested seem Wild
ly enthusiastic but his manner Of spss.ing
is that OF deliberation as II he weighed
every word carefully. lie said a night ortwo
ago. 'Since Adam and Eve were presented
with the Garden Of Eden, there has never
been anywhere on the earth 30 rapid and
substantial improvement OF a section Of
country rs that which has takenple with
us. IL is only when you SEQ II that you
realize what II is. Our iron plants have
the latest improvements and with our
other advantages enable US 10 make iron
cheaper than any other country in the
world. We have had the benefit Of the
experience OF all the iron masters Of the
world and we have taken advantage Of ii. "
For many years Col. Ensloy was plan
ter in Tennessee. lie had plantation
below Memphis during the war. Gen.
Herman passed by as he was chatting in
the Fifth Avenue hotel corridor, when he
said: They talk more or less about Sher-
mans being cranky / knew OF an Incl
dent at Memphis, which appeared cranky,
but when came TO think Il over was very
shrcwd. had noighbor planter named
Mai. Lundy. As went up 10 Memphis
one day, l met Lundy going back home
He had just had an encounter with Sher
man Of which he told Inc the particulars
The outposts OF the army had arrested him
and taken him 10 the generals headquar
tens. He went In and stood awaiting the
wishes OF the general, who presently
glanced up from his paper and said in .
rasping, why, oold-blooded voice. 'S
down; | II attend TO you presently. You'll
he shot in half an hour Yol
can imagine, or rather you
can scarcely imagine. the con
, sternaiion OF man brought suddenly into
the presence Of death In fashion like
that. Mai. Lundy asked the reason foi
his cruel sentence, but got small satisfac
ton. lie pressed the general harder and
the latter began 10 question him about the
people OF the neighborhood, the men who
, had gone into the Confederate army, and
vast number OF things, all OF which
/ appeared trihing enough 10 poor Lundy
but made up big budget Of information
, for commanding general in hosiil,
country. Presently the general looked al
and said grufily, but with kinder tone
than that in which ho had first addressed
the major We'll, sir; that will do. You
may take your vehicle and 20 home tn,
ma lor was literally dumiounded. won
der II the general remembers u. ] hav,
= always thought that he took that way o
pumping poor Lundy."