The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-25
HOW JEFF DAVIS LOST AN EYE.
He Snubbed q Wisconsin Pioneer and Wa
Promptly Knocked Down.

He Snubbed q Wisconsin Pioneer and Was
Promptly Knocked Down.
''Gath's' letter in Cincinnati Enquirer.
Speaking to Colonel Smith, the son-in-law of
Greeley, yesterday, he remarked about Jefferson
Davis:
ssDo you know how he lost the sight OF one OF
his eyesl"
mo. I didn't know that he had lost any part
of his eyesieht, except by old age"
'Yes He has been blind in one eye for a long
time. as am informed by old army officer,
now deceased. by the name of A. j. Center. He
was my neighhor at Tarrytown, and had long
been retired from the regular army. He was in
Point and was stationed with Davis when the
latter was lieutenant up in the Northwest
dare say" said Colonel Smith. that this story
will be entirely new TO the country at large"
'What is it,"
when Davis was a lieutenant he was sta
toned up in Wisconsin. and he and Center were
playing billiards one day. when ARRAY took
place which cost Mr.. Davis his sight 1t was in
this way:
.'Some one of those strong. self-willed from
tiersmen, probably of Maine or New York stock,
who hauled lumber or logged il in the streams,
doing work at the fort and he broke his
ox-yoke, and asked Major Twiggs, who COM
manded. to get him out of his deprivation.
Twiggs said "Go over there to the quarters
and see Lieutenant Davis. and tell him to give
you an ox-yoke.' The American countryman
walked to the quarters; he was quiet
looking man, as Center says, in whom nobody
supposed was the spark of personal sentative
countryman coming as near to him as was
Lieu tenant Davis Major Twiges told me to
you and tell you to give me q yoke for
my tsam.'
man. and did not even look at him, but kept his
eye upon the billiard balls, and he went on an d
made his hit.
Rather surprised at the reception from an
army officer the countryman waited time, and
again said in plain tones:
!. Lieutenant Davis Major Twiges has sent
me to you with his request for you to get me an
ox-yoke. have broken mine.
although distinctly hearing these words,
Mr. Davis never looked at the man or made him
any reply. but went on with his billiards
.It now became evident that this white man
was being insuted He studied the situation,
stepped forward after waiting for time. and
remarked. Now, damn You. I'll make you hear
He then struck Davis right over the eye
with his strong fist and then felied him to the
ground. Seeing that no resistance was being OK
fered. the man took his time and cooliy walked
away.
He had stunned Davis and after he was
brought to Inflammation set in and anecteo the
eye. aud finally 1t became next TO useless and the
other eye Sympathized with It. ana center SAID
would go totally blind The damage was done.
however. with the less OF one eye
This anscdote. like many things one hears,
may not bear the TEST OF subsequent time, but
had some curiosity, after hearing IL, TO see il
there any such person as Center fed
that there were two persons or she name-Alex-
ander j. and John +. Center. The latter
appointed from Massachusetts,, aud came out OF
West Point in 1888. and chiefly posted in
the Southern States. and finally was killed ia
in the Florida at the early age Of twenty.
Ave. in 1897 Zachary Taylor, the first father
ia law OF jefferson Davis, said of Center and the
two Other officers who fell that das that they
had no suprrlors OF their years in the service.
and, in point Of chivairy, ranked anon. the first
in the army of the Nation.
IL must, therefore, be the other Center-Alex-
ander J.-who had this recollection, aud his roe
ter al West Point and In the army fully bears
out the time aud coincidence sf place.