The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-03-08
A lamar of the Lamars.

The Jones vs. Lamar mortgage suit,
now on trial in the United States
courts, recalls many stories of one of
the most noted characters that ever
lived in Savannah Charles A. J..
Lamar. Had he lived in another age
he would have been an historical
figure. Tradition would have handed
down his name through centuries,
and his deeds would have been woven
into the folk lore of the people like
the figures in the tales of the Vikings
or the rich old stories of India. He
was a man of perfect physique, wita II
countenance as handsome as those the
masters paint on gods. He was of the
same family as the new Associate JUS
tice, and first cousin. think. For
tune lavished her favors upon him.
Bv nature he was reckless, impulsive,
fearless, dashing, but generous and
kind withal to an astonishing degree.
He shot a friend for contradicting
him, and then nursed him back to life
as mother would a child, and pre-
sented him with an estate, and it was
not to escape the legal consequences
of the act. Ancient turfmen bemoan
the good old ante-bellum horse days,
and say to this day: Thar is no rae
ing OF betting now, sab, like thar wa
then. Why, sab. it wa nothing to see
Charlie Lamar walk out in the middle
of the track and wave ten thousand
dollars, sab; yes, sab, ten thousand
above his head and dare any man to
bet him on his horses. He had greater
nerve, sab, than any man that evah
bet on horse in this part of the coun-
try, and he would back his fayorite
for $25. 900. if he could find taker. p"
Old sporting men sigh: "Ah, there S
no games nov to what there used to
be. You youngsters think You are
playing heavy when you get $50 or
800 in the pot, but in Charlie Lsmar's
day such game as that wouldn't be
worth going into. He was the heaviest
PLAYER we ever had in our rooms
Many and many time he has put
$1,000 on a single turn of the wheel,
j and once saw him want to put 10000
! on the red, but that was to steep for
the bank"
A ship with load of enigrants once
put in here in distress. The Captain
wanted to make his passengers leave
the vessel here and refused to give
them any provisions. The enFagetl
passengers threatened to forcibly take
what they .anted. There was Il mob,
taud the Captain armed his crew and
i sware he would shoot down the first
man who attempted to step aboard the
ship. Charlie Lamar heard pi the
row. His sympathies were with the
passengers, and he galloped down on
the wharf, and With cooked pistol made
the master of the ship come 70 terms,
It was Charlie Lamar who planned the
i Wanderer expedition to the African
coast, and had the hark-l0ad of natiYe
blacks captured and brought to this
country. He was arrested and indict
ed by a United States grand jury fol
importing slaves in violation of the
Federal Constitution. He was suppos
ed to be locked up in Jail, but really
had quarters over the old Southern
Bank Building, and had as much free
dom as any citizen. gRlng and coming
about as he pleased. with deputy
Marshal in attendance. 1t was the
mest farcieal Imprisonment ever hearo
of. Lamar fought gallqntly through
tie war, and was killed in RECKLESS
dash on the Federal troops almost il
the last Engagement. -SaUGnnah Lettet
in the Charleston NeUs and Courier.