St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-03-13
)ne night splash was heard

One night a splash was heard
alongside his ship, and soon
a man was seen swimming to
ward the Federals. There was gem
erai discharge of guns at him, but it
was not known whether he was hit. at
the roll cal! in the morning young Daw-
son was missing. A few days after
ward it was learned that he had swan
far enough toward the Federals to
escape the commodore's sentinels and
had then reached Capt. w. L. Pegrum's
battery. This battery was in a few
days in the thickeSt of a fight, and
it is Capt. Pegrum's testimony
that he never witnessed such cool brav-
cry in his lite as was displayed by
young Dawson. He was wounded. and
the commodore had taken him to Rich
mond. While he was there an order
was Issued for the examination of men
for the ordnance department.. The
commodore furnished Dawson with
books. and two or three times week he
went to Richmond and examined his
young friend. He progressed rapidly,
and. he stood first in the official
examination. Though not entirely re-
covered from his wound, he reported
at once Tor duty, and before the war
closed he had advanced to the first posi-
ton In his branch of the service.
AFTER THE WAR
Capt. Dawson joined the ranks of the
Southern journalists, and it is as an
editor that he is best known in
the North. For many years he
had been editor of the Charleston
News and Courier, and in that position
he supported all the Democratic meas
ures for obtaining control of the gov
ernment of South Carolina. No native
of the state was more ardent or more
nt int tt,n IL Nfoe e.x,s,
the state to the Democratic minority,
and his journal, the most powerful in
the state, put courage into many Demo-
Gratis who could not at first see their
way, to approving the high
handed outrages which at last
gave. their party supreme control.
Outside of politics, Capt. Dawson, was
active in promoting the material well
fare of the state, and when Charleston
and other South Carolina cities were
visited by ruinOus earthquakes, he took
prominent part in rising relief funds
in the North. 1t was after leaving the
Confederate army Capt. Dawson be.
came
EMPLOYED AS A REPORTER
on the Richmond Dispatch. After sew
eral years spent in Richmond. he, with
b. w. Riordan, purchased the Charles
ton News. Mr.. Dawson subsequently,
SuccoeuliS MI. IslOruan as sole owner.
He was a leading and prominent citizen
of the state, and was we'll known as
the member for South Carolina of the
Democratic national committee. Capt.
Dawson achieved considerable dis
tinction on account of his stead.
fast refusal to engage in duel some
years since, in response to a challenge
from one of the most prominent citizens
of the state. He boldly announced that
he was opposed to dueling methods;
for this attitude he received substantial :
Endorsement from the pope. During
the memorable earthquake that nearly
destroyed Charleston, Capt. Dawson
was able to publish his paper through
out the entire period of alarm and
distress, and as soon as the
telegraph wires were in operation
out of Charleston, furnished graphic
and effective descriptions of that men,
orabie night and the succeeding DAYS
that filled Charleston with distress and
deselatiOn. He was a gentleman held
in highest respect by persons of ALI
classes and conditions, and prominent
citizens declare that his killing must
have been deliberate and outrageous
murder.