The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-03-13

was hit. AT roll call in the morning young
Dawson 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. Pegram's battery.
AS BRAVE AS A LION.
This battery was in a few days in the
thickest of the fight and it is Capt. Pegram's
testimony that he he had never witnessed
such cool bravery in his life as was dis
played by young Dawson. He was wounded
and the commodore had him taken to
Richmond. While there an order was
issued for an examination of men
for the ordnance department. The commo-
dore furnished Dawson with books, and
two or three times a week he went to Rich
moud and examined his young friend. He
progressed rapidly and stood first
In the official examination. Though not
entirely recovered from hiss wound, he re-
ported at once for duty, and before the war
closed he had advanced to the first
position in his branch of the service.
He served in tire army of Northern Vir-
ginia, was made lieutenant for gallantry,
and afterward promoted to captalncy,
although yet scarcely man in years.
ENTERS JOURNALISM.
After leaving the confederate service,
Dawson became employed as reporter on
About 1866 he became connected with the
press Of Charleston, and shortly after
ward proprietor of the Charleston DAILY
NelUS, as one of the firm of Riordan, Daw-
son & Co. The firm purchased the
franchises of the Charleston Courier, and
their paper become the Ne1US and Courier,
under which name it has become widely
known. Capt. Dawson early made his mark
as an editor, and his paper became a po Ner
in South Carolina, so much SO that it has
never had what might be called competitor
within its field.
Capt. Dawson achieved considerable dis
tinction on account of his steadfast refusal
to engage ia duel some years since. In
response to @ challenge from one of
the state, he boldly announced
that he was opposed to dueling methods.
For this attitude he received suhstaptial
Endorsement from tie pope. During the
memorable earthquake that nearly
DESTROYED Charleston Capt. Dawson was
able to publish his paper throughout
the entire period of alarm and
distress, and as soon as the telegraph wires
were in operation out of Charleston, furn-
ished graphic and effective descriptions Of
that memorable night and sue
ceeding days that filled Charleston
with distress ana destitution. He was
gentleman held in the highest respect by
persons of all classes and conditions, and
prominent citizens declare that his killing
must have been deliberate and outrageous
murder.
HANDSOME AND COMMANDING.
Capt. Dawson was a man of hand
some and commanding presence, and
was not only an incisive writer, but
also a forcible and eloquent speaker
combination of gifts that is rather unusual.
Though not politician nor an office-seeker,
he took an active part in politics and was
decided and aggressive in his views. No
South Carolinian ito the manner BORN
who could point with pride to
a proud ancestry, was more ~chivalrous
than this gifted Englishman who, early IN
life, cast his lot with the people of
the Palmetto state. He possessed in
an eminent degree the courage and honor
of the southern gentleman of the old school,
and was imbued with the hopes and
ambitions of the southern people of to-day.
He as South Cardinals representative in
the national democratic commit tee, and
stood high in that grand council of party
leaders. He was the choice of that
body for its secretary, but question Of
policy gave the office to western member.
The country can lily afford to lose such
man as F. w. Dawson, and the announce
ment Of his tragic death, as it flashed over
the wires into the newspaper offices last
night, filed thousands of hearts with sad
ness in all parts of the country.