The National tribune., 1889-02-14

aud Mr. Davis addressed the great crowd that
! bad assembled 10 hear him. / remember him
/ very well, and got right close by him during
/ his speech. He was then dressed in a neat
/ fitting salt of Kentucky gray jeans. His
rather 1.-THE, spare figure was we'll shown in the
coat, buttOned up to the throat.
You know" said the Captain, relighting
the cigar that had burned out, g. Davis could
make good speech. He was, of course, list
ened TO with most eager, | may say intense,
interest. 1t was the general comment down
there at that time that his speech was remark
ably conservative and moderate. After he had
finished his talk he, in company with some
friends, adjourned to the barroom.
Among those who were witnesses of this
after scene were Mrs Squire Rawlings, whose
son Is now one Of the prominent business men
OF Chattanooga and Mrs. Tom Crutchfeld,
who were sitting in the receiving or ladies'
room with Mrs JEFF Davis and boy then
about seven or eight years old.
" observed TO my companion, an old friend
(Col. Edwards that JED Davis would be-
come an historical character, as a sort of ex-
PLANTATION for what seemed rudenass at my fol-
lowing JET about So and staring so earnestly
into his face. l have always had a fad for
studying faces.
We'll, JEFF took stiff glass of brandy.
That's just what those Southern fellows always
drink" observed the Captain; " so that it's
not right to say that whisky caused this war.
Returning 10 the sitting-room he seated
himself in a chair with sigh, as if in pain, or
was exhausted by his effort and in his cour-
teous, winning way entered into the converse
ton. Among the listeners to Davis were
great many East Tennessee Unionists. One of
these was brother of the proprietor of the
hotel, Bill Crutchfeld, known then as rather
bold sort of fellow. Without proyocation,
ether perhaps than some whisky that did not
mix well with brandy. he began in loud way
to denounce Davis and his speech bitterly.
" was standing close by JEFF, who, turning
to me, bis thin lips compressed in way that,
TO my youthful mind, fully expressed contempt
and senrn, he said, pleasantly:
g Who is that man speaking?'
" replied that he was brother of the pro-
prietor of the hotel
q He quietly continued, not seeming to take
any notice of the speaker:
- What is his standing In your community,
sir?'
'' replied that he was considered erratie, at
which Davis smiled, and was about to turn to
answer a question from one of the ladies. when
Crutchfeld, becoming heated and abusive, in
raised voice, said:
as We don't want any - Mississippi re-
pudiator to come to East Tennessee to teach the
loyal citizens their duty to their God and their
country
AT this home thrust of q double-edged
sword, the assembled Unionists applauded Wig
orously.
In an instant as if stung in the rear by the
point of a sword, JEFF Davis was on his feet,
aud jumped into his chair" And here the Cap
tain got on his feet and in his earnest manner
explained Davis's action:
:" He thrust his right hand inside his coat,
and. with his left extended, his index-fnger
pointing as steadily as statue over the ex-
cited crowd TO Crutchfeld, said:
Il ,nt ~ rIyso e hat
rilous scOundrel; but if there are any gentle
men In his crowd land his contemptuous
manner implied doubt of it, who Endorses
such sentiments, l am here-Jef Davis-to
meet him face to FACET emphasizing his re-
mark by tapping his right breast.
:" The scene that followed beggars description.
We did not witness anything more exciting
during the war that followed. Crutehfeld en-
deavored to secure pistol, and would undoubt-
eddy have attempted TO shoot Davis then and
there If he had succeeded; but his friends took
him in charge, and peace was again restored.
The morning following, this fracas was the
general subject of conversation.
" In friendly talk with Mrs. Rawlings, who
was a stanch Unionist, she said that during
this melee the boy in Mrs. Daviss charge be-
came very imp of the devil, and oaths came
from his youthful lips that would have bis
tered an old soldiers tongue.
Mrs. Rawlings, Of Chattanooga, deserves
place amongst the heroic women of the war
Throughout all the conflict she remained an
unc0mpromising Union woman, aud in the
presence Of the rebel officers and men who
occupied her home she reiterated her belief
IN the unh0liness Of the Southern cause.
When our army returned to Chattanooga
after the bloodiest battle of the age-Chicka-
mauga-MTs. Rawlings with her daughter, re-
tired to the farm they owned at the base and
sides of Missionary Ridge. The day before
rant Tod
Confederate officer. obtained permission from
Bragg to remove his aged mother TO place of
safety inside their own lines
" believe the entire story of Mrs. Mary
Rawlings, if told to your readers, would show
her to have been indeed friend in need to
many, many Union soldiers. She was woman
Of fine presence, tall and stately, and of I'M
usually strong mental power
Z" l saw her son John a few years ago, who
told me his mother never for one moment
wayered in her faith TO the Union, and though
her son was Confederate officer he says that
everybody who knew her respected her deyo-
ton.
"a few years ago was the guest of Col.
Edwards, who now lives at Woodstock, Ala.
near the great iron town Of Birmingham. We
talked over the Davis-Crutchfeld affair /
gave my version, just as ] have related it to
you gentlemen here, when he said:
You are correct, excepting that Davis
seized his chair 70 h1rl at Crutchfeld'
81 convinced the Colonel, however, that he
was wrong-that Mr.. Davis had only uncon-
sciously grabbed the sides of his armchair
when springing TO his feet.
The strong language of JEFF Davis on this
occasion, and the play of his features, exhibit
ing the yehemence OF his scorn better than
words, made lasting impression on nv mind.
and l was never surprised at the assumption of
despotism and acts of cruelty that his subse-
quent career brought FORTH
Come, Boy" said Jones' springing to his
feet; q" let's get one If these wheelbarrow
and 90 to the Capitol; l want TO see nv old
General, Pete Alabaugh." And suiting the
words by the action we moved to the Capitol
and in company Of the General who led the
charge at Marye's Hights-more glorious than
Pickett's, though of little renown in magazine
and newspaper history, we called on the Com
msnder-in-Chief Gen. Warner), who received
Us cordially and promised the Senior Vice to
attend the Pennsylvania Encampment
In addition to his duties as General Manager
and Consulting Engineer of the Edgar Thomp-
son Steel Co., Capt. Jones is an active member
Of the American Institute Of Mining Engineers
the Society of Mechanical Engineers, and the
Iron and Steel Institute of Great Britain. He
has been frequent contributor to the papers
on the various subjects relating to mechanics
and Bessemer steel manufacture
Last year he again visited England on this
business, and took prominent part in the de-
har m IF he q