The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-10-31
THE TUGALO TRAGEDY.
COL. HOPKINS HOLSEY, CON-
GRESHAM AND JOURNALIST.

| WORK in ashingtOn-Farmer, Law
yer and Editor - His Part in the
Tugalo Tragedy-A Strong Unionist,
WELDING a Mighty influence With
His Pen - The Southern Banner
! Other Interesting Incidents.
BUTLER, GA, Oct. 30.-One mile north
of Butler, on a hillside overshadowing q
bald spring of crystal water. lies molding
away the remains of Col Hopkins Holsey,
q man once remarkable in Georgia.
He was laid away TO rest in that now
lonely spot, April l, 1859. He was a law
yer Of eminence in his day, and ranked
with the foremost as democratic leader In
state aud national councils. He was born
near Lynchburg, Va, Aug. p, 1779. He
Yves educated at the University of Virginia
and graduated later on at the celebrated
law school of Litchfeld. Conn. He re-
moved to JONES county, Georgia, in 1925,
and married Miss Elizabeth Mitchell, who
was regarded by many as the most beauti-
full woman in the state. He represented
Hancock county several years in the legis-
lature, which, in that day, was a dis
| tinguished honor.
|
sonian democrat, unhtnchingly opposed to
| federal encroachments, and STRONGLY
| favored states rights. He was Just such a
| man as will rise anywhere he is put. Every
element of greatness he possessed. After
serving several successive terms in the Geor
gia legislature, he was elected in 1884 to
congress- He was then resident of Harris
county. Serving his term out he was re-
elected. In those days members of congress
found it somewhat difficult to get to Wash
| ington.
HOW TREY GOT TO CONGRESS.
They had to use private conveyance, and
many OF the greatest senator's rode horse
back from distant states across the country
to the national capital
Col. Holsey ma lie these trips through the
country in carriage, his wife accom-
paned him occasionally. During one of
these trips his only son, Col. Julius 81. Hol-
sey of Corsicana, Tex, was
born near Charlotte N. G.
Col. Holsey was fast becoming one of the
| leaders Ia congress when his wife died. He
received the intelligence that she was i'll
| while in Washington, aud he set out to
come home to her, but he arrived several
days after she bad died. This precipitated
a long melancholy grief, from which he did
not recover in many years. He left Wash
ington then and retired from politics. He
purchased farm near Athens. where he
| lived an humble life, with no companion
except his infant son. While on his farm
Col Holsey began to write, and he kept it
up until some years later, when he bought
of Albion Chase the Southern Banner. The
Banner was published ia Athens, and was
one Of the leading democratic journals OF
the state.
MASTERPIECES.
His editorials were regarded as master
pieces He advocated the Missouri COM
promise, the annexation of Texas and the
strict enforcement of the fugitive slave
law. In 1850 South Carolina, following her
old policy of notification, threatened ssces-
sion and besought Georgia to unite with
her. The question of union and disunion
became the paramount issues of the day in
the state. Col. Holsey bitterly opposed
secession and the Banner became the lead
ing exponent of the union cause in the Sixth
congressional district, if not in the state.
1t was during this excitement that the
celebrated 'Tugalo Tragedy" giving rise to
such widespread comment, was enacted.
The circumstances Of The tragedy are these:
About o'clock one afternoon well dressed
woman of middle age entered the
Banner Office and, finding the edi-
| tors sanctum vacant, addressed her
self TO some of the printers, busy
at their cases. She asked to see the s'head
man." and Foreman Thos Reynolds, who
was sitting upon high stool in another
| part OF the room, was pointed out to her
She approached him and asked him several
| questions about the type, the press, etc.
| Reynolds continued to work, expecting her
to make her wants known. She maintained
a silence a few moments and kept her eyes
fastened on the foreman. Suddenly the
printers were startled TO see binding flash
and report.
''I'M SHOT," HE CRIED.
1t was pistol shot and Reynolds was
wounded.
He cried out. Pm shot," and ran by the
woman into the street. His clothing was
on fire and the blood was streaming from
his arm aad side The ball had struck the
arm, penetrating 1t and passing into the
body. The other printers hastily re5reated
to the street, followed by the strange
woman. She held the smoking weapon in
her hand, and, reaching the street, she drew
another revolver aud defied arrest
The supposition was that she was insane,
and the adjacent street was quickly de-
populated. Men peeped out from behind
half closed doors at the woman. Capt
Dorsey, the marshal, soon appeared upon
the scene, AMI, fearing to approach her
openly, prevailed upon Mr.. Sidney Hughs,
fearless citizel of pleasant manner, to en-
gage the woman in conversation as he
peeped from behind a half-closed door, AS
the Wolnans attention was devoted to
Hughes, Dorsey sprang from behind her,
and, Selling her arms, held her secure
| Even then, she attempted to shoot and cut
the officer. She was disarmed and taken
to the town hall to be tried before Mayor
Cincinnatus Peoples. On the way down
crowds of curious people followed the
officer TO get glimpse of the woman.
WRONG MAN SHOT.
Col. Holsey, who was at home all the
while, heard of the disturbance and he
started down town. On the way he met
the crowd. and upon inquiry learned tina
| his foreman was wounded. He asked the
woman why she snot the man. She asked
Col. Holsey what his name was, and when
he told her she started back in fright anC
shrieked: 81 have shot the wrong
man." and seemed about to swoon.
Regaining herself, she told Col. .Holsey tha
he had slandered her in his paper, land,
said she, you may thank your stars you
were not in your office when called" Col
Holsey told her he had never seen nor heard
of her before.
The mayor committed her to Jail upon
charge of assault with intent to murder
She said that her name was Jane YOUNG
and that she lived on the Tugalo river, il
South Carolina, whence came the nam
"Tugalo tragedy"
The newspapers generally denounced tn,
affair as an attempt TO assaSsinate Col
Holsey, carrying with it strong suspicion
that dish niOuistS of South Carolina inski