The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-04-02
INTERFERING HIsrOaY.
The Hon. Dan Lamont Comes From q
Great Historic Clan of Scotland.

The BOn. Dan Lamont Comes From
Great Historic Clan of Scotland.
Erom the Scottish-Amertcan.
Col. Lamont's name, properly pronounced,
simply suggests what it is, that Of one Of
the oldest clans in the highlands of Scots
land. The Lannon'S were lords of Cowal
long before the Campbells set their feet upon
its sod. They owned the soil when Alex.
ander ii. raised argyll into sheriffdom in
l22l Although never at any time very
large one, the clan was well represented
among the hills and valleys of Cowal and
the shores and cottages OF Butte. History
relates that during the invasion of CowRl
by the conquering Campbells their leader
invited a number of gentlemen Of
the, clan, Lamont to banquet,
and basely and with a treachery
scarcely paraIleled in the annals Of
Highland warfare. slew them in cold blood.
Although the great MacCallum Nor reigns
in Argyll, the chief Of the ancient family
OF Lamont still holds mis- own, and amid the
relics of former greatness supports the
honor of his clan. The name OF Lamont is
perpetuated among the geographical land
marks of the district. Arid Lamont Is
familiar to mariners as the Null of Cantyre.
and Butte has its Damont Point and It's
Kerry Lamont Lannon'S are still to be
found in Cowal and Butte as thick as Office
seekers in the United States, and there Is
taken in the Highlands, at all events, either
for yankees or Frenchmen.
During the reign of terror which marked
the conquering march OF the more power
full Campbells small party OF Lannon'S,
aided by daughter or niece OF the chief
tiau, 20 whom they we're related, emigrated
60 the islands Of Viva, where they found
friends among the brave and warmhearted
Macquarfies. The graves Of generations Of
Ulva Lannon'S are still TO be seen on the
lonely lse of Gometra, which may be called
an annex Of Viva. One of the last of the
Viva Lannon'S. Angus by name, took up his
abode in eRrly life In the sacre1 island OF
Iona. During the first part of the present
century he acted, under the patronage OF
the Duke Of Argyll, as custodian of this
ruins. During the queens visit to the High
lands Ia 1915 he was pronounced by Prince
Albert the handsomest Highlander he
had met and the graces OF his person were
only surpassed by the courtliness of mis-
manners ard the elevated tone and culture
OF his mind. he was a Gaelic poet Of a
high order, and as a Celtic scholar versed in
the Evolutionary lore of the Western He
brides had few equals. He died in 1856,
aged about 50 years.
Col. Lamont comes of an old and houored
race Of Butte MacLaumans. and his ances-
tors for many generations lie sleeping in the
old kirkyards of Fort Bannatyne aud Roth
essay. Had any ignorant Sassenach or New
York reporter dared to tell the colonels
great RreRt-grandfather that he was Of
French extraction. and that his proper name
was Lamont, the indignant descendant of
the Rorys would have perforated his low
country stomach with his skein-dhu, and
ordered his piper TO play pibroch over his
remains. The name is pronounced by En-
glisb-speaking H1ghlenders Lahmont, with
the accident on the first syllable, Lammonb
or Lawman. The Gaelic name is MacLau-
man, pronounced Machk Leuman, Ecu" hav-
ing sound similar to that of the past par
ticiple of the French verb 'evOir"- to have.
The Lamonts are said to nave sprung
from the ancestors of Clan Rory, nQw ex-
tinct, the great Samerlid, and the more
sanity Albanian. This clan was classified
by the late Mr.. Skene of Edinburgh, acs
knowiedged to be the highest authority
upon clanship of this day, as first among
the SiOl Quinn. descendants of Conn OF 100
battles, the most ancient family OF clans in
the highlands. In the Siol Quinn stood,
shoulder 20 shoulder, the MacRorys, the
MecDOnalds and the MacDougalls. MIR.
Skene placed the Lannon'S in the third grand
division or family, that Of Siol Eachern.
Siol Gillevray. including the clans NELL,
Lachlan and Evan, holding second place.
In the Siol Eachern were but two clans
the Lannon'S and the Campbells OF Craig
nish, originally MacEacherns. The La
monts, in the brave days of old, were Macs
Erachers They took the surname OF
lamont from their ancestor, Laumanus,
grandson of Duncan MaoEracher, who
granted the lands of Fillmore, near Loch-
Clip, to the monks Of Paisley. Hence Mac
Lauman, the son Of LRuman or Laumanus.
Col, Lamont is the first of his clan TO
achieve distinction and prominence in the
United States, although others have acted
well their part in the battle of life How
far the possession of 80 great and suggestive
a front name as Daniel may have had TO do
with 10 l am not prepared to say. There is
a good deal in name. Ga their native
heath the Lannon'S are all Donalds and
Hectors and Dugalds and Collins aud Fans
and Anguses. That the American chieftain
of the MacLaumanuses IN the high position
to which he has been called will uphold the
dignity and honor Of his clan goes without
saying. Let him not forget that its badge
is the grab-apple, its crest a dagger, end
its motto me parcas nee spurnas," Which
being literally translated means:
Never lkick a Tammany man when he IS
down.
Spring Underw ear-BalorlgRau, GAUGE
or Merino.
I