The Portland daily press., 1894-03-29

duel between Sherman and Wade Hamp-
ton. Sherman had charged Hampton
with being connected with the Ku Klux
and had given evidence to show that he
was correct Wade Hampton did not try
to controvert the evidence, but he salts
fed himself by sending the following
letter, which he thought would bring
Sherman to a duel:
Charlottesville. Va, October 1.
Hon. John Sherman.
Sir: AS you do not disclaim the Ian
guage to which I have called your at
tention, have only to say that in using
it, you uttered what you knew to be
absolutely false. My address will be
Colum bia, S. q.
am your obedient servant,
WADE HAMPTON.
In reply to this Sherman reiterated his
statements and published Hampton's
letter and the result was that Hampton
was laughed at all over the country.
Sherman came much nearer duel
during MS term in the House. He ex-
pected to be shot at that time and pre-
pared himself for defense. He was max
ing a speech one day, when mem per
named Wright, of Tennessee, said that
one of his statements was a lie. Sher.
man did not hear the remark, but Twas
reported to him that evening and the
next day it appeared in the Globe
of privilege. He said he had not heard
the remark and he supposed that the
gentleman who MADE it was in such
condition (drunk) that he didn't know
what he was saying. AS he said this
Wright looked at him insolently, and
Sherman picked up box of waters and
threw it in Wright's face. Wright then
tried to draw pistol, but the other
memb ers of Congress gathered around
him and prevented him from SO doing.
The affair created such a sensation that
the House adjourned. Everyone expected
duel and Sherman was called upon by
one of the Southern mem bers and asked
what he expected to do. Sherman re-
piled that he was not duelllst, but that
he would repel any physical attack upon
him with interest. He is a good shot,
and he says that he never felt cooler in
his life than he did the next morning,
when he walked up to the Capitol with
pistol in his pocket. He had made up
his mind that if Wright approached him
that he would shoot him dead. He took
friend with him and went out to the
Capitol He did not see Wright until
his return trip. AS he walked down the
walked down on the opposite side. The
two passed around the fountain, which
then stood in front of the Capitol. Each
man had a colleague with him, and
Sherman expected Wright to shoot. He
mad his hand on his pistol and he looked
Wright iii the eye, ready to raise the
pistol and shoot him if he made any
demonstration Of attack. Wright. now
ever, saw that Sherman meant business,
and he walked ON past without doing
anything. Senator Sherman charged
man with lying in one of his speeches
in the Senate last fall. The maIswas an
author, who had made some charges re-
garding the Senate and silver, and Sher-
man publicly charged him with being
a liar.
A Senator of Nerve.
1t was not generally known that John
Sherman wanted to go into the army.
He raised brigade at Mansfield, Ohio,
and he had two regiments of infantry, a
battery of artillery and a. squadron of
cavalry completely differed, mannedsand
equipped there. He had been at the
battle of Bull Run, and went to Mans
lead them into the war, but on his re-
turn to Washington he was persuaded to
stay in Congress. There is no doubt.
however, but what Sherman had plenty
OF nerve. He showed this first in that
Kansas-Ne braska investigation. Kansas
was at the time filed with ruffians, and
the committees of Congress which went
out there were again and again threat
ened with death. The Senator has told
me that they would often find a picture
of coffin, over which was skull and
cross-bones on the floor of the room
when they came in the morning to open
their session, and below this picture
would be warning for them to leave
the territory. "One day. says Senator
Sherman a man entered the room and
began to swear at the committee. He
abused us in the most profane manner,
and he was evidently spelling for fight.
We had stenographer with us. and as
soon as the man began to talk I made
a motion to him to take down his words.
He did so, sand after tnesruffian had gone
on for about ten minutes I called halt
and told him that he had made himself
liable to arrest. I thereupon asked him
if he knew what he had been saying,
and called upon the stenographer to read
his notes. Shorthand was then unknown
in the West, and as the man heard his
exact words repeated his jaw fell, his
face paled and he asked the anlanuensis
to let him see the paper. 1t was shown
to him. He looked at it for moment
and then, frantically tearing his hair,
he exclaimed, "'Snakes, eby God!" and
rushed from the room. We did not see
him again during the investigation"