The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1894-02-07
OLD HICKORY'S COURAGE.
They Gould shoot at him, but they Gould
not mako him Play tho part Of a Coward.
Washington, Evening Star.

Washington EUening Star.
If ever man bore a charmed life
that man was cold Hickory" That
he should live to ripe old age anG
die natural death, despite his many
dramatic, not to say tragic, experien-
ces, was remarkable. But Of all Gen.
Jackson's narrow escapes there is one
which borders on the supernatural.
Two bullet-loaded pistols Of perfect
construction which at no other time
were ever known to miss fire, snapped
in turn at President Jackson's breast,
the percussion caps exploding, but the
weapons refusing to shoot That the
old hero met not the fate of two Of
his illustrious successors was little
short of miracle. AS it was, the in
cident caused an intense excitement
all over the country.
"I am not afraid Let me gol They
can't kill me. I can take care of my
selfl"
So exclaimed President Jackson
one memorable day in January, fifty
nine years ago, as breaking away from
his friends he rushed upon his would
be assassin. The attempt to murder
Gen. Jackson WAS made on the 3Oth
day of January, 1886; the same month
in which, twenty years previously, he
had won his highest renown by his
defeat of the British army at New Or
leans.
On the afternoon of the day named
while President Jackson was at the
Capitol, in attendance upon the tu-
| neral of Mr.. Warren R. Davis, of
South Carolina, one Richard Law
renee, painter, residing in Washing
ton, tried to shoot him. This indi-
vidxal was seen to enter the House Of
Representatives during the delivery
of the funeral sermon before its
close, however, he had taken his stand
on the eastern portico near one of
the columns. The President, with
the Secretary Of the Treasury on his
left arm, on retiring from the rotunda
to reach his carriage at the steps of
the portico, advanced toward the spot
where Lawrence stood-who had his
pistol concealed under his coat-and
when he approached within two yards
and half of him, the would-be as
sassin levelled the pistol at the Presi-
dents breast. The percussion cap
exploded with noise &c great that
several witnesses supposed the pistol
had been fred. On the instant Law
renee dropped the pistolfrom his right
hand, and taking another ready ccck-
ed from his left, presented and snap
ped it at the President, who at this
moment raised his cane and made for
his assailant with lion-like energy.
He would have executed vengeance,
but Secretary. Woodbury. and Lieut..
Godney at the same time laid hold Of
the man, who was knocked down, the
President pressing after him until he
was secured.
The Presidents friends then urged
him to go to the Capitol, which the
old hero did, with great frmness and
and self-possession, though during
the eventful moment his commanding
voice was heard above all others, as,
tearing himself from his friends and
rushing for the assassin, he uttered
the words quoted.
As soon as the act was known to the
crowd they wished to kill the assassin
on the spot. But this was promptly
prevented. Lawrence was forthwith
carried to Jail, after brief prelimi-
nary examination before Judge
Cranch. At this examination Mr..
Randolph, sergeant-at-Arms of the
House Of Representatives, who at
tended the Marshall to conduct the
prisoner to the City Hall, testified
that the prisoner, when asked by the
Marshal what motive he had to make
the attempt stated that the President
had killed his father. This asser'
tion was, however, untrue, as, upon
investigation, it was found that his
father, an Englishman, had died a
natural death in Washington some
years before. The son was appren-
ticed afterward to a Mr.. Clark, with
whom he lived three years. Mr..
Clark, when called upon, said he was
man Of excellent brains, sober and
industrious that he had seen him
very frequently, and was well &C.
quainted with him since he had left
his family, and had heard nothing to
his disadvantage until Of late he was
informed Of his being quarrelsome
among his friends, and that he had
treated his sister badly.
The entire absence Of any personal
motive On the part Of the prisoner to
commit the deed he attempted sug.
gested the idea that he must be in,
sane. But his demeanor at the time
he was being examined, bore not the
slightest appearance Of frenzy or de-
rangemept of any kind. Indeed,
when asked by the Court if he wished
to cross-.xamine the witnesses or to
make explanation, he answered in the
negative, and said that those who had
seen the act could state the facts. AT
tho conc]usion of the trial. when ask.