The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1894-02-16
"OLD HIGn0RYS" COURAGE.
STORY OF AN ATTEMPTED ASSAS-
SINATIoN OF JACKSON.
They Could Shoot at Him, But
Couldn't Make Him Play the Part
of a CO1yard-A Narrow Fscapa

hucy Soulu oHoOt aC HIM, buC
Couldn't Make Him Play the Part
ofa Coward--A Narrow Escape.
F ever a man bore n charmed life
that man was sold Hickory"
That he should live to ripe old
e age; die natural death, de-
spite his many dramatic, not to say
tragic, experiences, was remarkable
But of all of General Jackson's narrow
escapes there was one which borders
on the supernatural. Two bullet
loaded pistols of perfect construction.
which at no other time we're ever
known to miss fire, snapped in turn at
President Jackson's breast, the per-
cussion caps exploding, but the weap-
ons refusing to shoot! That the old
hero met not the fate Of two of his IL
lustrious successors was little short of
a miracle. AS it was, the incident
caused an intense excitement all over
the country.
81 am not afraid! Let me gol
They can't kill me. I can take care of
myself"
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. This attempt to murder Gen
eral jackson was made on the 30th of
January, 1885, the same month in
which, twenty years previously, he
won his highest renown by his defeat
of the British army at New Orleans.
On the afternoon of the day named,
while President Jackson was at the
Caritol, in :--?denGa 1:,.,.j.f &
Carolina, one Richard Lawrence,
painter, residing in Washington, at
tempted to shoot him. This individ-
u.i was seen to enter the hall of 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 Law
renee stood--who had his pistol con.
cealed under his coat--and when he
approached within two yards and q
half of him, the wouldbe assassin
levelled the pistol at the Presidents
breast. The percussion cap exploded
with a noise 80 great that several wit
fred. On the instant Lawrence
dropped the pistol from his right
hand, and taking another ready
cooked from his left, presented and
snapped it at the President, who at
the moment raised his cane and made
for the assailant with iron-like energy.
He would have executed vengeance.
but Secretary Woodbury. and Lieu
tenant 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 firmness 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, the uttered
the words quoted.
AS soon as the act was known to the
crowd they wished to kill the assassin
Oh the spot. But this was promptly
prevented. Lawrence was forthwith
carried to Jail. after brief pre-
liminary examination before Judge
Cranch. At this examination Mr..
Randolph, Sergeant ut Arms of the
House of Representatives, who at
tended the Marshal to conduct the
prisoner to tho City Hall, testified
| h,k a,1r ral H.,
the Marshal what motive he had
to make the attempt, stated that
the President had killed his father.
The assertion was, however, untrue,
as, upon investigation, it was found
that his father. an Englishman, had
died natural death in Washington
solne years before. The son was ap.
rrenticed afterward to Mr.. Clark,
With whom he lived three years. Mr..
Clark, when called upon, said he was
n men of excellent habits, sober and
Industrious; that he had seen him
very frequently, and was we'll az.
quainted with him since he had left
his family, and had heard nothing tC
his disadvantage until Of late he was
informed of his being quarrelsoIne
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 insane.
But his demeanor at the time he was
being examined bore not the slightest
appearance of frenzy or arrangement
of any kind. Indeed, when asked by
the Court if he wished to cross exam.
inc the witnesses or to make explana-
ton, he answered in the negative, and
said that those who had seen the ac
could state the facts. At the conclu
sion of the trial, when asked if he has
anything to offer, he said that he coul,
not contradict what had been given il
evidence. In the midst OF the excite
ment and anxiety which prevailed
round him Lawreace appeared per
iectly calm and collected.
The President. in speaking of tn;
event, remarked that Lawrence s man
ner from the moment his eye caught
his was firm and resolved until afte;
The failura &c his iasf pisini when N