The record-union., 1895-01-10
CLOSING QUOTATIONS.
GENERAL CLAY'S DELIBERATE AIM
He Once Shot a Negro Who Had Of
Tended His Adouted SON

| 1SHtieu Ills adopted son.
| II well remember the afternoon, some
| n1teen years ago, when Lounie CLAY
! alighted from the solitary daiIv train in
Richmond, ky.," said a man from Nladi-
son County, KY, recently. This young
| man has lately become prominent as the
! guard who Kept visitors away from Gen.
Cassius M. Clay and his youthful bride
| III the late sensational wedding in which
the old warrior was the bridegroom The
General was expecting the arrival of the
! boy from Russia, but for some reasons
Lonnie was delayed, and when he did
reach Richmond he was left alone upon
| the platform of the depot for an hour,
/ tie was about 10 years Old, and as hand
some boy as | ever saw. His ewes
f1ashed like diamonds and were black as
jet, and his raven hair curled about his
brow ike the locks OF young Apollo.
People crowded around him, but he stood
dehantly, and did not quail before the
searching glances of a hundred curious
eyes. de spoke not word OF English,
and did not know what would be his fate,
but he displayed proud front and un-
Hlnchlng StOlclsm.
General Clay at length appeared, and.
after greeting, the dignity OF which was
characteristic of the Two, they climbed
into General Clay's carriage and drove
away from the open-mOuthed curiosity
OF the increasing crowd.
I'm few days General Clay came into
town, ana, III regular form OF court,
adopted the boy, and had him made Joint
| heir with the children which MS wife had
borne.
lime went on, but the strange little
boy was not forgotten by the people of
the town. Nearly every day he drove
into the village with the OLD negress. who
| acted as houseekeeper at White Hall
General CIay>s country place, and never
n 1f
! Nun. Never was child more like Gen.
| Clay III spOsition-the bold front. mao
nlhcent physique, and imperious air W ere
all reproductlOnS OF General CLAW. He
| would not talk even to his attendant, and
| haughtily disdained to notice the rabble
around him. He was always handsomely
dressed, but looked like some young In
dian chleftain to whom the garb of civil
ZaLlon was incongruOus.
lie went TO no schools, but the hest
tutors that money could attract were pro-
Vided at his home. His only comnan-
ions were his stern old foster parent and
| the negro servants, who had notice from
their employer that young Ionnie,s word
should be law.
Thus this boy was brought up. Gen.
| Clay had heard that young negro. son
OF MS nousekeeper, had presumed on his
mothers position, and had been insolent
to Lonnle. The Old warriors tipbtinC
Dloou rose at once. He rushed out to
punish the insoleDt servant, but the latter
had lied. The negro had been reared in
the atmosphere OF White Hall, and sent
words of defiance to General Clay, de-
cIaring he would kill him on sight. One
bright Sunday morning, some time later.
General Clay was riding on horseback
down neighboring lane, his beloved
boy behind. a turn in the road brought
the rebellious negro in view. At sight OF
his lmperlous old master the mans
vaunted courage vanished, aud, leap
ing fence. be took to flight across a
| field.
But General Clay had seen him. and
his doom was sealed Galloplng UP to
the nearest point in the road to the fugi-
tive, he turned sideways, crossing his
legs to get a firm position, and taking
careful aim, shot his fleeing foe through
the heart. He rode to Richmond that
afternoon, still accompanied by the boy.
and remained all night at the hotel. Next
morning he gave bond, but the case was
never tried, L think, as the fact of the ne
gro's threats was considered sufficient
vindication. Lonnie is now 70 years old.
and has never left his foster fathers side.
louisville Times.