Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1896-05-28
ITO be continued.)
STORIES OF THE DAY.
Interesting Bits OF the Personal
History of "Fighting Joe."

Louis c. Hughes, who has just been de-
posed from the governorship Of Arizona,
should his history ever come to be written by
one who is acquainted with his life, will 60
down to posterity as Fighting Lon, or as the
fighting COVE nor.
Hughes was born with taste for fighting.
He first saw the light in Wales and brought
to this country mixture of Anglo Saxon and
Celtic blood and the stubborn qualities which
it produces. Arizona afforded man with
fighting tastes an abundant opportunity for
their cultivation. In the early days it was a
case Of fighting the Apaches, and since then
native will tell you that the exceedingly
productive soil is most productive in one
crop. That crop is comprised under the COM
prehensive term, ''sons of guns" Hughes
has fought both the Indians and the ''sons
of guns" and though he bears good many
scars as momentoes of the fray, yet he sur
wives, and it is most likely he will 60 on
fighting until there is nothing to fight or un-
til he is not left to do the fighting. And
about all of his fighting there is this to be
said-it has been done in the interest of
what he regarded as the right.
The ex governors fighting proclivities are
all the most remarkable when the physique
of the man is considered. He is below the
average height, is probably little over five
feet, slight OF build, of quick nervous
temperament. If you supplied him with the
right kind of beard, you would have a man
somewhat resembling ex President Harrison.
But notwithstanding his comparative weak
ness, he is never afraid to face bully, how
ever large, and no matter what be the weap-
Or with which he is armed. In convention
fight he will stand up and talk till he has
wearied men who possess double his strength.
He has fought with the sword, with the pen,
with the tongue and with the fist and proved
himself about an equal success in each. He
has fought Democrats, he has fought Repub-
licans. he has fought Populists, he has
fought gambling, whiskey, stage robbers and
now it may be that he will fight Cleveland
and Hoke Smith. The manner in whichhe
secured the appointment which has just now
been taken from him supplies fairly good
test OF his fighting qualities in politics. By
this it must not be thought that he was not
worthy of the Office. He certainly had the
support of every man whose support was
worth having in his fight, and no one did
more for the territory before he was Of
fered the appointment OF after he had ac-
cepted it.
Hughes, as has been said, was born in
Wales. He came to this countr,, however,
At the age of =, being accompanied, of
course, by relatives in his journey. Penn
sylvania was his first home. His father
died very early. and in the state mentioned,
as soon as he grew to be boy, he began 10
work en- a farm. He went to school, how
ever. and after few years went into ma
chinist's shop, where he learned the trade of
q mechanical engineer. He was stir work
lug ut his trade when the war broke out.
But in the meantime he had begun to study
law. attending night school for this pur-
pose. But when the call for volunteers was
made by Lincoln the wariike spirit in Hughes
was to strong to keep him either at his trade
tr at the readine of law. He joined a 10.
cal regiment. From the first it was his for
tune to be engaged in the thick of the fight.
Soon h: was wounded and laid up in q hos
pital for three months. When he recovered.
the need for men was not considered 80
great a. it had been, and he was offered his
discharge, but this he declined. TIE fight
ing instinct was aroused and he would night
until he could have satisfaction for the
three months suffering he had undergo ne.
He had brother, and, curiously enough,
the brother. who was . fighter, too, thought
that right was on the side OF the south, and
he went and volunteered for the confederate
service.
Louis c. Hughes, however, kept on tight
ing the battles OF the north. He had Just
completed his twenty-third en- agement
when he IVES again wounded. Now the war
had practically closed, and he again resum-
ed his law studies and soon took his degree.
Then he married, his wife being southern
sympathizer, although born in the heart Of
Yanhee land. He pracneed law for short
time in his native stste. His health waa
bad, however, his lungs being especially
weak, ana OH the advice # his doctor be
determined to seek his fortune in the then
almost uninhabiled Arizona-uninhab,ted
except by an abundance of rowing Indians
and few Mexicans.
The light VII ch has Terminated in his re-
moval from Office has been waeed since the
appointment Was made. Hughes ignored
the fac ion by which il was PACED. He ap-
pointed men to Office who had reputation
in the territory for business capacity and
honesty. Then the men whom he helped in
their applicstioa for positions under the M.
tional administration wished to have their
| say in his administration Of affairs. To this
he again objected. He sat down upon thei,
ambitious, and they turned against him,
He had only one more year to serve to COM
| plste his term under Cleveland. He has
been rems we'd TO sasisfy Tie cry Of the hand.
fal who assorted, day - day. thst to keep
him 10 Office would only Be to render i'm
possihls the uniisaing Of the two sections d
The Dsmoeratlc party n the territory. He
was fonght ~ sone at least whose reputa.
ZION for honesty and party Ioyity is . minua
quality. Thare \ 40 governor whose name
has bsea moss 1seqsently mentioned in thu
press aince ~ paroles By which Re has been
temporarily dogned started their fight agains,
him. AzIsoea ara u sighting governo.
viii long Hold plsce II the archives Of the
interior dspartnsnt.- Sc. Louis Repubiic,
/