The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-07-16

was warned by his friends that some
raulcai step was necessary. That phrase
mas a peculiar meaning down South,
ana the day after the publication of the
offensive article, Hamilton and Gam
nrell met on the bridge which connects
East and West Jackson. There were no
witnesses and when the firing ceased
The first arrivals on the scene found
young Gambrell dead, with a bullet
through his brain nd two others in his
preaSt, while an arms length away,
Hamilton lay weltering in the blood
from two dangerou: wounhs in his
body.
At once the Prohibitionists. who num-
Dered among their ranks some of the
most influential men in the State, raised
the ory that Hamilton had waylaid and
assassinated THE young editor. and.
wounded as he was Hamilton was
taken TO 1ail-which by the way had 10
De heavily guarded for several days 20
prevent Gambrell's slayer from being
moeoed by the dead mans friends.
every erort was made to obtain bail
Tor Col. Hamilton. so that work on the
Gulf and Ship Island enterprise might
continue undated; but without success
he stayed in Jail for over one year and
When he finally walked forth a free
man he found himself bereft of home
ana fortune--all his holdings having
Sttterest prosecution ever known in the
South. "Belehaven" was sold to a DR..
tttzhugh, who had been one of Hamil-
Ton harshest prosecutors. He turned
the ola home into Methodist female
seminary, and where the portrait of its
former owner had hung on the drawing
room wall. the new owner placed the
portrait of Roderick Dhu Gambrell. A
year later the house burned to the
ground.
Besides this! the appalling tragedy
was followed by series of happenings
so curious and strange as to almost call
Tor occult explanation. First of ALL
within two weeks after Hamilton's ac-
quittai, young Martin and Gen. Writ
Auans twho had been n brigadier in the
confederate army killed one another
IN a street duel at Jackson. And in
the years that have passed since then.
every Judge. attorney and juryman who
was adverse to Hamilton in his trial for
murder, has either died become insane,
or been relcgated to obscurity; while
on the other hand, all those who worked
Tor the prisoners asqulttal are living
to-day, and holding positions of promi-
hence.
So much for the story of the tragedy
SO tndissolubly connected with the Gulf
and Ship Island railway-a tragedy
which In its far reaching effects
brought untold sorrow to numberless
homes, and put back the development OF
great State and a large section of this
country by at least ten years.
NOW. by the regranting OF the forfeit
ed lands to the company, Colonel Hamil-
ton and his associates have been enabled
10 take up the work anew, and con-
struction of the railway was begun again
only last week and will be pushed TO com
pletion at the earliest possible day. II
VIII run northward and in Gulfport will
be the only natural harbor along the
american Gulf shore, excepting that OF
Pensacola Fla. New Orleans is 10
mics from the Gulf. while Mobile, its
chief rival. is about so miles. and the ex-
pense of tonnage and llgh:erage at these
TWO ports has been so great as to nut q
serious crotchet upon the wheels of that
sections commercial progress With the
coHpiet.on Of the improvements CON
templated under the charter OF the pres
eht company the people of the South ex
peer great things TO happen. among
which will be the diversion OF a rreat