The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-08
KILLED A MAN A MINUTE.
RECORD OF A REBEL sBA RPsHOOT-
Err WITH LEE AND JACKSON.
After Ee HAD sisin sixty saen In ns Many
Minutes, Lee Commanded Him TO stop
Reward OF gao. 900 Onsred Tor Him,
but ne Was Never Cnptured-stn LIvinR.


but ne was Never CRptured-sti LivinE.
Fron the Boston Advertiser.
JACKSON, Miss, July 4.-one OF the most re-
markablc mon on earth to-day is Lamar Fon-
taino. OF medium height, spare but sinowy,
high check bones, denOtinR courage and reCk-
lessncss, gray eyes that are dreamy and wistful
when the temperament il calm and in rcposc,
but blazing with q furious light under the eX.
element Of recollection; hands that are deli.
cate us a wonan's in construction, but twisted
and gnarled from tho hard use to which they
have been put; Il voice that Is musical and soft;
lips thin and straight cut, and a heavy growth Of
hair and beard that are just beginning to be
streaked with gray-these are the distinguish
ing physical characteristics OF Lamar Fontaine.
Though with Il weight Of SO years piled upon
his shoulders and the scars OF sixty.seven bull
lot wounds marking his slight frame, he is
neither bent nor misshapen. Mr.. Fontaine's
adventurous life began at the early age of ten.
He was captured by Comancho Indians in Texas
and borne off by these savages to their retreat
In the vicinity of what Is now Sioux City, Ia
For four years they kept him captive. Then
the band made its way TO New Mexico. and he
escaped across 700 miles OF sun-baked desert.
Al uncle. Mirabeau Lamar, was then Presi-
dent of the Texas republic. He remained with
transferred to the care Of another relative still
more famous-Conlmodore Maury, who mapped
was, AS the amanuonsis Of this great sailor, 40
companying him on all his voyages. From
American Legation in Nicaragua. His kins-
man, President Lamar, was United States Min
lister to that country during most of this period.
He was in Nicaragua when the war broke out
in the United states, and he hastened homo 10
throw, himself into that conflict.
He bears with him on his travels n certificate
shSt and killed sIE s,55!SS Il Federal dsis f soldiers s, in siz,SS
Jackson, couched in this startling language:
Il believe that during his service with me
the enemy than wire killed by any company in
my command
Fontaino began as scout and courier for
stonewall jackson. He served in the same
capacity with Gen. Stewart and Joe Johnston,
and an ! q us short t. While W With 4 Lee e. .,l He too took oL part ,d N
is known in all branches OF the Confederate SER
volver in either army: He was wounded sixty
seven times, and thirteen times his lungs were
scratches caused that organ 50 to enlarge that
skilful physicians to-day who examine him
he is liable to die within twenty four hours.
1t was in the battle /. Of alv Waterloo Water 3" 81, Bridge isS,d in
a6 attle Of ii Mana lI,ass4t that GEN: Lee g Witnessed
Fontaine's remarkable feat OF killins, sixty
x xsakf f,ap n SKY So %inn Jaskso stGne sSsrps 1asasss
had possession OF u long frame house, and had
been pouring death in into ., P0pe'' H ranks ksd for Sro an an
Of Fontaine's skill, and sought him out to wit
ness his work. With his heldgla,s Gen. Lee
Fontaine picked them out for slaughter.
battery was pouring a continual stream OF
fire into the building occupied by the Coleder-
and gun No. H. Fontaino said to the Command
another Imam will have to take his place al the
gun" In this way Fontaine picked out al his
When he had killed sixty Lee told him TO quit
Doesn't your conscience ever hurt you when
VIM do work NJ this kinll ~ manfred the General
OF the sharpshooter.
F9ntaino smiled Why, General be IRE Re-,
the understanding that 1 was expected to kill
as many Of tho enemy Us l could. II had any
Beyond doubt tho most remarkable feat &C
complished by Fontaine during the war was the
carrying OF dispatches and percussion caps TO
the beleaguered army of Pemberton at Nlcks-
Federals. Memphis was in the hands, OF the
enemy, and Fontaine, acting as u spy and III dis
guiSe, had been there for "a month picking up
What Information he could for the benent of Gen.
J. L. Johnston.
One day there came u ummons for him to re-
port to Johnston at once. simultaneously the
Federals got knowledge OF Fontaine's orders
aud his presence in Memphis, The desire TO
capture SO, shrcwd a spy ana expert sharp.
shooter had become 80 great that a reward OF
10000 was offered for him dead or alive.
either capturing or killing F%ontaine. But no
eral at Jackson for orders. The orders were
for him TO carry dispatches and 10000 musket
caps through the Federal lines and into the city
Of Nicksburg.
Vicksburg was surrounded by 10000 Union
soldiers under command OF Grant. All OF tho
approaches to the city were controlled and care
fully guarded by the Fcdcrals. And there was
a reward OF SOC, 900 out for Fontaine. Ia COM
plete disguise Fontaine passed through the
Federal lines in a small canoe and delivered his
dispatches and caps safely To Gen. PeInborton.
After spending three or four days in NiCksburg
he undertook the return trip to jackson with
dispatches from Pemberton to Johnston.
1t was while coming out OF NicksburR that
he met with his most exciting adventure. He
fioated down the river at night to II point about
eighteen miles below Vicksburg. He procured
u horse, and riding in the direction of Jackson
he had to cross the Big Black River. lie rode
into u guard at one of the ferries. In tho
twinkling Of an eye $50 rifles were leyelled at
him. He spurred his horse and the frightened
animal plunged straight ahead.
Three bullets struck F~ontaine. Two OF them
shattered his right leg and arm and the other
penetrated his left breast. lie chung TO his
horse and kept lashing the animal with what
strength was left him. Strangely enough the
Fedorals did not pursue him.
NO BREAKFAST FOR A BICYCLISE.