Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1898-09-15

UOuu DlOMH ld4by hA44NA4 SNNo-- ~ N---
previous year. The Second Virginia
Regiment, under command of Col.
Allen (killed afterwards at Richmond),
composed mainly of citizens of Jeffer-
son county, was on a visit to Shep-
herdstown. 1t was drawn up in front
of the Entler Hotel and was going
through some maneuvers for the en-
tertainment'of the public which had
gathered in large numbers, thronging
the street and pavement in front OF the
hotel. Among that crowd one strik-
ing figure attracted my attention, as
it stood out saiently from the rest.
1t was a venerable, patriarchial look
ing man of stalwart frame with the
bent form of the infrmity of advanced
age. His hair was white as snow and
his strong but kindly face was
wrinkled as one in the nineties. Upon
asking who he was the answer came
from a bystander: "That is old Mr..
Entler, the oldest man in all this Sec
ton"
I had often heard OF the old patri-
arch, the link between the last and
present century, and knowing that my
uncle died at his hotel, having been
conveyed there after the fight, l
thought l would like to ask him what
he knew about the memorable occur
renee. Here was the opportunity
which l had long desired. Therefore
pressed through the crowd to where
he was standing in the doorway of his
house. After venturing an allusion
to the~military display before US in
which he seemed to take an old man S
interest, but surveying me inquiringIy,
| alluded to some persons, acquaint-
ances, who had lived in that section
within the past thirty years, mention
ing a son of one of them in the ranks
whom l had Just observed; but al
though they had been prominent citi-
zens Of the State, he seemed not to rec
ollect them. His memory had not re-
tanned knowledge Of them. l then
went further back, and as | got near
the beginning of the century, naming
some persons and events of that time,
he seemed to wake up, and when |
asked him if he knew Colonel Angus
tine C. Smith, of Winchester, and Gen
eral John Smith, of Hackwood Park,
he Strengthened himself erect, and his
eyes were suddenly illumined with re-
newed vision as with trembling voice
he exclaimed, "Why, young man, |
knew them both, and | voted many
times for both of them. Then step
ping out Of the door on the pavement
with tottering gait which needed my
aid, as he was making his way through
the pressing crowd, he pointed to the
front room just above where we were
standing and said: at was in that
very room where the son Of General
Smith died who was mortally wounded
in the duel with Holmes" And so
my inquiry was answered without my
asking the question which had in my
mind.
He then proceeded to tell me what
he knew about the affair. He said
that he could see the young man then
as wildly as when he had beheld him
as he lay upon his deathbed, while his
mother and friends were weeping
around. He then said, raising his
voice with emphasis, that he was the
handsomest man he had ever seen. The
old man could remember perfectly
everything that had occurred fifty,
sixty and eighty years back, he being
then over ninety years Of age, but his
mind seemed to be comparatively list
less as to latter and passing events.
He recalled wildly and instantly every
circumstance about the duel which
had occurred in 1909, while the more
exciting events of the last few years
had made little impression upon him.
Before, however, l could obtain all the
information I wanted a member Of his
family appeared and called him into
the house. He died soon after. and
the Colonel, Lieutenant-Co Colonel, and
many members of the splendid regi-
ment upon which we looked with SO
much admiration that day were killed
in battle before twelve months had
elapsed.
a short time ago an occurrence took
place which recalled that duel in re-
markable way. l was invited by the
Hon. Andrew H. H. Dawson, whom l
had met accidentally, to dine with
him. He was prominent lawyer Of
this city, and in talk with me
I FL A.. 7 fro,o ITIrob