Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-01-22

L INV
Mr.. Coles was in his eighty-seventh
year, and that new generation has
grown up and taken active part in al
fairs since he was associated with the
most exciting incidents, that caused
lust the brief publication of his death
to be made. Yet a little over fifty
years ago Mr.. Coles was associated
with one of the most romantic and ex-
citing of Incidents, and a little over
thirty years ago brought notice to
Governor Morgan of the most stirring
event, one that probably in great
measure prevented the outbreak OF
war between the United. States and
Great Britain. Long before the New
York clearing house was established,
and even before the first Delmonico
gained the favor of down town
merchants and bankers, the restaurant
which had earned the highest popular
ity in down town New York was one
that was managed by George w.
Brown.
1t was on Water street, near Wall.
Mr.. Brown had among his other attrac
lions a very beautiful daughter, who
was also an intelligent, bright girl, and
a charming character as well. Occa-
.sionally when her father was rushed
in business she helped him in the busy
hours, acting as a sort of cashier. She
gained the respect and good will of
many prominent men of affairs, among
others being August Belmont, then
young man, who had recently come
from Europe as the American repre-
sentative of the Rothschilds. Miss
Brown was always treated with the ut
most consideration and courtesy by
those who frequented her fathers res
taurant One evening she, with
friends, was at Niblo's garden, the first
of the places of entertainment of that
name. There strolIed along young
man from South Carolina, DraytOn by
name He was attracted by Miss
Browns beauty; possibly he was not in
condition to be self-respecting. At all
events, he made some insulting COM
ment The girl was overwhelmed with
embarrassment and modification. Aug
Ust Belmont was present, and he i'm
mediately interpOsed between DraytOn
and Miss Brown, drew Drayton off on
one side, and then declared that he
must apologize for his remarks to the
young woman, who was, Mr.. Belmont
said, we'll known to him, and who
was as charming and as good as she
was beautiful. Drayton replied con-
temptuously to Belmont, whereupon,
Belmont's anger rising, there was
strong language, an exchange of cards,
a challenge and an acceptance. They
went out of the state the next day and
exchanged Shots Mr.. Belmont fell, Sc
verely wounded by a bullet through
the thigh.
He was lame ever after and when in
his maturity, as chairman of the demo-
cratic national committee, he appeared
at national and other conventions,
1imping along with difficulty, the
story was told of his chivalrous and
romantic defense of Miss Brown, and
Mr.. BelmOnt'S influence was thereby
increased. The Belmont-Drayton duel
caused intense excitement both here
and elsewhere. A year or two later
Oscar Coles, then young merchant of
New York city, highly respected, mar
ried Miss Brown For Is years of his
life after the civil war Mr.. Coles spent
the winters in Aiken, S. c., and he was
elected mayor of that town 20 consecu-
tive times. Later he spent his winters
in Lakewood, N. J.
In the winter of 1862 a number of
Russian war ships appeared in New
York harbor Mr.. Coles was at that
gtime probably the leading ship chand-
Ter of New York. He was an intimate
friend sf Thurlow Reed, William Fl.
Seward, Governor Morgan, and other
republican politicians. One cay, in
connection with his business he visited
the Russian fleet and saw that the
ships were cleared as though ready
for action, the guns prepared for i'm
mediate service, and all the indica-
-tiOns those of war. He ventured to ask
the Russian commodore what occa-
stoned that warlike display, and the
answer was: 1--WE are going to shoot
and use these guns whenever you are
ready for use to do it.
1t was at the time of the intense
strain between this country and Eng
land because of the Trent affair. Mr..
Coles went at once to a hotel in this
city, where Governor Morgan and Far
ragut, not then admiral, happened to
be, and told Mr. Morgan what his expe-
rience had been. Mr. Morgan immedi-
ately notified Secretary Seward by tel
egraph and from Seward a response
came that he would see Governor Nor
gan the next day. The governor and
Mr. Seward did not meet on the fol-
lowing day, and then Mr. Seward said
that the Russian fleet was here, and he
presumed that Russian warships were
also at San Francisco, and that if
Great Britain declared war against the
United States the Russian commander