The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1903-11-25
FORREST AND THE BULLY.
He Made Short Work Of One Who
Threatened Him.

Threatened Him.
In the summer Of 1868 the Tennes-
see delegates to the national Demo
cractic convention which nominated
Mr.. Seymour for tue presidency met
at Nashville and proceeded in body.
General Forrest was delegate from
Memphis, and it was the first time be
had gone North since the war.
Sectional feeling was intense at
that period, but no one of the party
felt any concern for the safety of even
General Forrest.
The war had ended and there was
no occasion for alarm. Reaching
Louisville, the Kentucky delegates
Joined the Tennesseeans, one of whom
was General Basil Duke. General
Duke had not before met General For
rest, but after making his acQuain-
tance, the two sat opposite in the
sleeper chatting pleasantly over the
events Of the past.
While in Louisville General Forrest
telegraphed the ticket agent at Cln-
cinnati, asking him to reserve sec
tion for his use in the New York
sleeper. The operator, like every one
else at that time, was familiar with
the fame of Forrest, and gladly shared
with his friends at other stations the
news. which would afford them an op-
portunity of seeing the great cavalry
man. At one or the stations there
lived man who had been for some
time a terror to his neighborS. He
was known to have killed several men,
and everybody at his home gave him
the right Of way.
He was a man of Herculean build
and wore a scowling expression. He
preferred war to place, and sought
every opportunity to pick quarrel.
This desperate fellow happened to
hear that Forrest would pass on the
train, and went from place to place
telling those he met that he intended
to take the d-n rebel from the train
and drag him through the streets.
Fully 1000 people collected at the
little depot to see him dc it.
The big ruf1ian grew more furious
as the crowd was augmented, and the
operator who gave out the news deemed
it wise to notify General Forrest and
suggest that he remain where he was
and await the night train. The con-
ductor on southbond train was told
to state the facts to the conductor on
the train bearing the delegates, and
say that great mob had already as
sembled to witness the humiliation
the bully proposed to iniict, and to
urge General Forrest to turn back.
These facts were communicated to
General Duke, who felt much delicacy
in relating the story to Forrest, but
deemed it his duty, and, therefore,
explained the situation to him.
The train was nearing the station,
and whatever was decided on must be
done quickly. The conductor accom-
panied General Duke and urged For
rest to get of; that he knew the man
to be very desperate.
General Duke simply stated what
he had been told, and said: General,
we will stand by you" Forrest
thanked him, but said: The man
does not know me, therefore cannot
have any quarrel with me. 1t is all
talk, and l am going to remain IN
this car.''
The train slowed down for the sta.
tion and the crowd surrounded the
platform, No one could tell what the
next few minutes would bring forth.
AS soon as the train had stopped,
the big bully burst open the sleeper
door and smashed the glass in the
upper part of it as herald of his ap-
proacb.
He strutted down the aisle calling
for the d-n rebel to stand up. Gen.
eral Forrest was eating an apple, and
the only person in the car without
evid ,nceS of excitement. The bad
man finally sized him up and made
toward him, cursing and charging.
General Forrest, quick as a flash,
grasped him by the throat, and in less
than ten seconds had thrown him head
long from the platform Of the car to
the ground. The general made the
air blue for an instant and when the
bully regained bis feet he was on a
dead run. Forrest quickly realized
the righteousness Of the affair and
burst into laugh.
The train soon pulled out, and the
crowd, which had assembled 20 see
the d-n rebel dragged through the
streets, was waving hats and hand
kerchiefs, and giving cheers for FCr-
rest. JAMES DINK1NS.