The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-12-13
DIR. KINGSBURY WRITES OF
JAMES JOHNSTON PETTIGREW
He ExceIled at The University as Well as In Every
Field of Effort. His Fame Glorious
Heritase.

North Caronna. HIS father, man o.
ability and wealth, was Hon. Ebenezel
Pettigrew, member of the United States
House of Representatives from that dis
trict. His grandfather was Rev. Charles
Pethgrew, who was the first Bishop of the
Episcopal church in the Diocese of North
Carolina, but he died before he wa
formally consecrated to the work. John
ston Pettigrew had two brothers., namely,
Charles and Rev. William S. Pettigrew,
the latter an Episcopal minister of good
talents, sincere piety, and much useful
ness. He served as rector for more thai
twenty years in Vance county, and was
loved, esteemed and revered by many
people who were not of his particular fold
Johnston was educated by William Bing-
ham, the first great teacher of that name,
but not the first to teach. His father was
an honored instructor. Johnston proba-
bly, never missed a question during the
several years of his preparatory tutelage.
At the University of North Carolina, from
which he was graduated in June, 1S47,
when but nineteen years of age, he had q
record of rarest excellence, that l believe
has never been equalled. He was posi-
lively first in a class of very unusual
ability and scholarship. I do not believe
that in some 1O7 years of life for the Uni
versity has there ever been a student in
it of equal scholarship and gifts. 1 am
writing now as 1 think, and remember,
without line of memorabilia or any
vestige of record of any kind. I am writ
ing of one 1 never knew personally, and
never saw but few times. / am writ
ing what 1 believe to be true in every
particular, and without hint from mortal
man. Others may disagree with what !
say, and they are welcome to their opinion.
/ must write as I believe and know and
not to please others. I never saw John
ston Pettigrew after 1S47. I recall his
appearance. He was erect, slim rather,
with a striking head a noble forehead,
and an eye of most brilliant lustre. dark
and splendid, the finest eye 1 recall to
have seen, in all my life I heard his
Valedictory address, and being young I, of
course enjoyed it, but can not write now
particularly of its quality or character. At
this Commencement President James K.
Polk and suite were present. Among
those who accompanied him was the late
eminent Commodore NJ. F. Maury. of Vir-
glnIa. He had visited the University of
North Carolina in search of a young
mathematician of rareSt endowment. He
the Faculty, and they told him
that there was the very youth he was
seeking who was to be graduated then,
but that it was doubtful if he could be
persuaded to accept a position In con
nection with the Washington City OBJ
servatory, which was presided over then
by Commodore Maury, the greatest man
in some marked particulars ever born in
the South, not even excepting the great
half-breed Washington, the worlds won
der. Young Pettigrew was induced to go
to the Observatory, and remained there
a year or SO. When but twenty it was
stated as fact that his astronomical OBJ
were rivalling those of the first
astronomers in Europe. I read that in one
of the two leading newspapers published
in Richmond, Va, during the great war
Mr.. Pettigrew went over to Europe and
entered one of the great German Univer-
sites, but I do not remember which of
the four or five greatest it was. Now let
me give an incident to show how he
made his mark there which was attended.
by over 2,00G students, probably 5000. I
had an intimate friend at the University
of North Carolina in Victor Clay Bar
ringer. He was a young man of much
promise, and showed superior gifts of
oratory for one SO young. He made an
elaborate speech in the Dialectic Society
IN prosecuting a popular member, to which
I listened with rapt attention 1t was
the ablest speech I have ever heard from
n man of his age-some twenty-one, 1
think. 1 heard the late Mr.. Justice
Toomer, of Pittsboro. say that it was a
speech of much ability, and that he heard
no such speaking in his day at the Uni
versity. After my friend had been gradu-
ated, his eldest brother, Hon. Daniel NJ
Barringer, who had served for several
terms in the United States House, was
appointed Minister to Spain by Presi-
dent Pierce. He took with him Victor
to Madrid, who remained there for some
time-six months, or possibly a year
Preparing to make law his profession he
made a trip up the Mediterranean Sea be-
fore returning to his native land Among
other places visited was Cairo. One day
n company of people was about to visit
Chcops, the greatest of pyramids, lying
some miles from the city. My friend
Joined the party. He found two young
rode with them. He soon learned that
they were Enghshmen, and that they were
at certain German University 1t was
the one at which the remarkable young
North Carolinian, the subject of this pa
per, was attending. Barringer said to
them that he had an old college friend at
that University, and told them of his ex-
gifts, his almost universally
of endowment, learning everything he
studied with the utmost ease, thorough
ness and dispatch, but did not remember
his name They asked Barringer where
he was FROM He told them, and ther
one said to the other countryman, HE
must be talking of Pettigrew. The youne
North Carolinian had quickly made dis
tinguished impression upon a great Uni
Verslty with its immense gathering of stu
dents. The wonderful powers of acquisi
ton of young Pettigrew could not wei
be exaggerated. He was indeed ar
American Admirable CREIGHTON. I re
member having heard of visit of
military school teacher at Raleigh, Capt
%. A. Buck, of Gray's Military School if
the torties. He visited Chapel Hill tC
teach class in fencing, of which Petit