Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1903-03-13
John Randolph. of Roanoke.

JOIIIl ndIIuUipI, VI nUd1ONo'
| In an old SPECTATOR dated Sept. s,
1926, handed us by Thomas ID. Wood
ward, Esq. are many interesting az
ticles. as well as matters of the day,
| We publish below statement by a
ship captain, s. Baldwin, which tends
to show the excentricities of Mr.
Randolph, who wa5 then in England
He had gone on Capt Baldwin's ship
to Liverpool.
Editor of the National Gazette.
Sir-I have seen since my arrival.
y our notice of Mr.. Randolph's letter
in relation to my treatment of him
during my last passage from this port
to Liverpool, which letterwas so mag
unanimously published to the injury OF
an absent man. have to express my
acknowledgements to you for interpos
ing kind word in my behalf, until l
could speak for myself. This, l now
find, in the opinion of my friends,
ought tc have been done before; but l
assure you it has been omitted entirely
because l thought the character OF
Mr.. Randolph so we'll known throug :
out the country, that reply was not
necessary.
AS it has been suggested to me that
there are many very respectable per-
sons, who, knowing only one side OF
the question, may take his account OF
it to my disadvantage, without hear
ing the other side plainly told, 1 am,
therefore, obliged, very much against
my feelings and inclination, to place
myself before the public, by showing
in self defence the conduct of Mr.. Ran
dolph on board my ship.
No sooner had he gained the deck of
the ship at Newcastle, than Mr.. Ran
dolph's irritable disposition began to
show itself. in conse quence of his over
hearing one passenger ask another
whether Mr.. Randolph had paid his
steamboat fare-his refusal to do which
had become matter of public cOnver-
satiOn on board the steamboat for this
he swore he would not do, by reason,
as be alledged, of having been taken
to this city against his will, and that
therefore, they were bound to return
him free of expense; and to prevent
difficulty or detention one of the pas
sengers actually paid Mr.. Randolph's
passage to Newcastle. 1t is proper
for me to state here, that the stories
about the dog and the duel circulated
in this city after our departure, were
not exactly correct; although it Is true
that in the affair of the dog between
myself and steerage passenger, Mr..
Randolph very particularly and polite
ly requested of me permission to take
the animal, and l consented; and as it
regards the duel, Mr.. Randolp did dis
play his pistols on deck, but for what
object cannot say, unless for the pur-
pose of intimidation. On getting to
sea, MI. Randolph's querulous dispo
sitiOn manifested itself in such vari-
ETY. of ways as to defy description. 1t
| mainly consisted in contradiction,
severity of remark, profanity. vulgar
ity, and even Obscenisy; indeed, as re-
CARDS the latter, such was his language
that the two gentlemen passengers
who had their families with them,
actually desired me to have sepa-
=, rate table for the ladies in their own
cabin, and l was obliged to assure
| them t at if he did not mend his
manners he should have another apart
ment and table for his own private
use. Out of such conduct, which was
either alienation of mind or influence
of drink, grew the affair on deck, which
he has SO generously equested should
be taken and judged by itself without
any irrelevant matter. This irrelevant
matter is nothing more or less than
general abuse of every thing and every
body. 1t was his custom to go upon
deck late at night, and there interfere
with the discipline of the ship, by
diverting the attention of the officers,
helmsman, and watch, practice which
neither matter nor passengers, as far
as my experience goes. will approve;
nor, while am governed by my pres
ent views OF duty to my owneIs, my
passengers and myself, will permit.
On this occasion l politely requested
him not to do so, and was treated in
the vulgar manner he has publicly ac-
knowledged. The officer of the deck
afterwards told me he remained in the
precise position l left him for half an
hour, with large hunting knife in his
hand; and l was also told he said in
the ladies cabin that but for the pres.
ence of the officer and the helmsman
he would have ripped the captain up.
The general conduct of Mr.. Ran
dolph had become such, that l was
compelled, for the safety of all on board
to make such arrangements as would
prevent him from committing any
greater act of violence, should he at
tempt it; but l believe he got wind Of
what was in preparation, for he be
haved much better afterwards. I an
happy to reflect that l am very wei
known in his own State, and will trust
my character there and elsewhere with
perfect confidence. l have been 1:
years carrying passengers across the
Atlantic; and can truly say, that Mr.
John Randolph of Roanoke. Is thu
first passenger I ever had quarre
with on board my ship. | will merel.
add, that all the pas ,engers on thi
occasion. except Mr.. Randolph. ex
pressed their desire, on our arrival a
Liverpool, to sign a paper declaring