The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-10-14

iWOnte0 SouuQ OF cdffidSc HucriS -
heard outside on the hard clay road
iThey ratified up TO the rude stile over
1.-THE fence, and then there was q loud.
lclear hail. FOL Stinscn sprang to his
fleet and leaned forward, listening IN
'tentiy; the hail was repeated and he
rushed from the cabin. White, rouse
by his employers excitement stepped
Ito the door. and saw on the road In
lfront a close two-horse carriage, wh.ie
The heard an eager. animated CONVERSE
ltlon going on in a language which he
could not understand. In a short time
lStinson returned to the cabin, hastily
sgot together a few personal effects.
which he packed in a small. black tray-
cling box, and, seating himself at q
table. wrote a few lines on a piece OF
paper. Then turning to the astonished
White. he said: II am going away.
never TO return This paper ~(handing
lit to him) is a formal deed OF gift OF
the cabin, land and stock; may o
prosper on it." Then giving his COM
lpanion a hearty grasp OF the hand, he
I~shouldered his box, and was gone.
That was the last even seen Of the
Istrange old wagner, nor was anything
lever heard of him afterwards, except
that some days later. a Fayetteville
merchant being in Philadelphia on bus
liness, met face to face in the lobby OF
IA large hotel a well dressed man, so
I~closely resembling Stinson that he ad-
dressed him by name, amazed as h.
Twas to see him in that place and that
lguise. The stranger, who was accom-
Ipanied by a foreign-looking man OF
labout his own age-stared into the
Fayetteville mans face, gave no sign
whatever of recognition, and passed out
Through the entrance On Chestnut
I~street
The only clue but a somewhat strik-
ling one, to the identity of this mystic
Irious individual was found in a small
box in his cabin which contained many
lpapers and documents relating to tie
French Revolution, together with a
lsmall hand-satchel Of polished leather
ION the inner side of the lapel of which
Twas the name in black letters, &c.
Romme Rue, Royale, Paris, July 179S."
Theirs, in his intensely interesting
history Of the French Revolution, gives
the following short biographical
sketch Of Gervais Romme: He was a
deputy to the convention from Gin
I~ceaux; he was first a Girondist, and
then joined the party of the Mountain:
he voted for the death of Louis XVI;
lin 1875 be boldly demanded the return
Iof the Reign Of Terror; he was con-
ldemned to death by a military council;
lat the men of the reading of his
sentence he stabbed himself, was sup
tpOSSu " DS utdu. anu was ll6TGIOIe
mot sent to the guillotine. 1t is genera
lly believed that he was restord by the
care of his friends, and made his es-
lcape to Russia"
How came the papers,, documents and
handbag OF &c. Romme, Of Paris" ir-
TO the possession of the wagner OF
North Carolina? Could it be possible
that this terrible figure of the bloody
~IsceneS of the French Revolution spen.
the days of his old age amid the jung
ling of the bells and the creaking OF
the wheels of the wagon caravans over
the red hills of this peaceful common
wealth?
1 have just read a delightful letetr to
Mrs. Bette NJ. Evans, an accomplish
led teacher of the Fayetteville graded
schools from the venerab BILE RobertBel-
den, aged SO years. and uncle of Mr..
Louis Belden. of Wilmington, and a
former citizen of Fayetteville, who Is
now living at Ellicott City, Md. Chit
Geographically his letter is a beautiful
specimen of p~enmanship, and it's sub
ject matter shows the bright, unclouG-
ed mind Of peaceful, happy old age.
Some time ago l contributed to The
Messenger an article on stage-coach
travel over the plankroads leading oui.
Iof Fayetteville, but Mr.. Belden gives
some "reminiscences far anterior to this.
In the twenties and thritieS four lines
of post n travelling coaches ran from
Fayetteville daily to Raleigh, Norfolk,
columbia and Charleston. besides tri-
lweekly hacks to Salisbury and New
Bern. while post-riders kept the toHn
in regular communication with the
hamlets and villages of the interi D..
Mrs. Cochran, the aunt of Mr.. Belden,
kept the principal tavern in the place.,
and her frequent guests, on their way
by coach to Washington city. where the
IGreat John c. Calhoun, George NJ.
Duffie. the eloquent member of the
lower house of congress-, Hayne who
mighty and ''god-like" Daniel Web
lster, and Forsyth, Jackson's secretary
land a distinguished diplomat.
Mr.. Belden recalls the opening to
the public Of the old bridge across the
lCape Fear, which was made the occa-
sion Of imposing ceremonies, the firing
lof cannon, the parade of military, and
Ian address by an eminent lawyer,
George 7. Hearsy, who, at it's conclu-
sion dashed a bottle of wine against
the stone pier, exclaiming:" 1 name
the Clarendon" This bridge was
burned by Joseph E.. Johnston, as he
|retreated before sherman in 1865, and
twas replaced after the war by the Pres
lent bridge, an immense covered dou-
lDie-ITdck structure, Uulil Dy a company
lof which the lateAlfred McKethan
twas president. Some years ago it was
bought by the county. and is now &
free bridge.
I was gratified to find my own local
history of the visit of Lafayette to mis-
lplace in 1925 so corroborated by the
personal recollections of Mr.. Belden.
lwho was an eyewitness of the ceremo-
lnies, a boy of fifteen years at the time.
IGen. Polk and his Salisbury light horse
formed his escort from the Virginia
iline. through North Carolina to Che
RAW, S. c., and the Fayetteville ligh.
horse met the illustrious Frenchman
la short distance beyond the Cape Fear
river bridge, and Joined in the escort
tof his carriage, which contained with
him Hutchins G. Burton, governor Of