The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1905-05-05
GEN. FORREST AND THE BULLY
Latter Came a Long Way From
Carrying Out His Threat.
(New Orleans Picayune.)

In the summer of 1868 the Tennessee
delegates to the National Democratic
Convention which nominated MI. Sey-
mour tor the presidency met at Nash
vile and proceeded in a BODY. Gen.
Forrest WAS "A delegate from Memphis
and 1t was the nrst time he mad gone
Moth since the wal.
Sectional feelings were intense at
that period, but mo one of the party
felt any concern foI the safety of even
Gen. Forrest.
The war had ended and there was no
occasion for alarm. Reaching Louis
vile. the Kentucky delegates joined
the Iennesseans, one of whom was
Gen. Basil Duke. Gen. Duke had not
before met Gen. Forrest, but after
making his acquaintance the two sat
opposite in the sleeper chatting pleas
anIly over the events OF the past.
While in Louisville Gen. Forrest
telegraphed the ticket agent at Cincin-
natl asking hlm to reserve section
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 oppor
tunity OF seeing the great cavalIyman.
AT one of the. stations there lived a
man who had been for some time d
terror to his nelgnb0 rs. he WIS known
TO have killed several men and every
Dody at his home gave MIN the right
OF way.
He was man of herculean build and
wore a scowllng expression. tie pre-
ferIed war to peace ana sought every
opportunity to DICK quarrel inns
desperate Fellow Eappened To near that
Forrest would pass ON the tram, and
he went tIom place to place telling
those he met that ne intended to take
the damned lebel flom the train anu
drag him through tine streets. Fully
2, 0UU people collected at the little depot
TO see MIN 90 II.
The big ruffian grew more furious as
tue crowd was Augmented, ana the
operator who gave out the news deemed
IT Wise to notify Gen. r'oIrest ana sug
gest that he remain where he was and
await the night train. Inc conductor
on south bound train was told to
state the facts TO tho conductor on the
train bearing the delegates. and say
that a gIeal mob hau assembled TO
witness the humiliation the bully pro-
posed to inhlct. and to urge Gen. ror-
rest to turn pack These facts were
communicated to Gen. Duke. who felt
much delicacy III relating the story TO
Forrest, but ueemed 1t nIs DUTY. and,
therefore, explained the situation to
him,
The tram was nearing the station,
and whatever was declued on must ne
done quickly. Inc conductor accom-
panied Gen. Duke ana urged Gen.
Forrest to get OFT; that he knew the
man to tie very desperate.
Gen. Duke simply stated what he
had been told. ana said: General
we Will stand ny you. Forrest
thanked nina. out SAID: Tine man
does not know me, therefore cannot
have any quarrel with me. 1t is all
talk, and.l am gong to Iemaln in this
car. -
The train slowed down tor the sta
ton ana the cIowd surrounded the
platform. No one could tell what the
next few minutes woulL bling forth.
AS soon as the train mad stopped the
big bully burst open the uoor and
smashed the glass In the upper part OF
1t as herald OF his approach
lie started down the aisle calling for |
tn6 udmneu reDel 10 stanu up. ven.
Forrest WAS eating an apple, and the
only person In the car without EVIL |
uences or excitement The bad man |
finally slzeu him up and made toward !
him, cursing and charging.
Gen. Forrest. quloH as a. flash. |
gIasped him 10y the throat, and in less
than two. seconds hau thrown MIN |
headlong from tine platform OF the car
10 the ground. The General made the
ali blue for an instant ana when the |
fully Iegained his feet ne was on u
dead run. Forrest quickly realized
the righteousness of tne affair and |
burst into laug d. go
cIowd, .nlcn had Assem- oled to .see
the damn rebel dragged through the