The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-04-13


Gen. William B. Hazen, whom he de-
tended.
Not much has been seen Of Judge
Mackey in South Carolina in recent
years. Reports brought back here
indicated that his career for time
was a checkered one, but little has
been heard of him in the last several
years.
Writing Of Judge Mackey's death,
Zach McGhee, the Washington cor
respondent Of the Columbia State
says, under date of April 8:
Judge Thomas J. Mackev oied last
night at Georgetown University hos
pital, Washington. He will he buried
tomorrow at the national cemetery at
Arlington as survivor Of the Mexi-
can war. One of the picturesque fig
ures of the Reconstruction days, al
ways stately, erect and of proud bear
ing, eloquent in speech, Chester
feldian in address, he was the same
to the very last. With his hoary
head lying back upon pillow, un-
able to raise itself, ghost-like pallor
in his hollow cheeks, the unmistakable
far-away death gaze in his blue eyes,
he spoke in his accustomed deep
chested tones. "When last your eyes
beheld me,'' he declaimed, when a
few days ago I went out to see him,
II was enrobed in the insignia and
the emblazonry Of a South Carolina
soldier, marching with that gallant
command, the Palmetto regiment,
towards the battlements Of Chapul-
tepec, and now | want you to tell
the people Of the grand old State of
South Carolina that if they would do
anything for the honor Of a man who
tried to serve them faithfully in the
Mexican war, as well as i'll lending
assistance towards ejecting from the
boarders Of that grand old common
wealth the alien vultures which prey
ed upon her vitals during Reconstruc-
ton, would like for them to engrave
upon the old iron palmetto tree on the
State house grounds, which com-
memorates the deeds Of the Palmetto
regiment, the name Of Thomas J. Mac
ky
The Judge died, from all appear
ances, in abject poverty. He got a
pension of $40 a month, which seemed
to be about all he had.
When about three weeks ago Rep
resentative Aiken, upon the request
Of Mr.. A. S. Salley, went to look for
him, he found him in a third rate
boarding house over on Capitol hill.
He was i'll then, very i'll. His wife
was with him, but she left few days
ago for New York, it is said, to see
one of the judges sons, who was re-
ported i'll.
Crandall Mackey, another son, lives
across the river in Virginia, but prac-
tees law in Washington. There has
been a long estrangement between
father and son, so that not until it
was reported to him that his father
was dying did the son know Of his
illness.
Two weeks ago Judge Mackey was
taken to the hospital, where an opera
ton for gallstones was performed.
The following Sunday Mr.. Aiken and
I saw him at the hospital and while
exceedingly weak they told US he was
getting along nicely, and had good
chances Of recovery. A few days ago
they told me he was much improved
and I had hopes of his recovery, but
it seems he became feebler and
feebler and last night he died. Judge
Mackey's mind dwelt upon the Re-
construction days. He expressed the
wish about his name on the Palmetto
monument, but he entertained the
fondest hopes Of recovery. His mind
would get dates mixed, as for in
stance when he coupled me with the
battle of Chapultepec, but he knew
what my calling was. II shall be out
in few days. Before I die there
are three books T must write. You re-
member how in 1874 I sounded the
death knell Of Radical rule in my
pronunciamento against Moses. We
will write it. Come to see me. We
will cohaborate. - And he enuneiated
the word "collaborate' with his ac-
customed oratorical roll as if he had
been before an audience Of thousands.
So died, as he had lived, Judge
Moo mo o1orno,oI