Year: 1868

Frsm the Helena lArk.l Clarion of Thursday
We are called upon to-day to chronicle
one of the most tragical events which


has ever cast its shadow over this COM


munity. Our distinguished fellow-citizeD,


Gen. Thomas c. Hindman, has been
suddenly laid low by the hand OF en- as
sassin. His life was taken lsst Sunday


night st half past nine O'Clock, as he sat
quietly in his room surrounded by his
family, under circumstances of the most
horrible character. He was shot with an
army musket, through the east window
of the southeast room OF his dwelling
house, sitting by the fireside smoking.
His left hand, in which he held bis pipe,
was torn away, aud two balls passed
through his neck, ssvering the windpipe
and doing other injuries which produced
cOpious internal bleeding. The muzzle
of the musket, from the powder burn on
the window blind, was not exceeding
eight feet from where he was sitting, and
bat for the accidental position Of his hand
near his chin, which diverted the aim OF
the shot, it would have almost blown his
head from his shoulders.


The boldness OF the perpetrStor of this
bloody deed is amazing. 1t wes q clear,
msonlit night. A person could have
been seen and almost recognized hum
dred yards off. From whatever direc-
ton the two fiends may have approached,
they retrested after the commission OF
the crime, (as indicated by their tracks,,
toward the road or street in front of the
residence, where persons were apt to be
passing at all hours. The tracks show
two persons present, one of whom, from
appearances was a white man but no
clue has as yet been found, fixing suspi.
cion upon any particular individuals. II
is thought that political malice was the
cause snd that hired villain struck the
blow. He survived about eight hours,
during which he cOnversed calmly In re-
lation TO business matters; spoke with
touching beauty and affection OF his wife
and the four little children who have
been so inhumanly bereaved. He was
conscious of his fate, rational TO the end
which he met with sublime courage and
resignation.


Gen. HindmAn was the great leader OF
the Democracy of the State, and was
dealing such heavy blows against RGdi-
calism, as to mark him as its most formi-
dable opponent. But whatever the mo-
tives which. instigated this foul and das-
tsrdly deed, the state OF the public mind
and the violence done and threatened,
lead to the belief that he has fallen q
victim to tbs vindictive party antago-
nism which menaces the peace of the
country.


We shall not in this connection speak
of the life and character of the deceased,
Our grief is too deep to attempt the
eulOgium appropriate to the memory of
this great man. His death Is a public
No words can add to his fame.
or increase the public conviction Of the
loss the State has sustained.
We drape our columns with mourning,
and bow in silence and sorrow to the
dreadful stroke which has removed from
our midst one who was hero in peace
or war


[" A combination, and form, indeed,


Where every God did seem TO set his seal


To give the wo Id assurance ofa man."


At some other time when we feel more
adequate to the task, we shall endeavor
to psy such tribute to his memory as the
splendor Of his talents, and the nation
atty Of his reputs ton, evoke from every
heart.