Volume III Part 67 (1/2)
MISSISSIPPI.
Mississippi became one of the United States in 1817. Its present white population is about one hundred and sixty thousand.
The following extracts will serve to show that those who combine together to beat, rob, and manacle innocent men, women and children, will stick at nothing when their pa.s.sions are up.
The following murderous affray at Canton, Mississippi, is from the ”Alabama Beacon,” Sept, 13, 1838.
”A terrible tragedy recently occurred at Canton, Miss., growing out of the late duel between Messrs. d.i.c.kins and Drane of that place. A Kentuckian happening to be in Canton, spoke of the duel, and charged Mr. Mitch.e.l.l Calhoun, the second of Drane, with cowardice and unfairness. Mr. Calhoun called on the Kentuckian for an explanation, and the offensive charge was repeated. _A challenge and fight with Bowie knives, toe to toe_, were the consequences. Both parties were dreadfully and dangerously wounded, though neither was dead at the last advices. Mr. Calhoun is a brother to the Hon. John Calhoun, member of Congress.”
Here follows the account of the duel referred to above, between Messrs. d.i.c.kins and Drane.
”Intelligence has been received in this town of a fatal duel that took place in Canton, Miss., on the 28th ult., between Rufus K. d.i.c.kins, and a Mr. Westley Drane. They fought with double barrelled guns, loaded with buckshot--both were mortally wounded.”
The ”Louisville Journal” publishes the following, Nov. 23.
”On the 7th instant, a fatal affray took place at Gallatin, Mississippi. The princ.i.p.al parties concerned were, Messrs. John W.
Scott, James G. Scott, and Edmund B. Hatch. The latter was shot down and then stabbed twice through the body, by J.G. Scott.”
The ”Alabama Beacon” of Sept. 13, 1838, says:
”An attempt was made in Vicksburg lately, by a gang of Lynchers, to inflict summary punishment on three men of the name of Fleckenstein.
The a.s.sault was made upon the house, about 11 o'clock at night.
Meeting with some resistance from the three Fleckensteins, a leader of the gang, by the name of Helt, discharged his pistol, and wounded one of the brothers severely in the neck and jaws. A volley of four or five shots was almost instantly returned, when Helt fell dead, a piece of the top of the skull being torn off, and almost the whole of his brains dashed out. His comrades seeing him fall, suddenly took to their heels. There were, it is supposed, some _ten or fifteen_ concerned in the transaction.”
The ”Manchester (Miss.) Gazette,” August 11, 1838, says:
”It appears that Mr. Asa Hazeltine, who kept a public or boarding house in Jackson, during the past winter, and Mr. Benjamin Tanner, came here about five or six weeks since, with the intention of opening a public house. Foiled in the design, in the settlement of their affairs some difficulty arose as to a question of veracity between the parties. Mr. Tanner, deeply excited, procured a pistol and loaded it with the charge of death, sought and found the object of his hatred in the afternoon, in the yard of Messrs. Kezer & Maynard, and in the presence of several persons, after repeated and ineffectual attempts on the part of Capt. Jackson to baffle his fell spirit, shot the unfortunate victim, of which wound Mr. Hazeltine died in a short time.
”We understand that Mr. Hazeltine was a native of Boston.”
The ”Columbia (S.C.) Telescope,” Sept. 16, 1837, gives the details below:
”By a letter from Mississippi, we have an account of a rencontre which took place in Rodney, on the 27th July, between Messrs. Thos. J.
Johnston and G.H. Wilc.o.x, both formerly of this city. In consequence of certain publications made by these gentlemen against each other, Johnston challenged Wilc.o.x. The latter declining to accept the challenge, Johnston informed his friends at Rodney, that he would be there at the term of the court then not distant, when he would make an attack upon him. He repaired thither on the 26th, and on the next morning the following communication was read aloud in the presence of Wilc.o.x and a large crowd:
”Rodney, July 27, 1837.
”Mr. Johnston informs Mr. Wilc.o.x, that at or about 1 o'clock of this day, he will be on the common, opposite the Presbyterian Church of this town, waiting and expecting Mr. Wilc.o.x to meet him there.
”I pledge my honor that Mr. Johnston will not fire at Mr. Wilc.o.x, until he arrives at a distance of one hundred yards from him, and I desire Mr. Wilc.o.x or any of his friends, to see that distance accurately measured.
”Mr. Johnston will wait there thirty minutes.
”J. M. DUFFIELD.