THE COURIER
THE LATE J. STERLING MORTON.
; l j
I ik in HeBraska
in the Cmlf BB
In a paper read before the state his
torical society last Tuesday night in
memory of the late Hon. J. Sterling Mor
ton, his life-long friend, ex-Governor
Robert WTTurnas of Brownville re
ferred incidentally to an episode in his
early residence in this state which was
known to but few of those who knew
him during the latter years of his career.
The recital also involves the memory of
another once distinguished Nebraska
pioneer. Gen. Robert R. Livingston of
Plattsmouth, who served for a time as
commander of the First Nebraska regi
ment in the civil war. Few people know
that the late lamented secretary of agri
culture was ever challenged to fight a
duel, and that he declined In a manner
characteristic of the man. Dr. Living
ston, who was the author of the chal
lenge, was, like Mr. Morton, a strenuous
democrat, and a man possessed of a
great many of the personal qualifications
that were so marked in Mr. Morton. He
was a man of striking personality and
enjoyed for many years great promi
nence among the people of Cass county,
so that he was known throughout the
state.
Governor Furnas has said of Mr. Mor
ton that he was a man who never forgot
a friend nor allowed an enemy to forget
him. Dr. Livingston was notably a man
of the same attributes. He came to
Plattsmouth in 1859, at the age of thirty
two years, and was a practicing physi
cian there until he died in the fall of
1888. He was exceedingly high-strung in
his temperament and, while normally one
of the kindest of men, was just such a
man as would easily take and vigorously
resent an offense. The quarrel between
this- unique figure in early Nebraska his
tory and the late Mr. Morton came about
through their connection with the press
of that day. Dr. Livingston -was con
nected with a newspaper in the metrop
olis of Cass county in 1866, at which time
Mr. Morton was the editor of the Ne
braska City News. The challenge was
an outgrowth of a too vigorous resort to
the use of rhetoric by both of them in a
discussion that arose between them.
Maddened by one of Morton's relentless
excoriations, Dr. Livingston retaliated in
a manner not in that day looked upon
with such disfavor as it has since ac
quired in this country.
Governor Furnas seems to have un
earthed from among Mr. Morton's
private papers some of the correspond
ence in reference to this episode in the
life of the latter. In dealing with it Mr.
Furnas avoided any reference that would
identify the challenging party with it.
giving the story simply from the view
point of Mr. Morton's side, and there
were probably few in his audience of old
Nebraska who realized to whom the
masked reference was directed, although
nearly every gray-haired listener had
known Dr. Livingston in life. Mr. Fur
nas dealt with his memories of the in
cident as follows:
Another incident characteristic of Mr.
Morton: In the earlier days of the ter
ritory, differences between men were fre
quently settled with knife or bullet. For
some reason, I cannot now call it to
mind, a grievance sprang up between
him and a then prominent citizen of the
territory, since dead. The other party
challenged Mr. Morton to fight a duel
and demanded pistols as weapons. His
reply was:
"Do you mean to challenge me to mor
tal combat? Is there positively a coffin
in your polite invitation, and if so, for
whom? An early reply will greatly
gratify."
The matter was then, by the challen
ger, referred to his "second" to whom
Mr. Morton replied: "Permit me to re
mind your principal that as the weather
is very warm (July), you impress upon
his mind that a recumbent position will
be more comfortable, and if he will not
assume that, compromise with him upon
a sedentary position. I am quite anxious
to hear, and do hope you -will inform me
upon this important question very speed-
iiy.
"Convey to your bellicose principal my
renewed assurance that he has never, in
any way, given me reason to demand
satisfaction of him, as I have never held
a judgment against him, not even a note
of hand. He will probably be pleased
to learn of my good health, and also to
know that I enjoy life very much, and
love it, too, even better than I do him.
His proposition to shoot lead bullets at
me is not; In accordance, either with law,
or my own ideas of social amenities, or
amusements. To kill or to be killed
would be no particular felicity with me,
especially in hot weather when corpses
spoil so readily. Not for a moment
doubting the bravery of your martial
principal, which is proverbial. I would
like to inquire whether he Is the author
of the following stanza:
" "The deities which I adore
Are social peace and njenty.
I'm better pleased to make one more
Than be the death of twenty.'
"The temperature at this place Is
ardent, to such a degree as to prevent
my addressing you at length. 'Kiss your
principal for his mother.' Enclosed is
a copy of Greeley's almanac, and Fred
Douglass' speeches, for his perusal and
consolation.
"With high regard for the law, and
especially that referred to, I remain
alive. (Signed)
"J. STERLING MORTON."
It was years after the culmination of
this affair before the belligerents were
reconciled. It came about while there
was a shooting match in progress at
Nebraska City. Mr. Morton chanced to
be at Nebraska City on that day. and
upon hearing that Dr. Livingston was
among the many ardent sportsmen and
marksmen presented, asked Governor
Furnas to hunt him up and bring him to
Arbor Lodge for dinner. As a friend of
both, Governor Furnas ncceptcd the mis
sion. When he approached General
Livingston and proposed the vlnlt to the
home of Morton, the former was taken
very much by surprise. He hesitated to
accept, not knowing how such a sign of
a relinquishment of the old grudge might
be looked upon by Mr. Morton.
"Now, look here, doctor." said Gover
nor Furnas, "I am authorized by Mr.
Morton to extend this Invitation to you.
and I know he would be gratified to have
you as his guest."
General Livingston accepted and ac
companied Mr. Furnas to Arbor Lodge,
where. It is needless to add, he would
have been received at least with court
esy had he come unreconciled. At the
dinner which' followed slight reference
was made to the trouble of the long ago.
Nothing further was said than was
absolutely necessary to establish an
amicable footing. The two were ever
afterwards friends and fought together
the battles of democracy.
General Livingston's newspaper con
nection began in 1861, when. In the
absence of the editor of the old IMatte
Valley Herald, he was placed In charge
of that publication. He was then about
thirty-four years old. While he was edit
ing this paper the war of the rebellion
broke, and a historian of twenty years
ago has recorded the fact that the same
day on which the news of the firing on
the Star of the West reached Platts
mouth, which, owing to the slow malls
of that period, was some time after
event occurred, he stopped his press,
then working off the weekly issue, to
announce the event and insert a call
upon the loyal men of Cass county to
meet at the old court house and organize
a company. That night he organized a
full company of Infantry, which Includ
ed also a number of men from the Iowa
side of the river, and his own name
headed the list of enrolled privates, but
he was Immediately and unanimously
elected captain. This occurred prior to
any call for troops, and he maintained
that company until the 11th day of June
following, when it was mustered in as
company A. First Nebraska volunteer
infantry... TohlniJtjTerefpreuJs due the
credit of having raised and organized
the first company In the territory for
the suppression of the rebellion. In 1862
he was made colonel of the regiment.
The regiment participated In many of
the most noted battles of the campaign
in the south. In 1863 he was made com
manding officer of the post at St. Louis
and subsequently commander of the dis
trict of St. Louis. He served with dis
tinction later In Arkansas and received
a vote of thanks from the legislature of
thnt state for his services. He returned
to Nebraska with his regiment in 1864
and led It as u cavalry regiment In a
campaign against the Sioux. In 1S63 he
was promoted to brevet brigadier gen
eral and was mustered out In the same
year. He was appointed surveyor gen
eral of Nebraska in 1S6S and held the
office for two years. From 1S69 until he
died in 188S he, was chief surgeon o? the
Burlington road In Nebraska, which
position Is now occupied by his son, Dr.
T. P. Livingston of Plattsmouth.
Mailwdf Semce
in JfBmeriea
In no Industry perhaps does the United
States enjoy a more remarkable ascend
ancy over the rest of the world than In
Its railway service. At the close of the
last century North America had no less
than 220,880 miles of track In operation,
while the total for Europe, Asia, Africa,
Australia and South America was only
a trllle greater about 270,000 miles. The
United States then had a mile of road for
every 383 Inhabitants, Europe one for
every 2,267, and British India one for
every 12,400. This country Invented the
parlor, sleeping nnd dining cars, the
pressed steel freight car. many of the
best features of the modern locomotive,
the air brake, the automatic coupler, and
a host of related devices, and It runs
the fastest long distance trains. It Is no
wonder, then, that the handsome and
Instructive "Transportation" edition of
"The Scientific American" should devote
a great deal of space to the railroads of
the United States.
One of the most mnrvellous develop
ments In the whole railroad system Is
that Avhlch has taken place at the head
of a train In the last seventy years. The
best locomotives to-day are about four
times as long as the De Witt Clinton
(1831). a foot or two higher, have drivers
that are 72 (or even SO) Inches In diam
eter Instead of only 54, and carry 200
pounds of steam Instead of only SO. But
these figures afford no Idea of the real
gain that has been effected In power.
Relative to the other features, the boiler
has grown abnormally, while the smoke
stack has actually diminished In size.
In the De Witt Clinton the smokeplpe
was as big as the boiler. One does not
realize what modern science has done
r
SAXONY'S VENERABLE KING.
- ."Na
i i mafces iMM
King George of Saxony is dying. According to court physicians his end
may be expected at any time. Worry and anger over the elopement cf Prin
cess Louise and her brother have done much to bring down the old monarch.
This is his latest photograph.
