Murders

James Short was murdered by a man named Gardner, and his body thrown over the bluff where it was discovered weeks after by Crows, secured, and buried. The murderer was apprehended at Jacksonville, Illinois, three years after and hanged for the murder of one Miles, confessing on the scaffold that he had "crooked" Jimmy Short. The other murder was that of Jim Crow and caused the most intense excitement.

A Duel

About this time an exciting and fatal duel was fought by residents of Potosi, which is briefly referred to here because of its local significance. One evening in the month of February, 1845, Charles Latimer, an Englishman of brilliant but erratic character, was seated in Clark and Wood's saloon in a condition of enebriety, which found expression in a song the sentiment of which was that the "lion was the king of the beasts," whether haired or feathered. The saloon was filled with the usual number of customers at the time, many of whom were admirers of the "noble bird," who took immediate umbrage at the affront offered. Colonel White, a Kentuckian by birth, and a man of accomplished education and manners, demanded an apology which was refused, when the Colonel challenged Latimer, who accepted, the terms being rifles at a hundred yards, on the Mississippi opposite Weld's Landing, at six o'clock on the following morning.

The meeting was had as arranged, Latimer attended by Deacon Kaltenbach, and White by a Kentuckian named Glouster, but as the principals were placed, Sam Morris, an acting constable, James F'. Chapman, Justice of the Peace, and Major John R. Coons, accompanied by others, appeared upon the scene and negotiated a settlement without an exchange of shots.

The party returned to Potosi, where Latimer drank himself into a condition of mind where revenge became the predominant motive. The succeeding morning, he appeared on the street with two revolvers, one only of which was loaded,, and perceiving Glouster, the friend of Colonel White, opened fire. The weapon happened to be the one that was loaded only with powder, and Glouster demanded a "square deal," deal," alleging he was unarmed. "Go and arm yourself,then," . replied Latimer, "for, by God, one of us must die."

This the prospective victim did, and returned to discover his intended murdered whittling stick with his Bowie knife. Latimer rushed upon Glouster, who retreated until his further progress was stayed, when he warned the Englishman to halt, and failing, fired upon him when the latter fell dead in the arms of Samuel Wilson, his friend, who had during the morning made unsuccessful efforts to dissuade him from his purpose.

Glouster surrendered himself to the authorities, was tried and acquitted on the grounds that he acted in self-defense, and removed to Chicago where he subsequently died.

Cemeteries

There are three cemeteries in the vicinity of Potosi, two belonging to the Catholic Church and one known as the Protestant Cemetery. All are held sacred in the eyes of the world, all contain the loved emblems of mortality, who, if the teaching of inspiration are accepted as the true faith, wait for those that are left behind, on the shores of the beautiful river. They are appropriately laid out, handsomely ornamented with shrubberies and flowers, and evince a taste in their picturesqueness and surroundings at once happy and appropriate.