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GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS 547
was the sudden swooning of Maj. James Smith, of Clinton, on discov
ering that he had been robbed of his pocketbook, which contained
something like $5,000 in bills. The other was still more serious. The
shirt-sleeves of the man whose duty it was to load the cannon had
caught on fire; and, without being aware of the fact, he put his hand
into the large cartridge box for another round, when the fire was com
municated to the powder, and the whole lump, containing not less than
twenty to thirty pounds, instantly exploded, blowing the poor man
several feet into the air and severely wounding two others who were
standing near the cannon. There was a general rush of people to the
spot. Major Miller, who was present, says that he can never forget
the appearance of the poor man who was most injured. His body was
literally burnt to a black cinder; and his agony was inexpressibly
great. He died within a day or two, but the others, after much suffer
ing, recovered. This melancholy affair hastened the close of the
festivities.
From Milledgeville, La Fayette next proceeded to Macon, some
twenty-five miles distant, by stage. This was the last town which he
visited in Georgia. Two of the governor's aides, Henry G. Lamar and
Thaddeus G. Holt, both residents of Maeon, acted as an escort to the
city's guest of honor, who was accompanied by his two traveling com
panions, Colonel Lavoisier, his secretary, and George "Washington
La Fayette, his son. Says an old account: *
"On March 30, 1825, a signal gun announced his approach to Macon,
whereupon the ladies and gentlemen proceeded to form in line on
Bridge Street, near the ferry. He dismounted from his carriage and
was received by the committee appointed and by the commissioners of
the town. On ascending the bluff he was welcomed in behalf of the
citizens by James S. Frierson, Esq., to whom the General replied
* * *: A procession was then formed and he was conducted to
his quarters at the Macon Hotel, afterwards the old Wayside Inn, at
the foot of Mulberry Street. While the procession was moving a na
tional salute was fired. Soon after his arrival he was waited upon by
the ladies who were individually introduced to him, after which came
the citizens, to whom he gave a cordial grasp of the hand. He was
then waited upon at his quarters by the brethren of Macon Lodge,
Number 24, and addressed by Worshipful Master Ambrose Baber, of the
Lodge, to which the General replied. He remained about two hoursv
and a half, during which time, in company with a large number of
citizens he partook of an excellent dinner prepared by Mr. Stovall.
The following toast was given by Edward D. Tracy: 'Our illustrious
guest, the friend of our country, of liberty, and of men.' To which
the General responded: 'The town of Macon; may its prosperity con
tinue to be one of the strongest arguments in favor of republican insti
tutions.' Very soon after dinner he bade an affectionate adieu to the
ladies and gentlemen around him and resumed his carriage, whereupon
another salute was fired. He was accompanied by the committee, by
the commissioners of the town, and by a number of our citizens on
horseback, for several miles on his way, and stopped for the night at
the Creek Agency on the Flint River."
' Historical Record of Macon,'' John C. Butler, pp. 76-80.