The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1830-07-28

HONORABLE MURDER. The editor of
Mobile Register has received a letter dat
ed Arkansas Territory, June %, detailing
the circumstances connected with a duel
equal in blood-thirsty ferocity to any that
everoccurred. The letter is from friend
OF one of the parties, DR.. D. II. Jeffries :
and the account is published, for the infor-
NATION OF his friends. The parties were
resident at or near lberville, Louisiana.
challenge passed from DR.. Smith to
sDr. Jeftrles, Ist inst. which was accepted /;
the interview was appointed for Thursday,
the 18th, and the distance was fixed at eight
PAGES. When the time arrived the parties
met, took their station, and exchanged shots
without injury. After this shot, it seems
inferable from the remarks of the writer,
that some efforts were made by their friends
to bring about an accommodation, but una
vailingly, as DR.. Jeffries declared that he
would not leave the ground, till he had lost
his own, or had taken the life of his antag-
onist. Their pistols were handed to them
second time, and at this fire the right arm
OF Dr. Smith, was broken which arrested
the night Tor few moments, till he recover
ed from the exhaustion. when he declared
MS ne was wounded he was ready to die,
ana demanded the seconds to proceed. The
pistols were then put into their hands for
third time, DR.. s. using his left hand. At
tins hre DIR. J. was wounded in the thigh,
and his loss of blood, caused an exhaustion
that again delayed the conflict for few
moments.
He recovered, and both desired to short
en- the distance and continue the fight.
They now stood up for the fourth time, COW
cred with blood, and at distance of six
feet. They v.re to fire between the words
one and five. and the shot proved fatal to
both parties; they fell to the earth. DR..
Smith was dead when he dropped, the ball
having penetrated his heart and DR., JEFF
fries was shot through the breast, wound
he survived but four hours. They fought
with perfect GOODNESS, and thus fell. adds
our correspondent, tlOo good and B, ave men.
When DIR. Jeffries saw that his antapo-
mist had fallen, he asked if he was dead, and
being assured so, he declared his own will
ingness to die. Before he expired he said
that he had been school mate with DR.. S..
had been acquainted with him fifteen years.
that they had been on terms of great init
macy and friendship, and he bore, also, hon.
orable testimony to his character as a man
OF science and gentleman. 1t is not stat
ed distinctly IN the letter, what originated
the cruel hostility which is exhibited in this
melancholy affair, but it appears to have
been deeply wounded feelings on the part
of Dr.. Our correspondent states that he
had made many personal friends, in the Sec
ton OF country where he had fixed his resi-
dence, and was universally respected and
beloved. He was engaged at the. time of
this affair, to be married to highly intelli-
gent and amiable young lady of Mississippi,
which circumstance, appears to have had a
connection with the duel the lady reached
the ground only in time to take her last
earthly farewell, of the object of her affec-
ton. Her frantic cries, mingled with the
grief of the friends, the letter paints as n
scene the most heart-rending description"
From the Boston Commercial Gazette.
SHARKS! A basking Shark, (called BY
some nlGn-eGte') is now on exhibition IN this
city 1t was taken on Wednesday evening
last, miles east of Scituate, by Capt. Blanch-
ard OF Lynn, son-in-law of Mr.. Joseph Bla-
ney, the gentleman who was seized and de-
voured by shark, while fishing in dory,
on Monday of last week. Capt. Blanchard
informs us that the shark which he has
brought to the city for exhibition is female
and when taken was in company with male
shark of the same species, which was also
hooked, but which, owing TO it's being much
heavier than the female, he was unable to
get on board his boat. The female shark
measures from nine to ten feet in length.
and weighs about ten hundred pounds the
male was about sixteen feet in length, and
probably weighed eighteen hundred pounds
The latter was killed by repeated blows
from handspike, and when cut adrift i'm
mediately sunk to the bottom, its flesh be-
ing both solid and heavy. The female ap-
peared to be most voracious and spiteful of
the two, and seized upon the bait like one
long accustomed to the fat things of the sea
and sand: her liver nearly filled barrel,
baskIng shark was brought to this CITY
three or four years since from the State of
Name, Which measured sixteen or eighteen
feet in length, the skin of which is now in
good state of preservation in Mr.. Green
woods museum. Capt Blanchard. who has
been engaged in the fishing business for fif-
teen years past, states that he has often
seen in our bay sharks of different species
from that taken, but he never before saw a
basking shark. But few DAYS since off
Brant Point, near Marshfeld, there were no
less than twenty of these sharks seen in diff
ferent directions. A boy, who was fishing
IN small boat, was attacked by one Of
them, and had his oar broken. They an
peared to be lively, and would occasionally
leap ten or twelve feet out of the water.
They have repeatedly of late seized the
lines OF fishermen, and since the death of
Mr.. Blaney their movements have produced
considerable alarm among the crews of our
fishing smacks.
PORTSMOUTH,, July 81.
SEA SERPENT. The Sea Serpent is said
to have been in our waters, as near to us as
the Isle of Shoals, during the present week.
Capt. Perkins, Of the schr. Alert, very re-
spectacle man, and his crew, state that he
came up toward their vessel, within twenty
feet, and then passed round her bow, SO
that they had fair view of his snakeship :;