Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-09-16
THE ST. LOUIS DUEL.


and fatal duel, which took place in the immediate
neighborhootl Of that city on the Goth August:
ST.. LOUIS. Aug 2Sth, lsSl.-The fatal ter
mination OF the controversy between Major Bid
die, Paymaster Of the IS. Army, and Spencer
Pettis, Esq. our only Representative In Congress,
has produced very great excitement here. met
with the latter at Wheeling on his return from
Washington, and having exchanged with hlm
during the rest of the journey aIfthe ordinary and
some more than ordinary oivIlities Of fellow ira
vellers. | canuo. but partake of that excitement.
Mr.. Pettis had inst been reelected. do not
think him e,nnently qualified for that important
station, and had been entitled to vote, should
have given it against him. But see M reason
why man Of good private character should be
attacked with such malignant abuse, that he must
either die as the fool dieth, live IN iniamy and
rrnroach. Such has been the case with Petts.
An affair of this kind was as foreign to his nature,
as ecnteucss to a tiger, or cruelty to dove. lie
was first attacked by Mr.. Biddlc under the sig
nature of Missouri, in an article calculated as well
to inure him III his vatepractice as 10 render
him contemplate in the eyes OF hrs constituents.
To this Mr. Pet'is replied Il was sorry to see 1t?
m strain equally Offensive, and closing win
demand for the name of the author. ms was
refused unless Mr.. Pettis would bind himself be-
furehand, to demand the personal satisfaction us"-
al on such occasions. Several communications
followed in one of which Mr.. Pettis set forth that
he had been .sha,nefu!ly and wanton'y traduced;
that the author whoever he might be, was llar'
scouudrel, &c. &c. that he had failed, after re-
ueatetl demands on his part and promises onfhe
other, to obtain his name, except OH conditions
such as, conveying as they did an imputaton on
his character, he could no, accede to; anu adding
that he believed the author TO be Thomas Biddie;
and $50 make the charge;" thus perhaps en-
deavorinS to throw the responsibility OF challeng-
ing upon Major Bildle.
Biddle's reply to this, was an application OF
the cowskin, about daylight in the morning., as Mr..
Petts Law asleep on the promenade OF the third
s,ory Of ms Hotel, whittier the warmth oil the
NIGHT had driven aiu. He was Of course unatm-
ed, and nearly undressed. On beng awakened
in this rude manner, he fled to his room Tor wea-
pons That he was overmastered ty Biduie IS
certain-and no wonder-for he was about as well
qualified for such contest as my frienn--; oe
ing man of slender constitution, and at the ume
much reduced By sickness and the fat'sues wnich
all candidates must undergo, to obtain the suhra-
yes of a Western people.
Other inmates being awakened now intertered;
p MIR. Biidle was taken before Justice, and bound
over to keep the peace in the sum OF. think'
seO0o. and here the affair rested until after The
election had terminated. There was no longer
any fear that his death would break up the ar
engagements Of his party-the charge OF cow
ar,lice was coming III upon HIM on all sides'-
and To make escape from the fearful respon
sibility of shedding mans blood absolutely mn
rossib,e. notice was given him BY those whom
il concerned, that the bonds Of recognition with
which the magistrate had encOmpassed Mr.. Bid
die. should be no obstacle to meeting:
They met on Friday afternoon, the 10th INST.
at 1--WE O'Clock, on the Island opposite ST. Louis.
The time, the place, the order OF arrangement
The seconds, the Surgeons. all the details oi tins
honorable slaughter, were publicly taikeu OF
throughout the day. Hundreds, or rather, II -
believed. over two thousand people, were COL
lecte,; on he shore m hour before the time cast
;no their ewes across the Mississippi IN fearful
anxiety foe the result. They fought un.er cover
If some bushes, SO that the deed of death was not
seen. But the distance was so triflins, that the
suapping of the pistols. believe, was heard. and
the form Of Major Bddle was readily distinguish
ed before taking shelter IN the bushes. They
foupht-will il be credited? yes,-o"ing to an
impertectiou in Mr.. Biddle's vision, they fought
five feet asuuder. At this distance,-so near,
az YOU will perceive Il YOU try 1t, that extending
their arms in battle the pistols must have over
tanned each other, and extending them IN amity
thew could have given the right hand OF fellow.
ship without stirring from the spot. Five ieet
they stood, back to back, Are you ready! FIRE
---oue! -two!!-three!M. Each had tho liberty
20 FIRE as he pleased. AT one, two or three,-tak-
ing the longer time for cool and deliberate ai"'
If he chose to risk being shot down by his antaso
hist at one. At the word. Fire! they wheeled
at the word one! they ired--aud both Tell, IT IS
supposed, u,ortally wounded. In this position
Biddle called for second shot. His seconds
however, did not communicate the wlsh-bu'
both were soon removed to town.
called in the evening to see Mr.. Pettis. bu,
did not speak to him. He was in great pain and
aud family groaned at every breath. lie did no,
sneak, except when requiring assistance,-and
when Gov. Clark came in, he extended both ms
hands towards him without saying word. The
ball entered his right side near the hollow Of ms
~ mr. rather at the point where the elbow Ordi
narily rests, and passing through his body came
ont on the other side, little in front. assist