Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 182?-183?, 1831-09-23
THE LATE FATAL DUEL.

ter containing some lurther particulars
of the fatal duel in Missouri. As the
statement comes from political enemy
oil one of the parties, and is published in a
paper of similar character It is presumed
the facts stated are correct. The reason
for this remark is that in several highly
respectable papers there seems to be a
disposition evinced TO throw the whole
blame of the origin of the unfortunate
circumstance upon Mr.. Pettis, whereas
the facts as published warrant the con-
clusion that the charge in this particular,
Is Observation-Disclosures GeeeHe.
ST. LOUIS, Aug. 2Sth, 1881.
The fatal termination OF the contro-
versy between Maj. Biddle. Paymaster
an the u. S. Army, and Spencer Pettis
Esq. our only Representative in Con-
gress, has produced very great excite
ment here. l met with the latter at
Wheeling on his return from Washing
ton,-and having exchanged with him
during the rest OF his journey all the Or
binary and some more than ordinary
civilitieS of fellow travellers, | canpet
but partake of that excitement MIR.
Pettls had just been reelected. do
not think him emincntly qualified for
that important station, and had | been
entitled to vote, should have given il
against him. But see no reason whv
a man ofgood private character should
be attacked with such malignant abuse
that he must either die as the fool dietb
or live IN lnfamy and eproach.-Sucb
has been the case with Pettis. An af.
far OF this kind was as foreign TO his
nature, as gentlenesS to tiger, or cruel.
~ TO dove. He was first attacked Inv
Mr.. Biddle under the signature of Mis-.
souri,, in an article calculated as well TO
injure him at his private practice, as to
render him contemplate in the ewes of
his constituents. To this Mr.. Pettis re-
Piled Il was sorry to see iD in a strain
equally offensive, and closing with de.
mand for the name of the author. This
was refused unless Mr.. Pettis world
bind himself beforehand, to demand the
personal satisfaction usual on such occa-
slons. Several communications follow
ed, in one ofwhich MIR. Pettis SET forth
that he had been shamefully and wan
fonll traduced that the author, whoey-
er he might be, was liar, and scoundreI !
&C. &C. that lie had failed, after re-
peated demands on his part and pro-
misses on the other, to obtain his name
except on conditions, such as, CONVEYING
as they did an imputation on his charac-
ter, he could not accede TO, and addipc
that he believed the author to be ms
Biddle and $50 | make the charge. -
--Il->4-----aerhaps endeayoring to throw tbe,I
of challenging upon MAJ. (
Biddle.
Biddlc's reply to this, was, an appli-
cation of the cowskin, about daylight in
She morning, as Mr.. Pettis lay asleep on
the promenade Of the third story of this
Hotel, whittier the warmth of the night
had driven him. He was of course I'M
armed, and nearly undresSed. On being
awakened in this rude manner, he fled
to his room for weapons. That he was
oyer-mastered by Biddle, is certain; and
no wonder: for he was about as well
qualified for such contest us my friend
being man of slender constitution,
and at the time much reduced by sick
ness and the tatigucs which all candi-
dates must undergo, to obtain the sullra
ges of Western people.
Other inmates being awakened now
interlercd Mr.. Biddle was taken before
n Justice, and bound over to keep the
peace in the sum of, think $1,000, and !
the affair rested until after the election |
had terminated. There was no longer a |
fear that his death would break up the |
arrangements of his party-the charge
ofcowardice was coming in upon him !
on all sides, land to make escape from
the fearful responsibility of shedding
mans blood absolutely impossible, no.
tice was given him by those whom it !
concerned, that the bonds ofrecognition
with which the magistrate had cncom-
passed Mr.. Biddle, should be no OBJ
stacIe to a meeting
They met or Friday afternoon the
Goth inst. at o'clock, on the Island
opposite St. Louis.-The time, the place,
the order of the arrangement, the Sc /
conds, the Surgeons, all the details of
this honorable slaughter, were quickly |
known and publicly talked of through |
out the day. Hundreds, or rather, it is
believed, over 200O people, were collec-
ted on the shore an hour before the time,
casting their eyes across the Mississippi
in fearful anxiety for the result, They
fought under cover of some bushes, SO
that the deed of death was not seen.-
But the distance was so trihing, tlret the
swapping of the pistols, ] believe, was
heard, and the form O! Major Biddle was
4.p1dilv dicfinuuichp bef,re foLiur rlet-