Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1838-03-28

thought that the acceptance OF suca
farms might avoid the duel altogether
inasmuch as the plain object OF such
propositions was either to make the
duel fatal or to deter Mr.. Graves from
accepting them and, if the latter was
the object. the party proposing was
mos, likely to fly from the terms him.
self.
consented to accept the terms re-
luctantly, and before did accept them,
I endeayored to ascertain whether they
could be complied with, by procuring
weapon within the appointed time.
| rode to four different places 10 IN
ouire where fit weapon could be got
and after a vain search for several
hours, | went to Mr.. Jones room, and
handed him my first note about 8
o'clock, p. NJ. In that note, | was
particular To name that there should
be but one ball, and to lessen the
chances of fatal shot by conhning
the parties to the downward horizon.
nal position" until the word :" fire,
thus shortening the time IN which they
could take aim and, not knowing
where TO get rife, or whether one
could be got, the main object OF the
note was to gain time. | wished to
gam time not only to procure hi RI
flo but to afford an opportunity, II
possible, to preventive meeting. In
deed | remarked to Mr.. Jones, verbal
", that knew OF no person to whom
could apply with certainty OF getting
tried weapon in the city OF Washing.
ton, and expected to be obliged to
send to Philadelphia for one. He
seemed to intimate that the time could
not DO postponed for that purpose
said there must be fit weapons here,
and asked if could not procure one
from the arsenal | replied that !
should not risk an untried rifle, and
told him that would be obliged If he
would inform me where iii rifle
conld be got. | fixed upon the hour
of III A. A., the next day as the la
test period when | would inform Mr..
Jones whether Mr.. Graves could be
ready. informed Mr.. Graves Of
what hal doae, aud retired to
rest.
About two O'Clock, at night, Mr..
Menefee came 10 my room; awoke |
me out of sleep, and informed me that
Mr.. Graves friends had procured for
him a rife, but he said 1t was in ex-
ceedingIy bad order. The owner of
it has since told me that it had not
been used for eighteen months, and it
was very rusty. directed Mr.. Men
eioe to have ii cleansed as early as
possible, and that il must be tried in
the morning before Graves life was
hazarded on it.
Early the next morning, ! went TO
the room of the Hon. Mr.. Halves,
where, according to appointment with
Mr.. Menefee the night previous, eX.
pected to meet Mr.. Graves. Not FIND. !
ing Mr.. Graves there, | returned to
Mss Queens my own boarding house,
to breakfast, and found on my table,
about o'clock, A. NJ, the note of
Mr.. Jones, informing me that he would !
be at DR.. Reilly's until Ii O'clock, A.
M, on the oath.
At 10 o'clock, A. NJ, | went to DR..
Rellly's, and wrote Mr.. Jones a note
that Mr.. Graves could not be ready
by IL NJ, and that | would inform
him by l2a M. when he could be rea-
dy. was still anxious to delay the
meeting, and DESTROYS to throw obsta-
Giles in the way Oft for that day. At
about l04 A. NJ. found Mr.. Graves
at the arsenal, where he went to have
the fife cleansed, and | saw him try 1t
several times at mark. He was ex-
tremely awkard, shot badly, and by
no means liked the rifle he had. |
feared very much the consequence of
going out with him under such "A total
want of preparation and skill, and was
still more than ever anxious for DELAY,
as were his other friends. But on my
return TO the room, about III A.. NJ.
] found two notes from Mr.. Jones, ri.
file, a powder. flask, with powder and
ball in IT, lying on my table.
The first note, dated l03 A. NJ. in
reply to mine of 10 A. NJ. stated that
Mr.. Jones had the pleasure to in.
form" me that he had an excellent
rifle, in good order; which was at the
service of Mr.. Graves" The second
note, which had not been delayed for
an answer to the first, dated half an
hour only after the first, rendered to
me, for the use of Mr.. Graves, the
rife referred to-" and there were the
rifle and the appen1ages. These notes
and that rife fastened the lneetint. |
dared delay no longer, without danger
OF a taunt, tor cowardice. Mr.. Graves
should have gone upon the ground of.
ter this, under every disadvantage
but he should not have used the rifle
sent him, because though can ex.
celent rifle in good ORDER" Mr.. Cilley