The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1839-10-24
From the Aleraudria Gazette.
The "North-Carolina Duel"

time since, | send the following statement
Of facts in relation to the reported duel be-
tween Messrs. Joseph Seawell Jones, OF
Shocco, North Carolina, and IL. Wright
Wilson, of New York, in which it has been
reported, and is still generally believed,
that the latter gentleman was mortally
wounded.
About 10 O'Clock VI. on the day of the
reported duel, whilst travelling from Eliz
abeth City 10 Norfolk, stopped at the
Dismal Swamp Hotel, on the boundary
line between Virginia and North Carroll
ma, for the purpose Of resting my horse
and taking some refreshments. had not
been seated many minutes, when obsery-
ed Mr.. Jones, of Shocco, y, c., enter I'M
der much apparent perturbation, and evi-
IDENTIFY after a hard and long chase. After
some few Introductory prellmlnaries, Mr..
Jones asked me out, and Immediately IN
! formed me that he had Just fought duel,
about eight m.les ahead, with a gentleman
| from New lorh--that he had killed his
opponent al the first fre--was pursued to
the boundary line by the officers who had
received intelligence of the fight, and that
the unsettled state OF his affairs compelled
him to return to Norfolk, to aid him IN
reaching which place, undiscovered by the
police, he solicited my friendly assistance.
The reasons urged in behalf OF this request
were of such nature as to decide me, at
once, in rendering him any aid in my pow
er that might be likely to facilitate his WIS.,
ii to, and escape from, Norfolk, and | ac-
cordincIy agreed to his plan, that should
take ms clothes and name, and accompany
| him to Norfolk; and, in case Of arrest or
danger, pass myself off as Mr.. Jones, I'M
til he was beyond the limits of Virginia.
Mr.. Jones then placed in my hands copies
Of the letters which, he SAID, had passed
between the parties-all of which ! care
fully and attentiyey persued-wbich CO.
pies are now, if | mistake not, in the pos
session Of the Norfolk Bacon, under the
frank Of member Of Congress from North
Carolina. These letters were all indicted
in the usual form Of a challenge and ac-
/, ceptance; and, together with disclosing
the fact that Mr, Jones had pulled the nose
Of his antagonist AZ paolic meeting IN Pc.
tersburg, contained, as concerned in the
duel, the names Of several gentlemen dis
tinguished for their valorous and literary
achievements. Atho' | required no fur
Their evidence Of the unfortunate and fata
duel than that above referred to, through
fear, perhaps, that might be little
skeptlcal III the matter, Mr.. Jones conduct
ed me first to the duclllng ground, which
, | found " fairly and honorabIy measured,
I and stained in several places with blood
and then directed Inc to proceed to house
some short distance from the spot, and asl
for a handkerchief, which a woman, whc
had been brought to the field by the re
: port Of the pistol, had picked up, and which
he feared, might be used as evidence
against him. This | did and, after hav
/ ng received from woman such a hand
kerchief as Mr.. Jones had described, sui
and red with blood, was further informed
] by her that she saw the gentlemen galloI
: away from the field after the shots wert
= fired, that they carried off dead body il
sack, and that the whole nGighborhooC
was in a state Of the greatest excitement
4 OF course there could now exist no doubt il
any reasonable mind As to the fact Of iata
, duel having been fought; and it only re
NAMED for me to assist Mr. Jones in carry
Z ing out the plan devised for bis visit to Nor
; folk. Thlther we arrived in safety, and
, as was to be expected, found the Who'll,
borough on the tip-toe Of excitement an,
inquiry about the fatal duel. Mr.. Jonei
managed to escape public notoricty unit
about II O'Clock at night, when, pursued
from Norfolk to Portsmouth by a whole
! troop Of officers, who, he informed me
mad just returned from the duel ground
, a distance Of about twenty five mies-h'
called at my lodgings in Portsmouth and
, having spent a few minutes with me, Sc
. off for North Carolina on swift horse
. which my solicitude and apprehension o
a pursuit had already provided for his de
/ parture. started next morning in tn
y. Carolina stage; and, being dressed il
Mr.. Jones clothes, felt no slight apprehen
sions for my own safety, when, about eigh
miles from town, met some nine OF TEL
, constablcs, wih green bags, and a gray
, looking coroner, returning after thel
fruitlcss search for the dead body Of tn
, unfortunate Wilson. They passed me by
! however, and |, Of course, congratulate
myself on my happy escape.
/, Mr.. Jones and | met some weeks afte
!. he on his way to Texas, and to tn
) spot Of painful remembrance" where III
I duel took place, to remove some misgly
. ngs which, in the face Of all the evidence
r 10 the contrary, we're daily arising in IN,
mind with regard to the mysterious affair
reached the spot, and there found a 50
) litary mourner lamentlng the fate Of Al
J unfortunate pig found short time befor
near the dlciling ground, whose manglec
/. throat fully indicated whence the bloc,
. h5wod, by which the ground aud handker
chlei were - abundantly stained. WheI