Litchfield enquirer., 1849-11-01
nj lSGTL i A M Y.
From the N. Y. Sunday Times.
ROBERT CRITTENDEN;
AND THE FIRST GREAT DUEL
IN ARKANSAS.

Arkansas has been the land Of bloody
dueIs. In other countries, such rencoun.
tiers, however frequent, are seldom fa-
tai. But in Arkansas, until very re-
cent period, both their number and NOR
tality have been alike astonishing
Scarcely a single combat of the kind
had occurred unattended with immediate
death to one Of the antagonists. and Of
ten to both.
This singular fact seems to have been
chiefly owing to the cotemporaneous &C
ton Of two causes. First, the belliger-
ent character Of the people, so intense
ly destructive; and secondly the pecu
liar nature of their quarrels, resulting
mostly from feeling Of faction and polit-
ical partnership. In such cases, when
ever difficulty as to point Of etiquette
or order in the arrangements, an appeal
is usually made to rhe "grand duel be-
twixt Crittenden and Conway" the his
tory of which we will now proceed to
detail.
In 1880, Crittenden and Conway be-
gan to canvass the territory as opponents
for the Office Of delegate to congress, the
former being a W. :, and the latter dem
ocrat. The field was altogether new
parties had not yet been organized, and
all vas agltated, stormy and doubtful
The magni6cence Of the prize for which
they struggled stimulated the rivals to
the highest degree, until the strife became
maddening. 1t was generally believed
that whatever party acquired the ascen-
dancy now, would be enabled to keep il
long while. Under such circumstances
the excitement of the people and their
leaders may be imagined.
For a time the opposing candidates
pursued different circuits, one sweeping
the stumps of the north, and the other
those of the south. They were proba-
bly, induced to this course from the same
motive-the desire tc avoid personal
collisien-for both seemed to have dread
ed such a termination. The sovereign
voters, however, were dissatisfied with
this distant cannonade. They loudly de-
manded that the champions should be
brought to close quarters, to afford an
opportunity of deciding their respective
merits with the senses and by imnedi-
ate contrast. Accordingly. the primary
pitched battle was appointed to come
off at Little Rock, in midsummer.
On the day designated. an immense
concourse assembled to witness the trial
of strength. Intense was the ferment of
! passionate feeling. Many spectors were
known to have travelled four hundred
miles to be present. Those who were
too poor to stay at the hotels, 'camped
cut in the woods around the town. Ear
, " in the morning it was discovered that
no house could be procured large enough
to hold a 1.-THE Of the peop,e already ar
rived, and the place of meeting was chan
ged from the City Hall to beautiful
grove of pines in the vicinity, which, at
an early hour, was densely crowded by
the eager masses.
Both parties had held caucuses the
previous night, and as their proceedings
were very similar in their mode Of con-
Iucting business, il will be sufficient to
give 40 account Of one only.
The democratic caucus was called at
the dwelling of Col. Wharton Rector,
and the main subject Of discussion rela.
led 10 the method which Conway should
adopt 10 the debate of the ensuing day.
and more especially rs TO bis treatment
of his antagonist. Col. Chester Ashley
made powerful speech. urging gentle
manly and pacific measures as 70 the Sa-
Test and sarsst because the most likely