The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-02-19
ST.. LOUIS, February l, lSA9.
One of the Due[s,


IprOmlsed, IN my last, to give you details rela.
tive to the two expected duels to have taken place
yesterday. With regard to one, believe it Is yet
In allegiance. The other was to have come off
yesterday; but owing TO what we call in theIWest
taking water" on the part of one of the parties
our goodly citizens were not gratifed with hear
ang, this morning, of the effusion of blood. The
facts In reference to the latter case are about
these:-Last summer an effort was made in this
city, by some hall. dozen persons, to get up free
soil party A paper, advocating the free soil prln-
ciples, was commenced, and It maintained feeble
existence until the morning OF the election, when,
with the effort which had brought it into being, 1t
expired. Among the gette rs up of this party and
paper, was understood to be Mr. Francis P. Blair,
at the failure OF the (no deub very we'll intended
design to distract the democratic party here, and
after "resting SPELL" essayed the attempt in
another manner For several weeks past, nume-
rous articles have appeared in the Republicans,
leading whig paper OF this city, over the signature
OF" Radical" In which the design was very EVIL
dent, to create division the democratic ranks.
The rationale OF The argument was, that Hon.
Thomas II. Benton was a tree soer; that the
Legislature OF Missouri had offered an insult to
said Senator, by seriously considering string of
resolutions denouDcng the WilmO: provisO ergo,
that all democrats in st. Louis who did not de-
nounce the Legislature for such offence, were the
enemies OF Mr.. Benton. PrepOsterous as it may
seem, the writer continued TO urge this matter
through series OF numbers of the Republican, and
denounced by; name those he affected to think
should take prominent stand against the anti
WIlmot movement, but who yet held themselves
aloof from the question. Among DINERS who thus
tell within the ban Of his dlspleasure, was Mr.. L.
Pickering, senior editor OF the Sc Louis U.aom
The attack on this gentleman was, at FIRST guard
ed, but at length became exceedingly personal and
offensive, charging hun with being the tool of 9TH
ers, and striking at his credit, business point
OF view. On Monday last. Mr. Pickering called
on the editor OF the Republican, and demanded tn,
name OF the author. 1t Was given, as that of +. p.
Blair. Jr., whereupon, in the Un,on of Tuesday,
Mr.. F., over his own proper signature, pronounced
MIR. Il. liar, coward, scoundrel. puppy, and the
usual ct cete, as In such This led to for
NAL challenge from Mr.. Blair, to which Mr.. P; re-
Piled, In substance, that past events precuded its
acceptance, but that he was willing to give him
what satisfaction he might desire; and, to allow
him an opportunity, PROPOSED to be on the square
fronting the Planters House, at O'Clock last
evening. Mr.. Blair, through his friend, objected
to this, on the score that ''some one might get
hurt" and dwelt with considerable feeling on the
barbarous practice OF ''s,reet fighting" The
friend OF MIR. 2. then proposed to dispense with
firearms, and use bowie knives alone, from which
passers by could receive no injury; but Mr. B.'s
friend was understood to decline Mr. Pickering
then, acting on the right OF the challenged party,
to dictate time place aud weapons, offered his ul
timatum as above, excepting with regard to wea-
pons, leaving Mr. Blair free to use such as he de-
sired: To this, there was no definite reply, though
the challenged party warned his opponent that he
would be on the ground, and expected MIR. B. to
be there also. It was raining IN torrents howev-
'er, and Mr. Blair dld not appear, either through
apprehension of "hurtlng somebody" or getting
his pumps soiled. Mr.. Pickering waited an hour
for him, and then ''adjourned." So ended this
@'duel." How the other will terminate, is mat
ter of conjecture; but will duly advise you of the
important affair. ARGUS.