The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1852-06-30

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and no wonder he became attached to him.
lie delighted in blooded animals, and i'm
ported many from North Carolina and
Virginia. This naturally led to trials of
speed and bottom on The race course,
where large sums often changed hands,
lhls custom, so beneficial in improving the
breed of horses, but SO pcrnicious to the
morals OF men, led to one of the most pain
tul events of Jackson's life. He had "A IA
vorlte horse named Truxton, distinguished
for his speed and endurance. A match
was made between him and horse own
ed by IL Mr.. Erwin and his son-in-law,
Charles Dickinson, of two thousand dol
lars, with forfeiture of eight hundred dol
lars, In case of the Withdrawal of either
party. On the course, Mr.. Erwin and his
son-in-law Withdrew their horse, and offer
cd to pay the forfeit. The notes tender
ed, however, were not cash notes, and
jackson refused to receive them, CLAIMING
the right to select from the list in the
hands OF the stakeholder. This was gran-
ted, the payment received, and the affair
settled. Not long after, however, Dick
lnson was told that Jackson had accused
his tathcr-in-law of producing a false list,
This the latter denied, when the authors
name was given. 1t was then proposed
to call him in, but Dickinson would not
consent. jackson meeting the sIandcrcr
not long afterwards, gave him the lie, and
fist-tight followed.
Notwithstanding all this, either through
the reckleSsness Of Dickinson, who was a
loose character, trader in blacks and
horses, and professed ducllist or, through
the persuasion Of Jackson'S enemies, who
thought this an opportunity of getting rid
of man they feared and hated not to be
omitted, the quarrel WAS kept alive. Sc
we're and insulting letters were published
in the papers, and language which cxas.
Pcrated both parties to the highest DECREE.
AT length, Jackson was informed that a
letter charging him among other things
with cowardcc was in the hands of the
editor. He Immediately mounted his
morse and i'll n tempest Of passion rode to
Nashville, and demanded Il sight Of it
Finding his information correct, he sent
Dickinson fierce challenge, and demand
ed an immediate meeting. The latter,
however, deferred it for week, and spent
the intermediate time in practising at
| Jackson's figure chalkcd out on a board,
This was hardly necessary, for lie was 4
dead shot, and was certain to hit his an
tagonist if he fired. 1t was arranged that
they should stand back TO back. move off
certain distancc,whce and then approach
and fire rs soon or rs late as either party
chose. Dickinson had insisted on this
mode of fighting, so rs to get the first fire.
or call forth Jacksons before he had an
preached sufficiently near to make it dan
! gcrous. His own practice had been per
feet, and he knew he could strike his an
tagoniSt at distance the latter would
scarcely attempt to fire if he kept COOL
Jackson understood this manwuvrc, and
had made up his mind to be shot. lie
wore frock coat on the field, which he
threw back over his shoulders. At the
word given they walked away, wheeled.
and advanced towards each other. Soon
after Dickinson fired. jackson staggered
a moment as he felt the ball enter hin, but
the next moment he drew his coat around
him to staunch the blood, and walking
de!iberatel y up to his foe, shot him dead.
1t was n bloody deed, and though sane
toned by the custom Of the times, to which
so many OF our best men have fallen vie
TINS, 1T was crime for which no apology
should be offered. BY nature jackson
was man of terrible passions, and in this
instance they had been aroused into ten
fold fury, b! the injustice that refused the
reconciliation he sought, and by the con-
victlon that sense Of injury did not lay
at the bottom Of the quarrel, but the de
libcrate desire and determination to take
his life. The friends of Dickinson were
resolved to provoke him so that he must
challenge his adversary or leave the coun-
try, and thus give to the latter the choice
of time and mode of meeting. The plan
was well laid and succeeded perfectly in
every respect, except that the ball did not
happen to reach vital spot. 1t entered
the breast shattered two of his ribs, then
lodged in his side, where it remained for
years. lie, however, mounted his horse
and rode twenty miles before his second
discovered that he had been shot, and then
oIiy ny SScInp thc DIOOu OOLc rom ms
garments. He must have been in an ex-
traordinary state of mind, to have borne
all this in silence so long. Were his
thoughts busy with the man he had slain
Had he left his fierce hate on the field
where his enemy lay weltering in his gore,
and was remOrsc now gnawing at his
heart, and conscience whispering in his
ear "Y0u will meet that foe again beyond
the tomb" ....
There were rumors of unfairness in the
fight, DC. but these died away, and men
spoke in astonishmcnt Of the stcadiness of
nerve which so severe and painful wound
could not even for a moment shake.
Jackson, after some weeks, resumed his
agricultural pursuits, and not long after
entered as silent partner in mercantile
| house in Nashville. PUTTING, nntirn conf