The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1859-04-13
"reminiscences of the Key Family.
Duel, etc.

The Washington correspondent of the
Chicago Tribune gives the following in
teresting "reminiscences of the Key family,
and of the earlier life of Philip Barton
Key, who, it appears, persuaded Miss
Swami, of Baltimore, to break her engage
ment with Col. May:
The Keys are family unfortunate in
their personal differences: have refer
red to the case Of an elder brother of Mr..
Key, who was killed in a duel about
twenty years ago. 1t has been erroneous
ly stated, in Washington print, the quar-
rel was about woman. It was boyish
caprice, and yet the cause and course of
it were characteristic on both sides.-
Sherburne and Key were young midship-
men together. They sailed in the same
ship on one of the long ard fruitless crui-
Ises prescribed for the exercise of our
navy. Mr.. Sherburne was from New
Hampshire, quiet and unobtrusive. Mr..
Key was Marylander. connected with
the most aristocratic families of that State
and Virginia. He took dislike to NJ.
Sherburne, and pursued him with cease
less insults on board the ship. A party
of young midShipmen attended an evening
party given by Congressional mess, at q
fashionable boarding house here in Wash
ington. The middies took wine together,
but Mr.. Key was observed to leave his
wine untasted. He was called on for
an explanation, and gave it bluntly by
saying that Sherburne was coward for
not resenting the indignities he had be-
fore inflicted on him, and he could not
drink with him. The poor young man
was at last aroused. He looked steadily
at Mr.. Key, also setting his glass down,
and said: Il understand you; yoa have
made mistake, You ought to have know n
me better; will correct your mistake +"
He then bowed to his companions excep-
ting Key, drank to them, and retired. -
The next morning Sherburne sent mes
sage, which produced meeting at Bla-
densburg. Key was shot through the
kidneys, and fingered two days in intoler.
erable anguish.
/ Keys marriage was also attended and
preceded by evidences of the same strong
and erratic temperament. Col. Charles
May, of Palo Alto celebrity, had courted
the beautiful Miss Swami, of Baltimore,
and been accepted by her. He introduced
her to Key as his intended bride. The
two fell IN love at first sight, and the gal
liant captain was left to mourn the incon-
sitancy of the female heart. He, Of
course, challenged Key. The affair pro-
duced an awful tumult in Washington.
Key and May were pursued by the police,
They barricaded themselves in separate
apartments. and de6ed the civil power;
but of course the deed was prevented
The captain went to the wars, where he
achieved fame on the field, and Key, hav-
ing married the beauty. was appointed,
through family influence, to the Office he
held at his death. This LADY, one of the
loveliest ever saw, died two or three
years ago, and it is thought by some that
Key, from tie oddity of his dress, and
the sirgularity of his behavior afterwards
became partially deranged by the be.
reavement. But this was an unfounded
conjecture. His friends had known him
always to possess an unbalanced ard ex.
trayagant mind, in which violent anger
aud passionate tenderness alternated.