Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1859-05-06
A DETEge MINED EpuEE.EsT.

The duel in which brother of the late
Philip Barton Key was killed by Lieutenant
Sherburne, twenty years ago, is described as
follows By an ex-mid,hpuan of the L. States
Navy
''it was fought iu the month Of June, 1886,
on vacant lot of land lying between the Cap
itol at Washington, and the Navy Yard. The
day was Intensely warm aud just as the fight
was ended, there rose one of the most frighfu
thunder storms | ever witnessed. This rem
dered the bloody affray the more remarkable
At about o'clock in the morning, was
called on by friend of Young, Key, who iu-
formed me that a duel was to be fought, ami
he eagerly solicited me to interfere, aud, If
possible, prevent IL. | replied that | would
interpose to the best of my ability, though |
certainly bad no especial interest in either
party. | inquired Of my inoIfmant il it were
not possible that he had been niSintormed T.
lie replied that there could be no mistake
about it for young Key had, the day before,
borrowed the dueling pistols of the Hon.
Henry Wise, and that everything had been
arranged. / at cnce called on Mr. Wise, aud
asked him if he had loaned his pistols to any
cue? lie replied that he had That ! young
s,~''AStiAou EAA SOitCtloi thtuu lOE Tue ptEHoSC
Of practicing, and that he had loaned them /;
ba1 was caGfdent that nothing Ike duel was
on hand, 'Eor, be added, Il am sure I would
not loan them to youth for any such purpose.
SILL, being urged by my friend, instantly re-
paired to tue locality who're it. was said the
duel was to be fought. On our arrival, we
tound young hey and bis antagonist, Sher-
burnc. on the ground. ! believe that shot
bad already been exchanged but of this
ain not certain Key aud Sherburne were
both midshipmen in the United States Navy,
and their cause OF quarrel as we'll as | can re-
member, original d while GoGh we're on the Gu
ban station, and had lrs orlgin in the ward,
room. IL had nothing to do with womep.-
Sherburne was native of New Hampshire, a
young man of merit, exceedingly modest, aud
opposed to dnellHg nom conscientious consid-
eiatlons. lie endeayored to effect reconcile
alton, bat Key was inexorabe. Sherburue,
am very sure, fred once in the air, refusing to
seek The life of his antagonist. This proGn-
ced no effect on Key; he insisted that the fight
should proceed. ~Sherburne then said to his
second, 'Is be will not accept any accomrno-
dation, will certaiLly XIII hiln.'' At the next
fire, Key fell nlortaliy wounded, ball having
Pisseu ehHfeiy through his lungs aud chest,
producing Infusion of the heart. Sherburue,
accompanied by bis friend and surgeon, Dr. Ii.
with The consest Of the friend of Key, aud bis
surgeon, approached the dying youth, asked bis
forgiveness, and rendered him his hand. He
was repuIsed wiih the spirit of demon, and
Indignantly hidden to be off "Away away ~
exclaimed Key, in the voice of death, ileaye
me. / came not here to whine and whmper.
| came here TO fight to be ayenged--to main
taidshy wounded honor. The chances bavc
been with you, and | declaring 10 you my
last and eternaf ersratioa and defancei' Ii
five minutes after he was corpse.