Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1860-10-25

DueIs aud Deadly Fights
sOUTHERNER
Whatever the moraist may say, or popular opinion
may be- there is no class OF sensation reading more
generally perused than such detail scenes OF violence
and bloodshed The duelo has prevailed among all
races civilized and barbarian, from the remotest anti
ouity and is not likely to be eradicated while men are
urged by hot passion ideas OF punclous honor pre-
vail in professions and communities. read, recently,
in newspaper chronological sketch OF the numerous
dues which have been fought upon the renowned night
ing ground at Bladensburg and propc Sc TO thro" To-
gether brief account of several dues and arays that
have taken place in country at various tlmesgiV-
ing facts as heard them, without pretending to minute
accuracy.
have not the newspaper item alluded to before me
but believe there is error in the account OF the
duel between Mason and McCarty lin 1929, think,
and there are some facts omitted which will add.
Mason and McCarty were Observation-Disclosures
man of hot and rascibe temper-McCarty OF resolue
but better controlled disposition For oense Ma
son challenged McCary, who objected to deadly COM
bat with one closely related to him, and offered to
apologize. An apology was refused, and McCarty no
titled that he would be forced to fight, unless he procee
ded with the challenge McCarty then named his terms
that both parties should sit upon kag OF powder
and then fire it. This rejected by the seconds, IS
barbarous McCarty then proposed that both should
go upon the cupola of the Capital at Washington and
leap from it, hand in band-but this also pronoun
ced inadmssibe. He then named muskets loaded with
two balls EACH and eight paces saying he would kill
Mason-he did, being unframed himself. The newspa-
per account states that McCarys hair became white
soon after, which | suppose is mistake. knew him
ten years after the duel and his hair then brown
with signs of being gray and so long as to fall
upon his shoulders.
An incident in the subsequent life of McCarty, exhi
bits the determined character of the man. Somewhere
about twenty-five thirty years ago, and before the
presumption system had modified, the Jude and high
handed ways which prevailed in the disposal of the pub
| lie lands Col. McCarty with three or four friends,
went from Virginia to attend public land sale. On the
day before the sae the squaters in that region accord
ing the energetic system of that independent and very
useful class of feIow-czens, notified all strangers
present of what lands they would be allowed to bid up
and that any attempt to bid for any Others would be
summariy settled at the peril of the ntrudiug bidder,
and they not who tred often tailed in that
kind of patriotic and public duty.
At the moment the auctiOneer about to CON-
mence the sale, Col McCarty stepped forward and
requt sted moments delay. He then stated to the
crowdand there was no lack of 6erce bearded faces
or those pleasing arguments, rifles pistols aud knives
aroundthat he had been warned not to bid for certain
lands now about to be offered for sale that he recOg
niZed no authority but the law Of the land that be
should allow man to control his rights by threats
and then announcing himself and friends by name, and
from Virginia, be added that they intended to bid for
whatever lands that they t among those about to
be offered and any man attempting violence would dc
at his peril He then drew brace of pistols his
friends did the same and the bidding commenced. The
VrgnianS bid as they pleased for the forbidden lands
but no fight resulted.
An instance resembling, III its circumstances, the
duel between Mason and McCarty occurred near one
OF the Virginia court houses, and while the court il
session, some years ago, between Dr. Branch T. Archer
distinguished actor IN the early struggles of Texas,
of an eminent Nirginan family, and young relative
The young man, tor rather slight cause challenged
Dr. Archer, who endeavored to avoid duel, for the
same reason which made McCarty unwilling to figh
Mason. The young man, in this caSe peremptoriy anC
with threats demanded meeting which was finally con
Ct died. They fought IN grove at five paces the
OF the pistols lnterupng the proceedings Of the court
The young man shot dead at the first fire. Archer
afterwards fought knife duel in Texas, with Spanart
their left hands tied together-aud killed his anag
onst He one of Gen. Houston's most bitter ant
unsparlng foes, but never could bring Old San Jac
to to fight.
1t is stated of the celebrated Bowie thai he settled
amcabie controversy with Spaniard about the reativ
merits OF bis terribly famous knife and the Spanish long
knife, by knife duel-ther left arms tied together.
the word Bowie, by powerful jerk, turned the Span
lard around passed his knife into his body, and
1.-THE Spaniard sinking down, dead Bowl
then cody severed the cord and let the dead body al
with much Indifference as though it had been log
lhs OF course, was most satisfactory and convincin
proof that he had-the best of the controversy
Twenty years ago, and still later, tue pleasant tow
OF NickSburg used to have regular sensations ffor
fights between the editors of the Whg and the "Ser
e tlnel' Every week two they were upon the stree
with their guns, shooting at each other. The editor
: the Sentinel was an lrshman by BIRTH and fror
Philadelphia. His writings were virulent in the ez
IRENE, aud his -lsh for fight seasoned abov
that degree OF zeal which has so celebrated the yvac
D OF Donnybrook Fair" He was 6l,ally removed to
more serene existence In street fight with youn
0 gentleman named jackson, who went all the way iron
New Orleans for the purpose of shooting him. which
did. The tone of the Sentinel not abandoned il
lint olu boJ
fighting editor who chvarously encountered all conner
occasionally Wlplng out or manning an adversary
but three four OF them went under" in succession
y while engaged in this pleasing pastme.
q A duel which came off about 20 years ago betwee
Ghoson and Prentiss in Mississippi created consider
able sensation at the time, in the region where occur
q red The origin political difficulty, Gholso
being an ardent Democrat, and Prentss stout Whie
Ghoson was noted duellist had killed his man NOR
] than once, and was dead shot" Prentss had n
laures OF that kind but he known as man c
great nerve and resolution. The affair as is usual
that region, visited by large number of enligher
ed and highly interested critics. and this was case
superior excellence and attraction Among the bettin
fraternity, Ghoson had the call ;" but some bets wer
made that both men would fall and this showed tn
sounder Judgment, for at the first fire Ghoson leape
three feet from the ground with ball through his hear
and Prentiss, wheeling round, fell also but only from
. smart flesh would. A gentleman who had seen man
dues and witnessed this told that Prentss was tn
only man he ever go into duel without any sig
OF discomposure, and with entire calmness.
S WILSON, n. c., Oct. IS
0 MEssRS. EDITORS We had destructive fire
# Wilson to-day, destroying the Odd Fellows Hall,
large two story building situated in the suburbs of on
little village The house caught fire from defect in
stoveppe which passed through the roofofhe building
y The lower floor was occupied by Mr.. D. S. Richardson
school room of the Male Department of his schoo
estimated al +bo II