The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1860-08-24
The Bladensburg Duelins Ground.

The Philadelphia Ledger gives some REM
iniscences of this spot, which are at once in
teresting and sad. Here, upon the dueling
ground, in beautiful little grass plot, sur
rounded ty trees, forms made after the i'm
age of God come to insult Nature and defy
Heaven.
In 1914 Edward Hopkins was killed here
in duel. This seems to be the first fashion,
able murder of which this place was the the
alter.
In 1919, A. I. Mason, a United States
Senator from Virginia. fought with his sis
ter's husband, John McCarty, here. McCar-
ty was averse to fighting and thought there
was no necessity for it; but Mason would
fight. McCarty named muskets loaded with
grape shot, and so near together that they
would hit heads if they fell on their faces
This was changed by the seconds to loading
with bullets, and taking twelve feet as the
distance. Mason was killed instantly. and
McCarty who had his collar bone broken,
still lives with Mason's sister in Georgetown.
His hair turned white so soon after the fight
rs TO cauS1 much comment. He has since
been solicited 10 att as second In a duel, but
refused, IN accordance with pledge he
lla,!e TO his wife soon after killing her bro
thcr.
In 1870. Commodore Decatur was killed
IN a duei here by Commodore Barron. At
the first fire both fell forward with their
ty.,> within ten feet of each other, and as
each supposed himself mortally wounded,
each fully and freely torsave the other, still
ili!.g upon. the ground.
Decatur cAp.e'i Immediately, bat Barron
eventual, recovered.
! IL l>2l. two strangers named Lega and
Sega. appeared here. fought and Sega was in
st.!,ly Killed. The ncignbcrs only learned
tbs much ot tilcr names from the marks on
their gloves left on TIE ground. Lega was
mol hurt.
IL ls22. Mid>hirman Locke was killed
here hy a Clerk iii the Treasury Depart
uent. named Gibson. The latter was not
hurt.
Il lS26, Henry Clay fought (his second
dueD with John Randolph just across the
/ Potomac. as Randolph preferred to die. if at
all, on Virginia soil. He received CIay's shot
and then fired into the air. This was in ac-
corJance with declaration made to MIR.
Benton, who spoke TO Randolph of call the
evening before on Mrs. Clay, and alluded to
the quiet sleep of her child, and the re-
pose of the mother. Randolph quickly re-
piled
81 shall do nothing to disturb the sleep of
the child, or the repose of the mother"
General Jessup, whose funeral l attended
last week. was Clay's second.
When Nlr. Randolph fired he remarked
IL choD N~ (f,,-
tending his hand advanced toward Mr.. Clay,
who rushed to meet him. Randolph showed
Clay where his ball struck his coat, and
said facetiously, "Mr. Clay, you owe me
/ coat"
Clay replied
thank God the debt is no greater" They
were friends ever after.
/ In 1882, Martin was killed by Carr Their
/ first names are not remembered. They were
from the South.
In 1888, Mr.. Key, son of Frank Kew and
brother of Barton Key of Sickles notoriety,
met MIR. Sherborn and exchanged a shot,
when Sherborn said:
Mr.. Key, l have no desire to kill you."
NO matter" said Key, Il came to kill
YOU"
"Very well then," said Sherborn, Il will
kill you.'' And he did.
In 1898, W. J. Graves of Kentucky, assu-
ming the quarrel of James Watson Webb
with Jonathan Cilley of Maine, selected this
place for Cilley's murder; but the parties
learning that Webb with two friends, Jack
son and Merrill, were armed and IN pursuit
for the purpose of assassinating Cilley, mov-
ed toward the river and nearer the CITY,
Their pursuers moved toward the river but
missed the parties, and then returned to the
city, to which they were soon followed by
Graves and the corpse of Cilley.
In 1915, lawyer named Jones, fought
with and killed DIR. Johnson.
Ir 1851, r. a. Hoole and A. J. Dallas had
hostile meeting here. Dallas was shot in
the shoulder, but recovered.
In 1852, Daniel and Johnson, two Rich
mond editors, held harmless set-to here,
which terminated in coffee.
In 1873, Davis and Ridgway fought here
Kidgway allowing his antagonist To fire with.