Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-08-23
The Bladen.burr p..,,,, c,.,,a

The Bladensburg Dueling Ground.
The Philadelphia Ledger gives some remi.
niscences OF this spot, which are at once inter
esting and sad =.
In !Sl4. Edward Hopkins was killed here in
duel This seems to be the first fashionable
murder OF which this place was the theatre.
In 1919, A. T. Mason, q United States Sena.
tor from Virginia, fought with his sister s hus-
oand, John McCarty, here. McCarty was
averse to fighting, and thought there was no
necessity for it, but Mason would fight. Mo.
Carty named muskets, loaded with grape shot,
and so near together that they would hit heads
II they fell on their faces. This was changed
ey the seconds to loading with bullets and ia
KING twelve feet as the distance. Mason was
Killed instantly, and McCarty had his COLLAR
bone broken
In 1920, Commodore Decatur was killed in a
duel here by Commodore Barron At the first
nre both fell forward, with their heads within
ten feet of each other; and, as each supposed
himself mortally wounded, each fully and free
ly forgave the other, still lying on the ground.
Decatur expired Immediately, but Barron
eventually recovered.
In Iozl, Two strangers named Lega and Sega
appeared here, fought, and Sega was instantly
killed. The neighbors only learned this much
OF their names from the marks on their gloves
left on the ground. Lega was not hurt
In 1922, Midshipman Locke was killed here
Gibson. The latter was not hurt. ..--
In 1926, Henry Clay fought (his second duel)
with John Randolph just across the Potomac,
as Randolph preferred to die, if at all, on Vir-
ginia soil. He received Clay's shot, and then
fired into the air. This was in accordance with
declaration made to Mr.. Benton, who spoke
to Randolph of call the evening before on
Mrs. Clay, and alluded to the quiet sleep of
her child and the reposo of the mother Ran
dolph quickly replied:
II shall do nothing to disturb tho sleep of
the child or the repose of the mother.''
General Jessup, whose funeral attended
last week, was Clay s second.
When Mr.. Randolph fired, he remarked:
Il do not shoot at you, Mr. Clay" and ex-
tending his hand, advanced toward Clay, who
rushed to meet him. Randolph showed Clay
who're his ball struck his coat, and said, face
tiously: "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 Thoir
hrst names are not remembered. They were
from the South.
In 1888, Mr.. Key, SON of Frank Key, and
brother OF Z. Barton Key, met Mr.. Sherborn
and exchanged shot, when Sherborn said
f" Mr.. Key, l have no desire to kill you''
I" No matter" said Key, II oams to kill
Every we'll, then" said Sherborn, "I will
kill you" And he did
In 1888, w. j. Graves, of Kentucky, assum-
ing 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, jackson and Mer-
rell, were armed and in pursuit, for the purpose
Of assassinating Cilley, moved 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 tho corpse of
Cilley. .
In 1915, a lawyer, named Jones, fought with
and killed DIR. johnson.
In 1851, X. A. Hoole and A. j. Dallas had a
hostile meeting here. Dallas was shot in the
shoulder, but recovered.
In 1852, Daniel and johnson, two Richmond
editors, held harmless set-to here, which ter
minated in coffee and not in collins.
In 1853, Davis and Ridgewsy fought here,
Ridgeway allowed his antagonist to fire with
out returning the shot .....r r