The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1860-07-18

mO1V lOOG OOOV L L, Oll
2 s+ From the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Bladensburg Duell1ng- Grounds The
| Duels Cockefghts - Bladensburg
BLADENsBuRa, June 18.
DEAR DEALER:-Pistols and coffee for
two. AS I am alone on the classic ground
I can take care that the pistols do no
harm, and the coffee i harmless anyhow.
The place, SO noted for its polite and re.
fined murders, is about FIVE miles from the
city, fresh and handsome, in full livery of
green, adorned with flowers, and should
blush in its beauty for the scenes it has
Witnessed. Here, in q beautiful little grass
plat surrounded by trees, forms, made af-
ter the image of God, come to insult Ma
ture and defy Heaven. IL 1914, Edward
Hopkins was killed here in duel. This
seems to have been the first Of these fash
ionable murders on this duelling ground.
In ISl 9, "A. T. Mason, United States
Senator from Virginia, fought with his
sisters, husband, John McCarty, here.
McCarty, was ayerse 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 von,a their faces. This was
changed by the seconds to loading with
bullets, and taking twelve feet as the dis
tauce. Mason was killed instantly, and
McCarty, who had his collar bone broken,
still lives with Mason's sister in George.
town. His hair turned white so soon af
ter the fghta as to cause much comment.
He has since been solicited to act as q
second in duel, but refused in accordance
with pledge made to his wife soon after
killing her brother. ss4s.r
/ In 1920, Commodore Decatur was Kill
led in duel here by Commodore Barron.
Atithe 6rst fire both fell forward and lay
with their heads within ten feet of each
other, and as! each supposed himself NOR
tally wounded, each fully and freely for
gave the other, still lying on the ground.
Decatur expired Immediately. but Barron
eventually recovered. In 1921, two
strangers named Lega and Sega appeared
here, fought, and Sega was instantly killed.
The eneighbors only learned this much Of
their, names, from the marks on their
gloves left on the ground. Lega was moi
hurt. aan nss,usr g a3afi avs bfuofz 90 Il b8.
In 1922, Midshipman Locke was killed
here in q duel with q, clerk of the Treas
pry Department named Gibson. The lat.
ter was not hurt. In 1926, Henry Clay
fought (his second dueD with John Ran
dolph, just across the Potomac as Ran
dolph preferred to die, if at all, on Vir
ginia soil. received .Clay's shot and ther
fred his pistol in the air This was il
accordance with a declaration made tt
Mr., Benton, who spoke to Randolph of
call the evening before on Mrs. Clay ant
alluded to the quiet sleep of her child ant
t the, repose Of. the, mother, Randolph
quickly replied, Il shall do nothing t,
: disturb the sleep of the child or the re
pose of the mother" 3a1.o0s t5
General Jessup, whose funeral ! at
tended last week, was Clay's second
When Randolph fred he remarked: "
r do not shoot at you, Mr., Clay" and ez
tending his hand advanced toward Clay
who rushed to meet him. Randolp
?. showed Clay where his ball struck hi
Q coat, aud said, sacetiously, "Mr. Cla.
; you cove me a coat" Clay replied
]. rThank God the debt is. no greater.
70 They were friends ever after. Ing183
% Martin was killed here by Carr. The
6rst 2names are not, remembered. The
were from the South. In 1888, M
, Key, son of Frank Key and brother
le Barton Key, Of Sickles notoriety. met M
u Sberborn and exchanged 3 shot. whe
ie Sherborn said: "Mr. Key. have no d,
g sire to, kill yoq,pnf ss.No matter,'I sal
IT Key, .I came to kill you.' every we
q them said sherborn, Il will now 1ki
y yonS end he did asa oY nssi1i.
u |; eIn 1898, ". AZ Graves. Of Kentuck
le assuming the quarrel of James Watss
3. Webb with Jonathan Cilleya of Main
81 selected this place for ICilley's -murde
?; but theparties learning, that Webb, wit
2 two friends, Jackson and MorrelI wei
70 armed and in pursuit. for the pprpose
D. assassinstingc Cilley, moved toward Il
es river and nearers the CITY, Their spurs
70 ers, followed toward the river but misss
~ the parties and then returned to the cit
2, to which they were soon followed Il
"a Graves and the corpse Of Cilley.io j
g. l845, q lswyes named Jones fought wi
90 and killed Dr. johnson. ~ In 1851, ]
ga uoolo nd 4, nol1oe boJ n 4 80;