The penny press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1859-1860, 1860-02-04

Unheedina the trembling hands raise, '
Or my low. despairing cry.
lam weary of the strife
OF angry waters near mr. --. .,
For hear the roar OF tho waves OF lie,
From the strand DO bleak and bare.
And long for the food tide now, tH
To hail the phantom bark, t.n-
With its misty sails and skeleton BROW,
Bearing away for the dark.
ii -l,
The Desperate Duel between jackson
and Dickinson. sp
The famous duel between jackson and
Dickinson is generally known, but
Parton's recent life ofthe former gives an
excellent account of the affair with some
circumstances that are now:
Dickinson's second won the choice Of
position, and Jackson's the Office ofgiving
the word Tho astute Overton considered
this giving of the word matter of great
Importance, and he had already deter.
mined how he would give it, if the lot fell
to him. The eight PAGES were measured
of, and the men placed; both were per-
fectly collected. All the politeness Of
such occasions was strictly and elegantly
performed. jackson was dressed in
loose frock coat, buttoned carelessly over
his chest, and concealing in some degree
the extreme slenderness of his figure.
Dickinson was the younger and hand
somor man of the two. But Jackson's
tall, erect figure, and the still intensity of
his demeanor, it is said, gave him most
superior and commanding air, as he stood
under the tall poplars on this bright May
morning, silently awaiting the moment Of
doom.
"Are you ready2' said Overton.
III am ready" replied Dickinson.
81 am ready" said jackson.
The words were no sooner pronounced,
than Overton, with sudden shout, cried,
using his old country pronunciation,
"FEREl"
Dickinson raised his pistol quickly and
fired. Oyerton, who was looking with
anxiety and dread at Jackson, saw puff
of dust fly from the breast of his coat, and
saw him, raise his left arm, and place it
tightly across his chest "He is surely
hit." thought Overton, land in bad
place, too; but no; he does not fall" Erect
and grim as fate he stood, his teeth
clenchcd, raising his pistol. Overton
glanced at Dickinson. Amazed at the
unwonted failure of his aim, and appalled,
at tho awful figure and face before him,
Dickinson had unconsciously recoiled a
pace or two,
"Great Godl" he faltered, shave l
missed him2"
"Back to the MARK, sirl" shrieked Over
ton, with his hand upon his pistol
Dickinson recovered his composure,
stepped forward to the peg, and stood
with eyes ayerted from his antagonist
All this was the work Of moment,
though it requires many words to tell it.
General jackson took deliberate aim,
and pullcdthc trigger. The pistol neither
snapped or went of. He looked at the
trigger, and discovered it had stopped at
half cock. He drew it back to its place,
and took aim a second time. He fired.
Dckinson's face blanched; he reeled;
his friends rushed toward him, caught
him in their arms, and gently seated him
on the ground, leaning against bush.
His trowsers Redeemed. They stripped
off his clothes. The blood was gushing
from his side in torrent. And, alas
here is the ball, not near the wound, but
above the opposite hip, just under the
skin. The ball had passed through the
body, below the ribs. Such a wound
could not but be fatal.
Ovcrton went forward and learned the
condition ofthe wounded man. Rejoning
his principal, he said, "He won't want
anything more Of you, General" and
conducted him from the ground. They
had gone an hundred yards, Overton
walking on one side of jackson, the
surgeon on the other, and neither speak.
ing word, when the surgeon observed
that one of Jackson's shoes were full Of
blood.
"My God! General jackson, are you
hit2" he exclaimed, pointing to the blood
ooh! ] believe" replied jackson, "that
he has pinked me little. Let's look at
it. But say nothing about it there,
pointing to the house.
lie opened his coat Dickinson's aim
had been perfect. He had sent the ball
precisely where he supposed Jackson's
heart was beating. But the thinness Of
his body and the looseness Of his coal
combining to deceive Dickinson, the bal
had only broken rib or two, and raked
the breast.bone. 1t was somewha
painful, bad looking wound, but neither
severe nor dangerous, and he was abl'
to ride to the tavern without much incon
venience. Upon approaching the house
he went up to one of the negro womeI
who was churning, and asked her if th'
butter had come. She said it was just ,
coming. He asked for some buttermilk
While she was getting it for him, sh'
observed him furtively open his coat ant
look within it. She saw that his shir
was soaked with blood, and she stoot
gazing in blank horror at the sight
dipper in hand. He caught her eye, ant
hastily buttoned his coat again. Sh'
dipped out quart measure full Of butter
milk, and gave it to him. He drank it ol
at q draught then went in, took off hi
coat, and had his wound carefully OK
amined and dressed. That done, h,
dispatched one of his retinue to DR.. Gale,