Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1860-08-16
Bladensburg Dueling Grounds.
Correspondents of the Cleveland Plandealer.)
BLADENsBURG, June lS, 1860.

Dl4ADEN SBJR-, 5une 10, ICCO.
Pistols and coffee fer two AS | am alone
on the classic ground l can take care that
the pistols do no harm, and the coffee is harm
less anyhow. The place, so noted for its po-
lite and refined murders is about five miles
from the city, fresh ard handsome, in full lv-
cry of green, adorned with flowers, and should
blush in its beauty for the scenes it has wit
messed. Here, in beautiful little grass plat
surrounded by trees, forms, made after the
image of God, come to insult Nature and de-
fly Heaven. In 1914, Edward Hopkins was
killed here in a duel This seems to have
been the first of these fashionable murders on
this dGeling ground.
In 1919, A. Z. Mason, United States
Senator from Virginia, fought with his sisters
husband, John MCarty, here. M'Carty was
averse to fighting, and thought there was no
necessity for it; but Mason would fight
" MCarty named muskets loaded with buck
shot, and 50 near together that they would
hit heads if they fell on their faces This was
changed by the seconds to loading with bull
llts, and taking twelve feet as The distance
Mason was killed instantly, and NJ Carly, who
had his collar bone broken, still lives with Ma
sons sister in Georgetown. His hair turned
white so soon after the fight as to cause much
comment. He has since been solicited to act
as a second in due bat refused in accord
ance with pledge made to his wife scoH Gf-
ter killing her brother.
In 1920, Commodore Decatur was killed in
a duel here by Coam0dore Barren. 1T the
first fire both fell forward and lay with their
heads within ten feet of each other, and as
each supposed himself mortaIIy wounded, each
fully and freely forgave the other, still lying
on the ground. Decatur expired in a few days,
hnt Barren eventually recovered. In 1921,
two strangers named Lcga and Sega appear
ed here fought, and sega was instantly killed.
The ncighJors only learned this much of the ir
names from the marks on their gloves left on
the ground. Lcga was not hurt.
In 1922, NldShipman Locke was killed
here in "a duel with clerk Of the Treasury
Department named 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 Virginia sell he received Clay 5
shot and then fired his pistol in The air. This
was in accordance with declaration made to
Mr. Bentoa who spoke to Randolph Of a call
the evening before on Mrs Clay, and alluded
to the quiet sleep of her child and the repose
of the mcthe- Randolph quickly replied, "
shall do nothing to disturb the sleep Of the
child or the repoSc of the mother
General JeSsup, whose funeral | attended
last week, was Clay's second When Ban
dolph fred he remarked Il do not shoot at
you, Mr. Clay," and extending his hand ad-
yanced toward Clay, who rushed to meet him
Randolph showed Clay where his ball struck
his coat, and said, facetiOuslv, " Mr. Clay
you owe me a coat Clay replied Thank
God the debt IS no greater" They were
friends ever after. In 1882 Martin was kill
ed here by Carr Their first names are not
remembered. They were from the South
In 1892, Mr.. Key, son OF Frank Key and
brother Of Barton Key, of SckIeS notoriety,
met Mr. Sherborn who said Mr.. key, |
haze no desire to XII! YOU No matter,
SeId key, | came to XII You. cry well,
then, sad Shcr1oEn, ] VIII now kil you T.
and he dd.
IN 1888, W. ). Graves, CT Kentucky, as
Sohl'H9 'he qaarreI oI 'nmeS watson Goo
anu Ll'''' i, Cle!, VI "a'.'' Se'ec'eI' 'Li.7
'rG 'o' C'IT! ',}'ae'' cH1 IIi9 Pa' 'Ics eal u
u Ioo "'l :" !; 'o'ilI, ',lVN9o. s'n .,' .L
-, ns c;lI.P So, ,'I
t"' pos0 VI ~ y
, ,''o .'i '.'. 49,. - r.
M 49, - ~. ,;aL
,il,. ,,.o-.a 49,, cslr"..,,I ~ o,I 49,
s"ry w. - C;rIa- TJ 1o Ior.Io ' na,anI
I"dn | fo,bt - 't', .tb and l,;1Iod Dr Iobn1nn ,,
r, IozI D UoaIa I onJ naIIas had
- hal,iIa n,oatin,. IT, n h"ro ~ nalios sos sLot IN
bn 1,' sS"Urjnr 'in I"5 rncovorod ncI n Ie59 Dam
I I 1lIaI, ""' RnIo.j odito-5 Lai5
haroSs ' ,''J sotn % horn r,oh IN
"ogaa e., 1919 Dori5 ond Pi1,,a,rar fon,,bt
Goro Pidcayoy aIIowed his ant9gonist to fire
ri,6ort aG,5 ref1rniag tbo sbot 80 ' '''>' - ''