The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1865-10-03
A Field OF Blood.

4
The soil of Bladenburg, Maryland,
has bloody record; it has 0een the
soene Of many refined murders in days
past. One who visits the place now
will find green verdure, and here and
there flowers springing from the soil
which few years since was trampled
by the feet of men arrayed in deadly
hostility. Here, on a beautiful grass
plat, surrounded by trees, forms made
after the image of God came to insult
nature and to defy heaven.
In 1915, Edward Hopkins was killed
here in duel. This seems TO have
been the first of these fashionable MUIR
ders on the dueling grounds.
In 1918, A. M. Mason, a United
States Senator from Virginia, fought
here with his sisters husband, John
McCarty. McCarty was adverse to
fighting, and thought there was no ne
cessity for it, hut Mason would fight.
McCarty named muskets loaded With
buokshot, 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 TAX
ing twelve feet as the distance. Ma
son was killed instantly, and McCarty
had his collar bone broken, and still
lives with his sister in Georgetown
His hair turned white so soon after the
fight as to cause much comment. He
has been solicited to act as second in a
duel, but refused, in accordance with
a pledge made to his wife soon after
killing her brother.
In 1920, Commodore Decatur was
killed here in a duel by Commodore
Barron. AT the first fire both fell for
ward, and lay within ten feet of each
other, and each supposed himself NOR
tally wounded; each fully and freely
forgave each other, still lying on the
ground. Decatur expired in few
days, but Barron eventually recovered.
In 1921, two strangers named Lega
and Sega, appeared here, fought, and
Sega was instantly killed. The neigh
bors 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 in duel with clerk Of the
Treasury Department named Gibson.
The latter was not hurt.
In 1926, Henry Clay fought his Sec
ond duel with John Randolph, just
across the Potomac, as Randolph, pre-
fered to die, if at all, on Virginia soil
The latter received Clay's shot, and
then fired his pistol in 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 repose of
the mother. Gen. Jessup was Clay's
second. When Randolph fired he re-
marked: 81 do not fire at you Mr..
Clay" extending his hand, advanced
toward Clay, Who rushed to meet him.
Randolph showed Clay where his ball
struck his coat and said facetiously =
" Mr.. Clay you owe me a coat" Mr..
Clay replied: "Thank God the debt
is no greater" They were friends
ever after.
In 1882, Martin was killed here by
Carr. Their first names are not re-
membered. They were from the
South.
In 1888 Mr.. Key, son of Frank Key,
and brother of Barton Key, of Sickles
notoriety, met Mr.. Sherborn who said
" Mr.. Key, / have no desire to kill
YOU" "No NATTER" Key said, 81
came to kill YOU" every well, then,"
said Sherborn, &C. will kill you;" and
he did.
In 1888 w. J. Graves, of Kentucky,
assuming the quarrel of James Wat
son Webb and Jonathan Cilley, of
Maine, selected this place for Cilley's
murder, but the party learning that
Webb with two friends, Jackson and
Morrel, were armed and in pursuit for
the purpose of assassinating Cilley,
moved toward the river near the city.
Their pursuers also moved to the river,
but missed the parties and went TO the
city where they were soon followed by
Graves and the corpse of Cilley.
In ls45 lawyer named Jones,
fought and killed DR.. johnson.
In 1851 II. A. Bouse and A. j. Dal-
las had hostile meeting here. Dallas
was shot in the shoulder, but recover
ed.
In 1852 Daniel and Johnson, two
Richmond editors, had harmless set
tlement to make here, which tcrmina-
ted in coffee.
In 1854 Davis and Ridgeway fought
here. ri lgeway allowed his antago-
mist to fire, without returning the shot.