Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1865-11-30
Blaaeilsb,irg Dueling
Grounds.

Pistols and coffee for two. AS
I am alone in this classic ground l
can take care that the pistols do
no harm, and the coffee is harmless
anyhow. The place, SO noted for
its polite and refined 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, i'll
a beautiful little grass plat, sur
rounded by trees, forms, made af-
ter the image of God, come to in
suit Nature and defy Heaven. III
1871 Edward Hopkins was killed
here in duel. This seemed to
have been the first Of these fash
iUnable murders on this dueling
ground. -
In 1919, A. T. Mason, a United
States Senator from Virginia,
fought with his sisters husband,
John McCarty, here. McCarty
was averse to lighting, 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 hitheads if they fell on their
faces. This was changed by the
the seconds to loading with bull
lets, and taking twelve feet as the
distance. Mason was killed in
stantiy, and McCarty, who had
his collar bone broken, still lives
with Masoli's sister in George
town. His hair turned white so
soon after the fight as to cause
much comment. lie has since
been solicited to act as second III q
duel, but refused in accordance
with pledge he made to his wife
soon after killing her brother.
In 1920, Commodore Decatur
was killed in duel here by Com
modore Baron. At the first fire
both fell forward with their heads
within ten feet of each other, and
as each supposed himself mortal
ly wounded, each fully and freely
iorgave the other, still lying on
the ground. Decatur expired i'm
mediately, but Baron eventually
recovered.
In 1921, two strangers named
Lega and Sega appeared here,
fought, and Sega was instantly
killed. The neighbors only learn
ed this much of their names from
the marks on their gloves left on
the ground. Lega was not hurt.
In 1922, Midsllipman Locke
was killed here by a clerk of the
Treasury Department, named Glib
son. The latter was not hurt.
In 1926, Henry Clay fought
(his second dueD with John Ran
dolph, just across the Potomac, as
Randolph preferred to die, if at
all, ON Virginia soil, received
Clay's shot and then fired into the
air. This was in accordance with
a declaration made by Mr.. Ben
ton, who spoke to Randolph Of a
call on the evening before on Mrs.
Clay, and alluded to the quiet sleep
of her child and the repose Of the
mother. Randolph quickly re-
plied:
Il shall do nothing to disturb
the sleep Of the child or the repose
Of the mother"
General Jessup, whose funeral
/ attended last week, was Ciay's
When Randolph fired he
remarked: As
81 do notshoot at you, Mr.. Clay
and extended 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" -
Clay replied: s-sga
"Thank God the debt is no
greater" They were friends ever.
after. i
In1S32, Martin was killed by
Carr. Their first names are not
remembered. They were from
the South. !
In 1888, Mr.. Key, son Of Frank
Key, and the brother of Barton
Key, of Sickles notoriety, met
Mr.. Sherbon and exchanged a
shot, when Sherbon said: /
"Mr. Key, | have no desire to