Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1873-08-30
An Incident In the Life Of A br aham lin,
-.IT f coin. 'ii

.f .UHs
Strangely enough the murder of Mans
field I. Walworth. by his sons recalls
the story of Abraham Lincoln's duel.
The mother of Frank Walworth is
the daughter of Col. John r. Hardin,
who saved Mr. Lincoln from the re-
morse which would have oyershadowed
his lie if he had killed Gen. Shields
Col Hardin was prominent Wing po-
litican, and was esteemed the .'brayest"
man in Illinois. He was killed at the
battle of Buena Vista, and his death
fairly earned the distinction that his adj
.miring friends had given him while iy-
ing. Mr.. Lincoln was his intimate
friend, and both men were gifted with
a large sense. of humor, which they
turned to good account, I, -..l \
The hostile meeting between Mr..
Lincoln and Gen. Shields was brought
about in this way, a witty young lady
wrote "a communication for one of, the
Sprinfeld papers, in which there were
several passages which the General was
pleased to consider as personally often
sive. He forthwith went to the news
paper Office, and demanded the name of
the CORES ondent, and, this being refus-
ed, he gave the editor three days in
which to make up his mind, either to
refer him to the writer or take whip
ping himself. The poor man was great
ly distressed. He did not like. to lie
guilty of the ungallant act of betraying
his lady correspondent, and he did not
care to have fight with Gen. Shields,
who was a much stronger, man. In this
dilemma, he came, TO Mr.. Lincoln and
told him of his trouble. The. lawyer
took the matter into consideration, but
he could think of no stratagem for the
relief of his friend. At last he said to
him.: "When Shields comes, around
with his club, tell him that Abe Lincoln
wrote that letter. The editor acted
upon the suggestions, and, when the irate
politician appeared, ready to carry his
threat into execution, he was politely
requested to call upon Abraham Lincoln
for satisfaction. -..f, .l., ,,.,-,
This put new face on the NATTER
4 Gen. Shields knew better than 30 come
fooling about Mr.. Lincoln with his cane.
4 He was at that time a great, long
ed, muscular fellow, good natured, but
resolute, and when the occasion demand
ed, he could deal such blows with his
| fists as made his antagonists think that
| rail-splitting was his pass time. Ii he
had been attacked by Gen, Shields, and
4 had supposed that it would add any
j thing 10 the hunor Of the fight, he
would have bent his dassailant9 over the
knee and administered punishment after
the manner of conscientious mothers
But after all his threatening and blus-
n tering, Gen. Shields ceald not back ont
without sIibjecting himself 10 the Dridi-
cule of his townsmen, SO he concluded
to Challenges Mr. Lincoln. The chal-
lenge was accepted, but to the great
dismayaof the challenger, Abraham
1pamed long swordsas the weapons He
/ had no skill in the use of the sword, but
with his, tremendous, reach of arm, and
great muscular strength. he eould0haye
4 cut off General Shields head before nhe
i got himself into position for one of his
scientific thrnsts.a .a ,o sasiq ai hnk 300
1 The time and place of meeting were
I agreed upon, Mr.. Lincoln went to the
4 ground early with his second and, there
being some bushes IN the plat selected
| for the fight, he went 20 work 10 clear
4 them away with hatchet. q While ne
was sngsgedlsin this, other gentlemen
{weresoiiithe 6eldy atl6 theyi were sos ostrlick
Il with th6siudicnous scene tn at thby could