Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-05-12
Tho Richmond Duel.


The Richmond Enquirer gives the particulars
Of the duel fought near that city on Friday
1t says:
A few days since difficulty occurred at the
.luh hrtw,en McSsrs. j. b. Mordccal and Page
Mccarthy, two young gentlemen OF Richmond,
in which blow passed from the former to the
latter. A correspondence was promptly open
cd and all efforts to effect reconciliation prov
;nr fruitless meeting was determined upon.
ne time was fixed for o clock Friday even
;nr and the place was selected on the York
river railroad, about hafa mile FROM Blakey,.s
mill The most profound secrecy was observed,
and no intimaton oft reached the police until
the hour of the meeting had passed aud the
mischief was done. The chiot OF police got
wind of the affair about clock, and lmme'
diatcIy took horse for the scene OF action. ar
irving there about clock, he discovered the
nrncipals stretched on The ground where they
had fallen, aud four friends aud two surgeons
with them.
Mr.. Mordcc;i was fund to be shot III the
abdomen, and is, il is feared, dangerously
wounded Mr. McCarthy received flesh
wound in the thigh. The principals were tax
en- to their respective residences, and the
Iricndswerc arrested and bailcl to appear be-
fore the Police Court Monday. Ii is said that
Col W, B. Tabb, of West Virginia, and John
| J. Meredith were seconds OF Mr.. Mccarthy,
and W. l.. Royal and Wa. Trsg for MIR.
MordecAi. The weapons used were pistols, un-
der the usual code regulations.
As the two parties approached each other
on the field each gentleman present raised his
hat, aud MisSrs. Tabb and Royal without
moment delay proceeded TO make the final
arrangements. The choice of pistols Tell to
Mr.. Mccarthy. and his friend, Col. Tabb also
won the privilege of giving the words OF COM
mAnd. The rcvovcrs were loaded and the
principals put face to face. Messrs. Mordeca!I
and Mccarthy we're both perfectly cool aud
COLI ctcd; neither showed the least sign OF agl-
taiou or slightest mark Of excitement, and
| when placed in positun faced each other III
Il manner that Indicated their determination to
! make desperate fight. There was absolutely
no advantage in position, though the choice
had fallen to MIR. Mccarthy They stood on
line running north and south, and the sun
lust sinking in the west, fell aslant of each of
them.
The words were to be ARE you ready.
Fire" : '.ouc," "t,ro, ''th,rc" and the par
ties were to fire not before ''onc," nor after
three" The words "arc you ready" were
slowly and distinctly uttered by Mr. Tabb and
responses came promptly and clear y from
Morlccai and Mccarthy, ready; then
as Tabb said fire. the two pistols were
raised and steady aim taken; at the word
"iwn," both fired, and so nearly together in
poiui of time, that it seemed as if only
one weapon had been discharged. As the
smoke cleared away both parties were observed
standing quietly in place 1t being apparent
that his adversary was unhurt. Mr.. Mccarthy
demanded another fire. MIR. Nlordccai readily
acccicd, and tie same instructions rs to firing
rs before were given the principals. They
fired this time between two and three, and
both fell simultaneously. Nlordccal turned to
the right as if about to raise his foot from
the ground, then half fell and topplcd over
upon his side Mccarthy fell forward like
statue pushed down from behind. His feet
scarcely moved from their tracks, and he went
TO the earth face foremost. Surgeons were i'm
mcdiately sent for and Drs. Hunter Mcclure
and J. Dorsey Cullen in Il few seconds appear
ed upon the sceuc 1t was at first thought
that Mordccai was dying and the seconds,
without the exchange Of any special tormalltles
came to the conclusion that the matter had
gone far enough Mordecai, however, offered
TO give Mccarthy another shot, but, OF course,
the idea was not entertained.
The difficulty originated in the publication
Of the following verses, which at the time. we're
considered harmless, but having reference to a
lady led to the duel:
When Msry's qucenly form press,
In Strauss lAtrs. waltz
would rs well her lips carass,
Although those lips be false
For still with fire love tips his dart.
And kindles up anew
The flame which once consumed my heart,
When those dear lips were true.
OF form 50 fair, of faith so faint.
Iftruth were only in her,
Though She be then the sweetest saint,
Id still feel like u sinner.