Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1873-07-05

President Lincoln and General Shields.

How THEY NEARLY FoUGnT DUEL
Strangely enough the murder of
Mansfield r. Walwoith by his son re-
calls the story of Abraham Lincolns
duel. The mother of Frank Walworth
is the daughter of Col. John j. Hardin,
who saved Mr.. Lincoln from the re-
morse which would have overshadowed
his life if he had killed Gen. Shields.
Col. Hardin was a prominent Wing
politician, and was esteemed "the BRAY
est man in Illinois" He was killed at
the battle of Bucna Vista, and in his
death fairly earned the distinction which
his admiring friends had given him
while living. Mr.. Lincoln was his init
mate friend, and both men were gifted
with large sense Of humor which they
turned to good account.
The hostile meeting between Mr.
Lincoln and Gen. Shields was brought
about in this way: A witty young lady
wrote communication for one OF the
Springfield 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 correspondent, and this being retns-
ed. he gave the editor three days IL
which to make up his mind, either to
refer him to the writer of take whip
ping himself The poor man was great
| L. distressed. lie did not like to be
guilty of the ungallant act of betraying
his lady correspondent, and he did not
care to have fight will, Gen. Shields.
In this predicament he went to Lincoln
for advice. After thinking the matter
over, Lincoln told the editor to refer
Shields to him when he called. Gen.
Shields was considerably taken aback
| when he found that Lincoln assumed
the responsibility; and as he knew it
would be imprudent to attempt to
horsewhip as strong a man as MIR. LIN
coin, his only course (without being the
laughing stock of the town. was TO
challenge him, which he accordingly
did. Mr.. Lincoln, although not an adj
vocate of duelling, did not see how he
could consistently refuse the challenge,
and so accepted it-naming broadswords
rs the weapons. lie had no scientific
knowledge of the use of the sword, but
trusted to the length of his arm and
great muscular strength.
The duel was to take place at sunrise
the succeeding day. Mr.. Lincoln and
his second were first on the ground Sc
lected; and finding some bushes in the
way. Mr.. /. commenced cutting them
away with hatchet. While SO engag-
ed, Gen. Shields came up with Col.
Hardin. The latter was so struck with
the energy with which Mr.. Lincoln was
engaged, that he could not repress his
mirth. Mr.. l.. looking up, at once per
ceived the ludicrousness OF his position,
and Joined heartily in the laugh. Ex-
plantations ensued, and they returned to
town together without fighting, and
were ever afterwards firm friends.
A PROFITABLE BUSINESS FOR ARMY
Orr1cERs.-IIunting up ku-klux in
South Carolina was pretty profitable
business, even if some innocent persons
did suffer with the guilty. The Charles.
ton News and Courier SAYS the General
Assembly appropriated $4,000 to pay
the rewards offered by Gov. Scott for
the apprehension and conviction of per
sons engaged in Ku-Klux conspiracy;
that s2l 400 of this amount was paId to
Major Lewis Merrill, of the United
States army, who was in command OF
the counties under martial law, and that
the remainder was distributed in this
way: To the arbitrators for their
trouble, S2.5OO; Thomas NJ. Wilkes,
$1,000; II. III. ID. Byron, 81 POO; James
Canton, $1,000; w. ii. Brown, 81 500;
grand total, S34, 900; balance left III the
treasury, 900.
A VIRGINIA MOTHER AND TIE CoDE.
1t is related of the aged mother OF
McCarty, the Richmond duclist, who
inflicted a mortal wound on Mordecai,
and was himself perforated by a bullet
from his opponents pistol, that she was
aware from the first of her sons inten-
ton to call Mordecai to account; that,
OH his suggestion to her as he lay sick
from the beating received from Morde-
cal, that possibly his friends might re-
fuse to bear his message to his oppo-
nent, she said, 'Be of good cheer my
son, if they refuse III carry it myself.
As :, lnoyp Col Tabb heinz sent for,
readily consented to act. 1t is said that
his mother was not far from the field
when the combat took place. AT any
rate, when the perforated body OF her
son arrived at home at late hour on
that fatal Friday night, the anxious
friends who conveyed him to the ma
ternal presence foundevery convenience
necessary to meet just such contingen-
cy had happened,
A GREAT HORROR DONE
AWAY WITH.-IIouse cleaning is
great horror to nine men out OF ten.
When that time comes the ''men folks,
as rule, give the domestic hearth a
Hwide berth" Oceans of suds-the
product OF tons of soap-falrly flood
every part OF the house. The women,
from the mistress down, labor as they
never worked before, and what with the
discomfort, the smell of suds and damp
ness, and not unfrequently sickness, the
product of colds and overwork, matters
are generally disagreeable. The simple
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