Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1873-05-17
TIE RICHMOND DUEL.


particulars of the duel fought near that
city on Friday. 1t says
A few days since a difficulty occurred
at the club between Messss. j. 3. Nor
decai and Page Mccarthy, two young
gentlemen of Richmond, in which j
Blow passed from the former to the lat
ter. A correspondence was promptly
opened, and all efforts to effect recon
citation proving fruitless a meeting was
determined upon. The time was fixed
for G o'clock Friday evening, and the
place was selected, on the York River
railroad, about half q mile from Blakey S
mill. The most profound secrecy was
observed, and no intimation of it reach
ed the police until the hour of the meet
inc lad passed and the mischief was
done. The chief of police got wind OF
the affair about O'clock, and lmmedl-
ately took horse for the scene OF action.
Arriving there about : o'clock, he dis
covered the principals stretched on the
ground where they had fallen, and four
| friends and two SUI geons with them.
Mr.. Mordecai was found to he shot
in the abdomen, and it is feared, dan.
gerously wounded. Mr. Mccarthy re-
ceived a flesh wound in the thigh. The
principals were taken to their respective
residences, and the friends were arrested
and bailed to appear before the Police
Court Monday. 1t is said that Col. w.
b. Tabb, of West Virginia, and John
J. Meredith were seconds of Mr.. Nc
Carthy. and w. L. Royal and William
Trigg for Mr.. Mordecai. The weapons
used were pistols, under the usual code
regulations.
As the two parties approached each
other on the field each gentleman pres
ent raised his hat, and Messrs. Tabb and
Royall without 4 moments delay pro
ceeded TO make the final arrangements.
The choice of pistols fell to Mr.. McCar
thy, and his friend, Col. Tabb, also won
the privilege of giving the words of
command. The reyolvers were loaded
and the principals put face to face.
Messrs. Mordecai and Mccarthy were
both perfectly cool and collected, neither
showed the least sign of agitation or
slightest mark Of excitement, and when
placed in position, faced each other in
manner that indicated their determine
ton to make desperate fight. There
was absolutely no advantage i'll position
though the choice had fallen to Mr..
Mccarthy. They stood on a line run
ming north and south, and The sun just
sinking in the west, fell aslant of each
OF them. -.
The words were to be care YOU ready,
..Fire"-'one, "iWo, three, and the
parties were to fire not before "one,
nor after three" The words ''are you
ready" were slowly and distinctly utter
ed by Mr. Tabb, and responses came
promptly and clearly from Mordecai
and Mccarthy, ready" then as Tabb
said fire" the two pistols were raised
and steady aim taken; at the word
two" both fired, and so nearly to-
oether in point OF time, that it seemed
as if only one weapon had been dischar-
ped. As the smoke cleared away both
parties were observed standing quietly
in place. 1t being apparent that his adj
yersary was unhurt. Mr.. Mccarthy
demanded another fire. Mr.. Mordecai
readily acceded, and the same instruc-
tons as to firing as before was given
the principals They fired this time
between two and three, and both
fell simultaneously Mordecai turned
TO the right, as if about to raise his foot
from the ground, then half fell and top
pled over upon his side. Mccarthy fell
forward like a statue pushed down from
behind. His feet scarcely moved from
their tracks, and he went to the earth
face foremost. Surgeons we're immedl-
ately sent for,and Drs. Hunter Mcclure
and J. Dorsey Cullen in few seconds
appeared upon the scene. 1t was at
first thought that Mordecai was dying,
and the seconds, without any exchange
of special tormalities came TO the con
clusion that the matter had gone far
enough. Moldecai, however, offered
to rive Mccarthy another shot, but OF
course, the idea was not entertained.
The difficulty originated in the pub
lication of the following verses, which
at the time, were considered harmless,
but having reference to a lady, led to
the duel
When Mary's qneeniy form press,
In Strauss latest waltz;
would as well her lips caress,
Although those lips be false.
For still with fire love tips bis dart,
And kIdes up anew
The flame which once consumed my heart,
W hen those dear lips were true.
or form so fair, OF faith so faint.
If truth were only in her,
Though she'd be then the sweetest saint,
I'd still Re ell like sinner.
P.S.-Mordecai died on Wednesday night.
The surviving principal, Mr.. McCarty, with
the seconds, have be en- arrested aud will be
held without bail. UnGer the State law they
are liable to be tried for murder in the first
degree The first for the commission OF the act,
and the latter as accessories before the fact.
BRIGHAM YouNG's EIEws-SALT
LAKE, May s.-The correspondent of
the Omaha Herald yesterday interview
ed Brigham Young, and obtained his
views of the Indian question. Young
said that in 1947 lie settled in this coln-
try with 40 souls, and for thousand
,nilnc aronnl them the Land WIS infested