Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-07-09
OLD HI(kORl'S PISTOLS.

3D." who has been writing some interesting
"reminiscences for the Franklin, NY, Patriot,
contributes the following to that paper:
saw some time ago u brace Of ducling
pistols, in the possession Of Thomas Ruthcr-
ford, Of Sumter county, Tennessee. They
were steel barrels, nuted within, and highly
orlamcntcd with silver. The history re-
ccivcl Of them was It's follows:
Many years before the brilliant tr!umphs
of war had lifted General jackson high above
all competitors, into the Presidential chair lis
Chief Executive Of the nation, it WAS his GUS
tom to have some one take his place in the
dirty street broils which might come up. At
the time to which refer, one Ferguson was
the man, regular knock-down and drag-out
sort of Il fellow, dreaded by all who were ever
50 fortunate ;lS to come in contact with him.
+ An uncle Of Colonel Rutherford, by the same
name, visited Nashville, to sell Il fine pair OF
match horses. Ferguson offered to purchase
them Oh short credit, and to give General
Jackson for security. This arrangement was
madc and the horses were his. Before Mr.
K. left Nashville, he learned the character of
the man with whom he had traded, and was
told that if he ever asked for the money on
the note he had received for the horses, Fer
yuson would whip him.
1t happened that Rutherford was Il rough
customer. Nothing suited him better than Il
ground scuc in defense of his rights, and 81
he wus impatient for the day of the coming
conflict. Early ON the morning the note fell
due. Rutherford visited Nashville, saw the
man f.. presented the note for payment, tell.
ny him ut the same time what he had heard
of him, and further said to him that if he
didn't pay the money right away, without i
murmur, he would thrash him like Il dog. y
word, and the blow followed. Never w;ls a
man more thoroughly thrashcd than Fergu'
son WAS on tha. orc;'Sion in fact, he was sup
posed to be dead for Il time This aroused
the Generals Sympathic< for the man who
had received such Il cudscing, and to resent
it wis hiS,,iirst impulse, but in IL li<ticul' he
would only he child in Rs hands, and 50
challenged him to fight Il duel the next morn
ing, distance ten PAGES. Though K. had no
experience with firearms, he instantly Y ac-
ccrtcd the challenge.
At the appointed hour all parties were at
the place Ut rendezvous. All prclmlllarles
made, the distance measured, the positions
taken, the words onc-two-at this iuncturc
jackson, who wls Il dead shot, having eyed
his antagonist closely, saw there was no finch
in him, but that he was;l cool and deliberate
aS il nothing unusual was occurring, stepped
forward and addressed Rutherford us follows {:
"Ey the Eternal, sir, would dc>piSc myself
to sacrifice such noble material us you are
made OF: Sir, please accept these pistols from
one who ever admircs true courage and pluck,
such as YOU have to-day demonstrated; and
accept them from Inc as Ill evidence Of my
high appreciation Of YOU rs Il man who darc$
to defend his rights"
General jackson paid the money due on
Fcrgu$on'S note. Ever aitcrward the Ruthcr-
ford family have been Jack<on's warmcst sup
portrrS, and none lamcntcd his death more
than they. The pistols will be kept i'll the
family tnrcvcras priceless souvenirs.