The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1875-05-11
A FLORIDA VENDETTA.
How Two Families Were Murder.
ed i'tecemeat TO AyeDge An


other.
Correspondence Atlanta (Ga.) Herald.]
''ln the Seminole War; said Mr.. Ia
bran, evidently ambling down long
worn groove of conversation, Colonel
Graham commanded crack regiment
One morning he received a message
from his wife announcing that she was
on the eve Of confinement. He ut once
repaired to her bedside. The dav after
he left the camp battle took place -
Shortly afterward an article appeared in
the Augusta Chronicle and Sentintl re-
Hecting upon the courage of Colonel
Graham, and inlimating that his reason
Tor leaving camp was not so much fond
ness for his wife as for himself. The
paper containing this cutting and cruel
article came into the camp before Col
onel Graham's return, and at once be.
came subject OF conversation through
out the camp. Captain Henry, splen.
did young fellow, who was an aid upon
Colonel Graham staff, felt that an in.
situation against his Colonel was an
insult to himself, and he at once repair
ed to Augusta, determined to protect
the honor of his absent friend with his
own life, if necessary. He demanded
from the editor of the Chronicle and
Sentinel the author of the offensive ar.
ticle 1t turned.out to be General Fitz
gerald, Of Florida, warm and devoted
riend of Captain Henry's Still feeling
that it was his duty, disregarding friend
ship just as he had disregarded fear il
the defense of his Colonel, he sent
peremp,ory challenge to General Fitz
gerald.
He received reply, stating that Gen
eral Fitzgerald would be pleased to an
swer the demands of Captain Henry i
he should be so fortunate as to survive
the duel he was just about to engage il
with Captain Williams, who had also
made the article against Colonel Ora,
ham a cause of complaint. Upon in
quiry it transpired that Captain Viii
Hams, another aid upon Graham's staff
had preceded Mr.. Henry in his trip tc
Augusta, and determined himself to de
fend the imputation against his com
mander.
Captain Henry had no alternative bu
to await the result of the encounter be
tween Fitzgerald and Williams, the con
ditions of which were that they shoulc
fight with bowie knives, The meeting
came off. The left hands Of the com
bstants were clasped together in firu
and dead game grasp, and the keen, Ions
knives, the most terrible weapons he
fore which man can be brought, wer,
placed in their hands. At a signal til,
knives were perpendicularly along thei
legs At the next words they wer'
raised into the air, and the terrible fen
cling began. Ii is brief but terrible
struggle. The knives cut, and gashed
and whizzed through the flesh of th'
eombatants, pressed and sparklet
against each other; now buried and nov
whipped out with blush moisture OIL
the blades, until Captain Williams fell
hacked almost to pieces General Fitz
gerald escaped almost without injury.
He then turned his attention to Cap
tain Henry. He chose as the weapon
for this second combat murderou
weapon. now happily obsolete, but thel
known as yeagers. 1t is broad
mouthed, funnel shaped, SIN ,oth-bort
gun, that will carry a handful of shot
and will hit every thing in the neigh
borhood of its aim. At the meeting
Captain James, Henry's second, was t
give the word. As he called Wheel,
the two men turned, but Henry STUN
bled, and his gun went off into the all
General Fitzgerald took cool aim, fire.
at the word, and Captain Henry droppe,
dead. Now two gallant, young fellow
had fallen in defense Of a chivalri
spirit, being led to their death in de
Tending the honor of comrade An,
yet the terrible vendetta was hardl
opened. Colonel Junius Henry, tn
brother of the slain man, was then i
Louisiana, and heard of his brother
death. He claimed that he had bee
wantonly killed, holding that Geners
Fitzgerald should not have fred whe
he had seen his brothers gun shot, b
accident, aimlessly into the air. H
started at once for this place for tn
purpose of avenging his brothers deatl
He came at once to this hotel. Go,
ernor Brown, who kept the house, mt
him at the door, and, at once d
vining the purpose with which he ha
come, begged him to be cool and quie
about it. On the very night he &C
there, he was sitting near the freplac
yonder, with large cloak around. hil
and his head bowed down upon hi
hands. In a few moments some on
brushed by him rather roughly. Raj;
ing his head quickly, he saw that it We
General Fitzgerald.
In an instant he was ablaze with e,
element, and, rising, exclaimed: "Yo
have murdered my brother, sir, and no
do you presume to insult mef Ora
and defend yourself, sir"
AS quick as thought Fitzgerald DIRE
a six barreled pistol and fired, tearin
away Colonel Henry's third finger, ju'
as the latter poured broadside int
him from horseman's pistol, lodging
ball in his side. The fire was repeate,
each time hitting it's mark. Colon,
Henry was then out of ammunition, b,
ing armed only with two horseman
pistols. He threw back his long cloal
however, drew his bowie-knife, an
closed with his antagonist. In a fe
seething strokes General Fitzgeral
was cut to the floor, and his opponer
pulled off by the crowd. In that m,
lee that bullet-hole was made up ther
General Fitzgerald was taken home, an
gradually recovered. Colonel Henr,
embittered by the conflict he had hat
sent him word that he would kill hil
on sight.
In about three months Fitzgerald r.
covered and appeared on the street
Colonel Henry loaded his double ba
relied shotgun, it is said, putting in
bullet which had been cut out of b
brothers body by Mrs. Gailard, who's
husband had been his second, and wh
had himself since been killed on accoul
of his participation in this duel. Coin
to town he met Fitzgeral, and callir
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