The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1875-05-17
N DEFENSE OF 4 FRIEND.
Many Person, Murdered and Two Families
Rnined 60 Avenge mn lusnlt 20 n GENTLE
man belonging 20 Neither.

Herald, writing OF Tallahassee, Fla,
gives the following terrible story, now
told for the first time: "
In the Seminole war Colonel Graham
commanded crack regiment, One
msrning he received a message from his
wife announcing that she was on the owe
Of confinement He 1t once repaired to
her bedside. The day after he left the
camp q battle took place. Shortly after
ward an article appeared in the Augusta
Chronicie and Sentinel rejecting upon
the courage Of Col. Graham, and intina-
ting that his reason for leaving camp was
not so much fondhess for his wife Is for
himself. The paper containing this cut
ting and cruel article came into tho camp
before Col. Graham'a return, and at once
became subject OF conversation
throughout the camp. Capt Henry, a
splendid young fellow, who was an aid
upon Col. GrahAm's staff, felt that an in.
situation against his colonel was an In
suit to himself, and he at once repaired
to Augusta, determined to protect the
honor OF his absent friend with his own
life, II necessary. BE demanded from
the editor Of the Chronicle and SeRtiilel
the author Of the offensive article. II
turned ont TO DO Gen. Fitzgerald, Of
Florida, warm and devoted friend OF
Capt Henry's. He senta pOrSmptory
challenge to Gen, Fitzgerald
He received reply, stating that
"Gan. Fitzgeral would DO pleased TO
answer the demands Of Capt Henry II
he should BIO so fortunate as to survive
the duel he was Just about 10 engage
in with Capt. Williams, who had also
mnde the article against Col. Graham n
cause Of complaint" Upon inquiry it
transpired that Capt, Williams, another
aid upon Gahams staff, had proceeded
Mr.. Henry in his trip to Anguish, and
determined himself TO defend the impu-
tation against his commander.
Capt. Henry had no Alternative but to
awaif the result Of the encounter be-
tween Fitzgerald aud Williams, the con-
litions Of which were that they should
fight with bowie knives. The meeting
came of. The left hands Of the COM
batants were clasped together In firm
and dead.gane grasp, and the keen,
long knives, the most terrible weapons
before which man can DO brought,
were plAced in their hands. At o signal
the knives wero perpendicularly alsng
their legs At the next words they were
raised into the air, and the terrible
fencing began. II Is q brief but terri.
bic struggle. The knives cut and
gashel, aud whizzed through the flesh
Of the combatants, pressed and sparklel
against each other; now buried and now
wiped out with blueish moisture on the
blades, until Capt. Williams fell, hacked
almost to pieces. Gen. Fitzgerald es-
capped almost without injury.
He then turned his attention 10 Capt.
Henry. He chose as the weapons Tor
this second combat murderouslweapon,
now happily obsolete, but then known
US yaegers. II Is a broad-mouthed, fun.
nel.shapcd, smooth.bore gun, that will
carry n handful Of shot, and will hit
everything IN tho neighbofhood Of its
aim. At the meeting Capt. James,
Henry's second, was TO give tho word.
As lie called "Wheel," the two men
turned, hut Henry stumbled, and llisgun
went offinto the air. Gen. Fitzgerald
took cool aim, fired at the word, md
Capt. Henry dropped dead. Now two
gallant young fellows had fallen In de.
iense OF chiyalric spirit, being led to
their death in defending the honor OF q
cdmfade. And yet the terrible vendetta
was hardly opened. Col. Junius Henry,
the brother Of the slain man, was then
in Louisiana, and heard Of his brothers
death. He claimed that he had been
wantonly killed, holding that Gen. Fitz.
gerald should not have fired when he
had seen his brothers gun shot, by acci-
dent, aimlessly into the air. He started
ut once for the place to ayenge his
brothers. death. ~
He camo Of once to the hotel. Gov.
Brown. who kept the house, met him at
the door, and at once divining the pur.
pose with which lie had come, begged
him to be cool and quiet aboutit. On
the very night he got here, ho was sit.
ting near the fireplace, with q large
cloak around him and his head bowed
down upon his hands. In n few mo.
merts some one brushed by him rather
roughly. Raising his head quickly, ho
saw that 1t was Gen. Fitzgerald.
In M instant he wns ablaze with OK.
element, and rising cxclaimed: "You
have murdered my brother, sir, and now
do you presume to insult me :? Draw and
defend yourself, sirl"
AS quick rs thought Fitzgerald drew
six-barrelsil pistol and fired tearing
away Col. Henry's third finger, Just as
the latter poured brondside into him.
from horsemau's pistol, lodging q ball
in his side. The fire was repeated, each
time hitting It's mark. Col Henry was
then ont Of ammunition, being armed
only with two horseman's pistols. He
threw back his long cloak, howeve.,
drew his bowie knife. and closed with
his antagonist. 2 In n few seething
strokes Gen. Fitzgerald was cut to the
floor, and his opponent pulled OF by the
crowd. Gen. Fitzgerald was taken
homo, and gradually recovered. Col.
Henry, embittercd by the conflict he
Ind had, sent him word that he would
kill him on sight,
In about three months Fitzgerald re-
covered and appeared on the streets.
Col. Henry loaded his double barreled
shot gun, II is said, putting in bullet
which had been cut out Of his brothers
body by Mrs. GaillRrd, whose husband
had'been his seecrd, and who had him.
self been killed on account o. his particle
patton in this duel. Going 10 town he
met Fitzgerald. aud calling on him TO
defend himself, drew down and fred.
The first barrel tore away Fitzgerald's
shoulder, md the second was lodged in