The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1875-05-13
A FLORIDA VENDETTA
now TWO IA MILES WERE MUIR
DERED PIE( b MEAL TO
AVENGE ANOTHER.
lCor. Atlanta CGa.) Herald.l

bran, evidently ambllng down long
worn groove of conversation, Colonel
Graham commanded Il crack regiment.
One morning he received a message from
his wi announcing that she was on the
eve of confinement. He at once repaired
to her bedside. The day after he left
the camp battle took place, Shortly
afterward an article appeared in the
Augusta Chronicle and Sentinel rejecting
upon the courage Of Colonel Graham
and intimating that his reason for leav-
ing camp was not so much fondness for
his wife as for himself The paper con-
tanning this cutting and uelarticle came
into the camp before Colonel Graham's
return, and at once became a subject of
conversation throughout the camp Cap
tain Henry,a splendid young fellow, who
was an aid upon Colonel Graham's staff,
felt that an insinuation against his Col
onel was an insult to himself, and he at
once repaired to Augusta, determined to
protect the honor of his absent friend
with his own life, if necessary. He de-
manded from the editor of the Chronicle
and Sentinel the author of the offensive
article 1t turned out to be Gen. Fitz-
gerald, of Florida, warm and devoted
fliend Of Captain Henry's. Still feeling
that it was his duty, disregarding friend
ship just as he had disregarded fear in
the defense of his Colonel, he sent a per-
emptory challenge to Gen. Fitzgerald.
He received reply, stating that Gen.
Fitzgerald would be be pleased to answer
the demands Of Captain Henry if he
should be so fortunate as to survive the
duel he was Just about to engage in with
Captain Williams, who had also made
the article atiainst Colonel Graham
cause of complaint. Upon inquiry it
transpired that Captain Williams, an
other aid upon Glaham's staff, had pre-
ceded Mr.. Henry in his trip to Augusta,
and determined himself to defend the
imputatiOn against his commander.
Captain Henry had no alternative but
to await the result of the encounter be-
tween Fitzgerald and Williams, the con-
ditions Of which were that they should
fight with bowie-knives. The meeting
came off. The left hands of the com
batants were clasped together in firm
and dead-game grasp, and the keen, long
knives, the most terrible weapons before
which manCa be brought, were placed
in their hands. At a signal the knives
were perpendicularly along their legs.
AT the next words they were raised into
the air, and the terrible fencing began.
1t is a brief but terrible struggle. The
knives cut, and gashed, and then whizzed
through the flesh OF the combatants,
pressed and sparkled against each other;
now buried and now whipped out with
blush moisture on the blades until Cap
tain Williams fell, hacked almost to
pieces. General Fitzgerald escaped al.
most without injury.
He then turned his attention to Cap
tain Henry. He chose as the weapons
for this second combat very murderous
weapon, now happily obsolete, but then
known as yeagers. 1t is a broad-mouth-
ed, funnel-shaped, smooth bore gun, that
will carry handful of shot, and will hit
in the neighborhood of its
aim. AT the meeting, Captain James,
Henrys second, was to give the word. !
AS he called "Wheel," the two men
turned, but Henry stumbled, and his gun
went off into the air, General Fitzger-
aid took cool aim, fired at the word, and
Captain Henry dropped dead. Now two
gallant, young fellows had fallen in de-
fense of a chivalric spirit, being led to |
their death in defending the honor of a |
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 General |
should not have fired when
he had seen his brothers gun shot, 10y |
accident, aimlessly into the air. He !
started at once for his place for the pur-
pose of avenging his brothers death.
He came at once to his hotel. Gov
Brown, who kept the house, met him at
the door, and, at once divining the pur-
pose with which he had come, begged
him to be cool and quiet about it, On
the very night he got there, he was sit
ting near the fireplace yonder, with a
large cloak around him and his head
bowed down upon his hands. In few
moments some one brushed by him
rather roughly. Raising his head very
quickly, he saw that it was General Fitz-
gerald.
In an instant he was ablaze with ex-
citement, and, rising, exclaimed; "You
have murdered my brother, sir, and now
do you presume to insult me? Draw
and defend yourself sirW
As quick as thought Fitzgerald drew a
six barreed pistol and fired, tearing
away Colonel Henry's third finger, just
as the latter poured broadside into him
from a hOrseman's pistol, lodging ball
in his side. The fire was repeated, each
time hitting its mark. Colonel Henry
was then out of ammunition, being
armed only with two horseman's pistols.
He threw back his long cloak, however,
drew his bOwie-knife, and closed with
his antagonist. In a few seething strokes
General Fitzgerald was cut to the floor,
and his opponent pulled of by the
crowd. In that melee that bullet-hole
was made up there. General Fitzgerald
was taken home, and gradually recov-
cred. Colonel Henry, embittered by the
conflict he had had, sent him word that
he would kill him on sight.
In about three months Fitzgerald re
covered and appeared on the streets.
Colonel Henry loaded his double. bar
relied shot-gun, it is said, putting in a
bullet which had been cut out OF his
brothers body by Mrs. Gailard, whose
husband had been his second, and who
had himself since been killed on account