The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1875-05-13
BLOODY ISLAND.
The DueIIinx Grouud for NJ. Louis
aud IIIiUOis-SODIc characteristic
Incidents

The DuciIing GrouUd for NJ. Louts
aud IIIipOis-sODic characteristic
Incidents
When Louisiana became Territory of
the United states IN 1904, by purcha sc
from Napoleon the First. says writer In
the New \ ork Mercury, It. Louis was
the capital of Upper Louisiana. II was
only thriving village, with its store
houses and cottages scattered along the
rocky bank of the Mississippi. Bui with
the change of government came Il
! greater change new faces brought new
ideas. The trading Yankee and the
| chivalrotus Southcrncr j0~tlCd the emf
| grant from Great Britain and the
| Continent. Human life had always
been held chcapiy; but net before
had the peculiar doctrines of the code
ducllo been rcckoncd superior To the
Code Napoleon, then the common law of
the country. The lawyers of ST. Louis
were the first To give the go.by 10 the
! law tn ISL Thomas II. Benton and
| Charles Lucas were practicing attorney,
In the territorial courts, Lucas holding the
| Office of Attorney General. In the trial
| OF an ordinary case sharp words and per-
sonaliticS were used by both LAWYERS
| BENTON always u vindicativc man, chal-
| lenged Lucas: but the challenge was de-
clined. Lucas assuming that lie
would not be held rcspOm-
sible Tor words used ia profess
sional argument. Benton. intent upon
satisfaction. continued to insult the Gen
cral In such q way that soon after Lucas
sent him challenge. which was promp-
| ~ accepted. The place of meeting
agreed upon was an Island in the river
just opposite ST. Louis. Til, island. at
forwards famous for its ducls. wa, "A LONG.
narrow strip of sand. dcn.cly covered
for half it, area with young cottonwood
trees. The island had sprung into exist
encc since the days of the spanish rule.
and it, tenure of existence was vet de-
pendent upon the great river that had
created IL. II was a sort of neutral
ground, convenient of access. vet almost
beyond the reach of the law and it, olii-
ccrs.
The hostile parties Just named met on
the Island. with their seconds. exchanged
shots, and Lucas was wounded in the
neck. The surgeons then intcrlcred, aud
the duel ended. One wolnd think that after
such an exchange OF Illegal arguments,
the dignity of the law would be respected
IN future: but such was not the ease. \
few weeks later the same parties met
again in the same thicket of cottonwood.,
and this time Benton killed Lucas. The
little strip OF land with it, thickct of cot
tonwoods. had now become part and par
eel of the history of those days. Not a
pleasant history 10 study. either too
many tales of blood>lied aud crime: too
much Of lawlcssncsS and rapinc. And
now that long sand bar became Bloody
Island, a most proper name for the scene
of such Sanguinary deed.
\ few years later another affair of
honor came of beneath the shade ol the
cottonwood saplng> on Bloody Island
In 1898 an article appeared in the Mis-
souri, Republican rejecting upon the otli-
cial conduct of General Rector. who wa,
the surveyor General of Illinois and Mis-
souri,. In the absence OF Rector. hi,
brother promptly demanded the name of
the writer from the editor. Joshua Bar
ton, brother of David Barton. Judge of
one of the Territorial Courts. was the
writer named. Rector challenged Bar
ton the challenge was accepted. and
they met on Bloody Island. barton was
killed at the very first fire.
But now comes the most sauguinary
! chapter OF this fearful record. 1t was
| seven years later, and 81. Louis had be-
| come city. Wealth had come with in
crease of population. The great territory
OF Louisiana had been cut up into smaller
! parcels, and one of these had become the
state of Missouri. Bloody Island re-
| mlined nearly the same. The flood OF
! midsummer deposited their yearly
contributions of sand aud drift
wood, and the .and-bar OF earlier day.
had increased some what II had a more
permanent look. The cottonwood sap
lings had become trees. Visitors In
search of 4 restorative for injured honor
would find abundant shade. There was
no fear of having the sun In their eyes
when practicing at human targets.
This last duel was another case OF salts.
faction by proxy. Nicholas Bid
die was the President of the
United States Bank. His management of
that institution was sharply censured h.
his political enemies, and Spencer Pettis,
prominent citizen of 1T. Louis, was one
OF those offending. Major Thomas Bid
die, brother OF Nicholas Biddlc, was "a
paymaster in the army and then sta
toned at st. Louis. lie determined To
punish Pettis for his criticisms of hi,
brothers financial shortcomings. Going
at very early hour. be-
core any guest was awake he
earned from a colored servant the loca-
ion OF Pctli,'s room. lie found him
| asleep. Snatching oil the covering, he
| proceeded to cowhide him In bed. Pettis
was i'll aud made little or no resistance.
But when he recained hi health he went
before n justice of the peace and made at
lidayits TO facts Just mentioned. The JUS
tice put Biddlc under bonds to keep the
peace; and believing that Petit, meant
mischief hc put him under bonds also.
Public opinion was adverse 10 Biddlc',
attack upon Pctti,. AMI Bidllc wa, eager
70 set himself right before the public.
When they met before the Justice. Bid
die offered TO accept a challenge il Pcitis
would send II, The challenge was sent
The place Of meeting Bloody Island.
II was Il hot August afternoon ihd
they met under the cottonwood. on
Bloody Island 10 settle Thu question ol
injured honor. The river bank al II.
Loui, was lined with people eager -
know the result Tor the duel va. NJ $50
| crel, and lis merits were freely dis,u ,st,d
by all. Biddle wa. very ncai-.ightrl. 30
the distance agreed upon va. only i've
| PAGES aud there the two men stood. pis-
| tol in hand, almost breast 10 bp1t.t.
| When the word wa- given both men
! fired nj the same instant. Tho loud re-
port rang ont and the Lccn-cyed
ones on the distant river
bank saw the little pun Of
.moke that iloatcd up above the tree.
With the report of the pistol both men
| tell the surgeon, rushed forward TO their
work, and the seconds were as eager 10
assist them. but their principal, were
1 "a - III lg.s