The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1877-06-12
THE GRAVES CILLEY DUEL.
An Interesting Account of the Nee
ting.

The story OF the Graves and Cilley
duel which created so profound sensa'
ton in its day is now retold. Mr.. Gil
ley, in the House of Representatives had
spoken insnltingly of the family ofJames
Wotson Webb, of the New York Courier
and Enquirer, and Webb challenged him
to mortal combat. Cilley refused to fight
Webb, declaring that he was not a gem
tleman. Graves, who was acting as
Webbs second, then gave the chsllengc
in his own name, and 1t was accepted
Everything was arranged for the hostile
meeting, the combat to take place in the
early gray of the morning of the next
day, or certainly of the day after. This
Mr. Graves considered as very great,
almost fatal. disadvantage to him, for the
duel was to be fought with rifles, and Mr..
Graves had no rifle. 1t was understood
that Mr.. Gillcy had brought his rifle with
him. There was story that found cur
rcncy, to the effect that Mr.. Cilley, in
packing his effects, before starting to
take his scat in Congress, was very par
tieular in seeing that his trusty rife
should he securely slowed. As the story
ran, he had practieed with it for days,
and on finding that he could plant bull
in the bulls eye. every time, he ex
claimed THAT will do will teach
the naughty Southerners that there is as
good chiyalry as theirs north OF Mason
and Dixons line
Mr.. Mason had heard all these things,
and now how was he to secure weapon
fit to meet the well-tested one of his an
tagonist? He confessed that ON this
point he felt great anxiety, not to say an
approach of trepiaation. His seconds
and himself ransaeked all Washington
for rifle, but there was nothing to be
found at all suitable. The last day be-
fore the fatal morning was almost spent,
and no rifle to be found. At length, on
going to Alexandria to n gtnsmiths $, an
old, diapidated weapon was discovered
1t was out of order, and out of use. Es-
peeally, the touch hole had been blown
out until it was large enough Tor muz-
gle. But this was tho best that could be
done. So the gaasmith agreed to have
it in as good order as possible, that
night With this assurance Mr.. Graves
went home, and to avoid suspicion, wen
ia bed, and if possible to snatch little
sleep before the early hours Of the morn
ing, Early in the morning after rising
and dressing himself with the least pos
sible noise, when he was ready to go ou
on his deadly GRAND, as he saw his wife
and daughter lying in undisturbed sleep
he leaned over and kissed them both, aut
taking the last look and mentally bidding
ll.e,a, soe.l- l,s O., with t,se sheagat that, !,
all human probability, he nigh neye
| behold them again, for the remembrance
of his antagonists deadly rifle came t
his mind, as likewise the fact that he haC
not tried his own Thus he went forth
All parties were on the ground before i
was fairly light Henry A. Wise was on
Of Mr.. Graves seconds. Mr.. Webb wa
all this time totally unconscious of wha
was transporting, as most undoubtedly h'
would not have allowed Mr.. Graves Il
fight duel for Kim. All things wei,
duly arranged, and the principals place.
in position, according to the most pune
tillious laws of the CODE The frs
| IRE was without eilcct
On consultation among principals ant
seconds, it was found that all that wa
necessary to DO done, was for Mr. Cille,
to acknowledge that Mr.. Webb was
gentleman, ana the peer of Mr.. Cilley
and everything would be entirely salts
factory. This Mr. Cilley would not do
So there was no alternative save to fir
another round. This time, when Mr.
Wise approached Mr., Graves to put thu
! loaded rife in his hands, he said: You
fire too low! too low!' This time, al
Mr.. Graves was taking his position ant
aim, he noticed that the muzzle of Gil
/ lcy's rife was far from steady, and then
Tor the fist time, he began to think tina
perhaps he would not come off SECOND
| best The second shot was without ct
feet As Mr.. Wise approached Graves
he said again, whispering between hi
teeth II tell you, with an oath) yo'
fire too low! TOO loW',.
There was another consultation al
around; all that Mr.. Clley had to do wa
to Withdraw the offensive note agains
Mr.. Webb. This Ciley would not do
So there must be third exchange 0
shots. This time, " SOW" in the word
of Graves, :" that the nozzle of Cilley'
rifle was still more decidedly shaky, an
| felt much more at my ease" And nov
the sian Of both parties was more delibo
rate than heretofore, except that Mr.. Gil
ley's rifle would not be entirely steady u
the muzzl,---" One, two. three, fire y
Mr.. Cilley fell stone dead, pierce
through the very center of his forehead
q would have given all the world sal
Graves, -" had owned it, to have calle
him back to lite felt that | would hav
given my own life if it could only hay
brought him back
Mr. Graves, during his last sickness
began to say to his wife that Mr. Cille
stood constantly at the foot OF his bee
with his gaze fixed steadily upon hin
There, with the fatal wound in the fore
head, stood the slain Cilley, never tal<in
his G es from him 1T is too horrible
Mr. Graves would cry. AT the same tim
aud all the time, he was as cool and ap
parently, as ambitious as ever. He woul
simply speak of it as fact, a dreadin
horrible fact, full of dread forcbodings
bu. still a fact that he would endure wit
all his manhood. He ordered all tn
lamps in his room to be kept CONSTANT
hnrninu that the apDarition might