The Beaufort tribune and Port Royal commercial. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1877-1879, 1877-05-17
THE GRAYES.CILLEY DUEL.
An Interesting Account of the aIectin.

The story of the Graves and Cilley
duel which created so profound sensa-
ton in its day is now retold. Mr.. Cilley
in the House of Representatives had
spoken insultingly of the family of James
Waston Webb of the New York Courier
and Enquirer, and Webb challenged
him to mortal combat. Cilley refused
to fight Webb, declaring that he was no
gentleman. Graves, who was acting as
Webb's second, then gave the challenge
in his own name, and it 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 rife. It was
understood that Mr.. Cilley had brought
his rifle with him. There was story
that found currency, to the effect that
Mr.. Cilley, in packing his effects before
starting to take his seat in Congress, was
very particular in seeing that his trusty
rifle shoula be securely slowed. AS the
story ran, he had practiced with it for
days, and on finding that he could plant
ball in the "bull's-eye" every time,
he exclaimed: "That will do! I will
show the naughty Southerners that there
is as good chivalry as theirs north of
Mason and Dixon's line.
Mr.. Graves had heard all these things,
and now how was he to secure weapon
fit to meet the well tested one of his
antagonist7 He confessed that on this
point he felt great anxiety, not to say an
approach of trepidation. His seconds
and himself ransacked 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 rife to be found At length, on
going to Alexandria to gunsmith's, an
old, dilapidated weapon was discovered.
It was out of order and out of use. Es-
pecially, the touch hole had been blown
out until it was large enough for a muz-
zle. But this was the best that could
be done. So the gunsmith agreed to
have it in as good order as possible that
night With this assurance Mr.. Graves
went home, and to avoid suspicion went
to 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
out on his deadly errand, as he saw his
wife and daughter lying in undisturbed
sleep he leaned over and kissed them
both, and taking the last look. and men,
tally bidding them goodbye. with the
thought that in all human probability he
might never behold them again, for the
remembrance of his antagonists deadly
rifle came to his mind, as likewise the
fact that he had not tried his own. Thus
he Vent forth. All parties were on the
ground before it was fairly light. Henry
A. Wise was one of Mr.. Graves seconds.
Mr.. Webb was all this time totally I'M
conscious of what was transpiring, as
most undoubtedly he would not have
allowed Mr.. Graves to fight duel for
him. All things *ere duly arranged
and the principals placed in position,
according to the most punctilious laws
of "the code" The first fire was with
out effect.
On consultation among principals and
seconds it was found that all that WAS
necessary to be done was for Mr.. Cilley
to acknowledge that Mr.. Webb was
gentleman and the peer of Mr.. Cilley,
and everything would be entirely satis-
factory. This Mr.. Cilley would not do.
So there was no alternative save to fire
another round. This time, when MIR.
Wise approached Mr.. Graves to put the
loaded rife in his hands, he said: "You
fire too low too low!" This time as
Mr.. Graves was taking his position and
aim, he noticed that the muzzle OF Gil
ley's rifle was far from steady, and then,
for the first time, he began to think that
perhaps he would not come off second
best. The second shot was without
effect. AS Mr.. Wise approached Graves
he said again, whispering between his
teeth: "I tell you with an OATH you
fire too low too lOU !'
There was another consultation all
around; all that Mr.. Cilley had to do
was to withdraw the offensive note
against Mr.. Webb. This Cilley would
not do. So there must be third ex-
change of shots. This time, =" 1 saw, "
in the words of Graves, "that the nozzle
of Cilley's rifle was still more decidedly
shaky, and I felt much more at my ease.
And now the aim of both parties was
more deliberate than heretofore, except
that Mr.. Cilley's rifle would not be en-
tirely steady at the muzzle-" two,
three, fire p Mr.. Cilley fell stone dead,
pierced through the very center of his
forehead. 81 would have given" said
Graves, call the world, had 1 owned it,
to have called him back to life. I felt
that would have given my own life if it
could only have brought his back
Mr.. Graves during his last sickness
began to say to his wife that Mr.. Cilley
stood constantly at the foot of his bed,
with his gaze fixed steadily upon him.
There, with the fatal wound in the fore
head, stood the slain Cilley, never TAX
ing his eyes from him. at is too hor-
rible !' Mr.. Graves would cry. At the
same time, and all the time, he was as
cool and. apparently, as ambitious as
ever. He would SIMPLY speak OF it as a
fact, dreadful, horrible fact, full of
dread, forebodings, but still fact that
he would endure with all his manhood.
He ordered all the lamps in his room to
be kept continually burning, that the
apparition might be overwhelmed with
the brilliant light.
Brave Drummer Boys.