New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1877-01-07

mined to exact an apology or fight
from the offender. He despatched friend
with o note addressed to the British Off
Ger who had been guilty of the offense,
demanding an apology or satisfaction.
The latter alternative was conceded and q
meeting agreed on. After some delay the
parties met on shore. The Americans
found that the Englishmen were very shy
of exchanging shots at close quarters
They desired to fight at long distances,
and would only consent to the combat
ants shooting in the time that handker-
chief held to the chin of one of the sec
onds on being dropped would reach the
ground. They desired to fight duels
without any risk of being hit. Stockton,
however, shot his opponent on the first
trial in the leg, when, picking up his
wounded limb in his hand, he COM
meneed crying, 81 am hit! am hit! Are
you satisfied" Stockton replied that he
was not satisfied, and demanded another
trial. But nothing could induce the Eng
lishman to make another such expert
ment.
The next affair of this nature occurred
at Gibraltar, and originated in the follow
ing circumstances: The Erie arrived at
Gibraltar on one occasion alone, no other
American ship of war being in company.
As soon as she arrived a very respectable
captain of Boston merchantmen came
| aboard and complained of the outrageous
treatment to which he had been recently
| subjected. The captain was evidently
| gentleman, keenly susceptible of any in
| dignity, personal or national, which could
be offered to him. 1t appeared that it
was a regulation at Gibraltar that every
one in the streets after certain hour at
night should carry a light in lantern
with him. The American captain was ig-
norant of the regulations and, returning
home after the prescribed hour from sup
per with friend, only few doors from
his boarding house, was arrested by the
guard. He offered to satisfy the guard
who he was if he would only go with him
few doors to his boarding house. The
guard refused this reasonable request
and conducted him to the officer OF the
station. To him the American officer re-
peated his excuse. The officer affected to
discredit his story, and ordered him to be
detained. The American captain remon-
strated, and the British officer abused him
in opprobious terms and finally thrust
him in dungeon in which the vilest
criminals were confined. He was thus
detained until liberated at the instance Of
the American consul, but no redress was
rendered. The American then challenged
the British officer of the station, who re-
ceived his challenge with the contemptu-
GUS inquirywhether he was fool enough
to suppose that British officer would
fight the captain of damned Yankee
merchantmen" After satisfying himself
of the facts of the case, every effort was
/ i, - eIA 80, kI,o
British captain by Lieutenant Stockton,
but every such attempt was repealed in
such manner as aggravated the original
ofense. In consequence of this outrage
upon an American citizen hostile meet
ing was arranged to take place between
Lieutenant Stockton and the captain Of
the guard, with the express stipulation
that whatever might be the result, the
free passage to their ship. The
meeting took place, and much dis.
pute arose respecting the terms and
distances to be agreed upon. The British
officers desired to fight at long distances,
and on the dropping of handkerchief.
The Americans wanted the distance short
ened, and to fire when they pleased, The
British officer was wounded, and his sec.
/
of shots at that time Lieutenant Stock.
ton told them pretty plainly that he did
not approve their conduct, which indi.
Gated in his opinion nothing but coward.
ice. They then said that unless the affaiI
was soon settled Stockton would have to
fight all the captains of the regiment
Stockton promptly accepted it, adding
that as they had differed about the dis
lance they might choose it for themselves
at any point between eight PAGES and two
inches. The difficulties increased will
every negotiation, and after several meet
ings the Governor of Gibraltar interposed
and at his suggestion the Commodore O
the American squadron forbade the off
GERS of the Erie to go ashore. The par
ticulars of these meetings are not remem
bered, but it was during some one of then
that Midshipman (now Commodore
Josiah Sands killed his adversary.
+. Some time after the first affair at Glib
raltar above referred to the Erie returned
from cruise of a month or two to thu
same place. Soon after her arrival Lieu
tenant Stocton received message from
the British captain with whom the un.
settled difficulty was pending, that he wal
; ready to give him (Stockton) the meeting
agreed upon at the neutral ground, anC
that he might depend ON their not being
, molested by the military police. At tht
appointed time Stockton, accompanied BY
Purser Bowen and DIR. Pewco, proceeded
/ to the ground at twelve O'Clock. Thu
, British parties were again unwilling Il
fight on the &erms and at the distane,
, proposed by the Americans, and Womb
only fight on their own terms. So many
| difficulties were raised by them that a
, last Stockton told them that they onl,
, wanted to prolong the negotiations unit
/ they should be discovered by the author
; tiles of Gibraltar and interrupted.
: He had hardly made this remark whel
/ guard was seen coming out of Gibralte
in the direction of the neutral ground
, and it became apparent that the guarante
by which they had been lured ashore wa
worthless, and that unless the terms die
J tated by the Englishmen were accepted n
conflict would take place. Stockton toll
J his seconds to have done with negotia
{ tions and let him fight on the terms of hi
adversary. Having wounded his oppC
nent, upon going up to him TO inquire int
, his condition, the British officer advise
him to save himself by Immediately lea,
ing the ground if he wished to escap
! | being arrested. After denouncing the
/ treacheTy and defying them for any futui
Q encounter they may dare TO risk, Stockto
: turned into the road leading TO the shore
Q where his boat was awaiting his arrival.
/ The road was rough and strewn wit
/ rocks, and at the foot of the hill could /
seen a strong detachment approaching fl
hisarrest. In descending the eminenC