The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1878-01-24
FAMOUS DUELS.
A Newspaper Article That Led to TerribI,
Bloedshed in Florida.


red there years ago " In the Seminole
war;" said Mr.. Zabran, evidently am
bling down well worn groove of con-
versation, Governor Call, of this State,
commanded a crack regiment. One
morning he received note announcing
that his wife was quite ill. He at once
repaired to her bedside. During his
absence battle was fought. Shortly
afterward an article appeared in the
Chronicle and Sentinel, of Augusta, in
sinuating that Governor Gall had pur-
posely absented himself from the battle.
The paper containing this cruel article
reached the camp and was ut once the
subject of comment Lieutenant Au-
gustus 'Alston determined, in the alb
sence of his colonel, to protect his honor,
mounted horse and plunged through
the woods for Augusta. Reaching that
city he made his way to the Chronicle
office and demanded to know the author
of the offensive article. 1t turned out
that it was Governor Reed, of Florida,
for long time bitter political enemy
sent him peremptory challenge. Gov
happy to accommodate Lieutenant Ais
tOu Will SublbldCtlOu dS bOOu ut DuNt
concluded an affair with Lieutenant
Williams, of Calls staff, who had al
ready favored him with note upon the
same subject. Alston thereupon had to
content his soul in patience until the af-
fair with Williams was over. He did
not have to wait long. A meeting was
soon arranged between Reed and Will
liams, the conditions of which were that
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until one or the other should be cut
down. At the meeting the men came
upon the ground, stripped to their
shirts. They advanced until they met
each other. They then clasped their
left hands together in firm and dead
game grasp, standing toe to toe. The
keen and shining knives were then placed
in their right hands. At signal they
dropped perpepdicularly along their
legs. At the next word they were raised
into the air, and then the terrible fenc-
ing began. 1t was a brief, strenuous
struggle. The long knives cut and
gashed and wheezed through the flesh OF
the combatants and clashed and sparkled
against each other, now buried in vital
tissue. and now whipped out with a
dim, bluesh moisture yelling the blades,
until at length Lieutenant Williams
fell, hacked almost to pieces. Governor
Reed escaped without disabling injury.
He then turned his attention to Lieu
tenant Alston. Being the challenged
party, he had the choice of weapons.
He selected murderous weapon, now
happily obsolete, but then of common
use and known as yagar. 1t was a
broad-mouthed, funnel. shaped, smooth
bore gun that carried handful of shot
and was warranted to hit everything in
the neighborhood of it's aim. The duel
was most unfortunate one in its direct
and remote results. Captain Kenon was
Lieutenant Alstons second. The
principals were posted with their backs
to each other. AS the word wheel
was called it is claimed that Alston
slipped and stumbled. The command,
ire-one-two-three p followed al.
most Immediately, and before he could
recover his gun went off into the air.
Governor Reed took cool aim, fired
promptly at the word, and Lieutenant
Alston dropped dead. Thus two gallant
young fellows had already fallen in
defence of the honor of an absent com.
rade. But the cruel feud was hardly
opened. Colonel Willis Aston, then
living in Louisiana. heard of his brothers
death aud became impressed with the
idea that he had not been fairly killed.
He claimed that Governor Reed should
have withheld his fire when he saw his
brothers gun spring aimless toward the
sky. Indeed, it is said that sister OF
Lieutenant Alston had the lead taken
from her brothers body and new bull
let nodded, which she sent to Colonel
Willis Aston and demanded that he
should come and avenge their brothers
death. Colonel Aston came as fast as
possible to this hotel. Governor Brown
met him as he rode up to the piazza and
at once OWNED his purpose. 'You have
come here to challenge Reed 2 he asked
Colonel Alston assented. Governor
Brown then begged him to be very
deliberate and cool and quiet about it
On the very night he got here he was
sitting near the fireplace yonder, with q
large cloak around him, and his head
bowed upon his hand. He had been
sitting there only few moments
when some one brushed past him rather
roughly. Raising his head he discovered
that it was Governor Reed, the very man
he had travelled so far to challenge to
deadly combat. In an instant he was
ablaze with excitement. and rising, ex-
claimed: you have murdered my
brother, sir, and now do you presume
to insult me? Draw and defend your
self, SIR AS quick as thought Reed
drew a six-barrelled pistol and fired,
tearing away Alston's third finger, just
as the latter poured q broadside into
him from horseman's pistol, lodging O
ball in his side. The fire was repeated,
each man receiving another bullet.
Colonel Alston was then out of ammuni.
ton, having only two horseman's pistols.
Throwing back his long cloak, however,
he drew his bowie and closed with his
antagonist. In few strokes Governor
Reed was cut to the floor, and his op.
ponent sank in a fainting fit. 1t was in
that melee that the bullet hole was made
up there.
"The two men were taken to their
beds, and for several weeks were con-
fined to their rooms. Colonel Alston
was first to recover. He was much en-
bittered by the contest that had taken
place, and said that he intended to kill
Governor Reed on sight. A few days
afterward he met Governor Reed on the
street. He went home and loaded q
double -barreled shot gun, putting in
one of the barrels, it is said, the bullet
that his sister had moulded with the
lead taken from his brothers dead body.
Seeking Reed again, he fred at him on
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