The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-09-01
DEADLY DUEL WITH KNIVES.
A HANKEE's MORTAL STRIFE WITH
BORDER RUETTAN
How Young Nassachusetts Lawyer Met
his Death In Knnsas-Pistois aud KNIVES
a Secret Revealed after Twenty Years.

FY1tt ~ Esdr,pieorh TiBo..
An old inhabitant Yesterday rccountcd
tho details OF n famous duel fought here in
September. 1853. nearly twenty years ago, the
spot chosen for tho slaughter being almost pro-
cisey the ono selected by United Staies Senator
James II. Lane. when he sent the bullet crush
ing through his brain. which put such n sudden
end to his Senatorial career. The fact Of tho
duel has heretofore been known ne the dark
secret. b" and. SO far as IL known has not hcrcto-
fore been diyulgcd. MS the parties concerned
wcrc sworn never to reveal IL until at some
future time when conccalment would be no
longer q necessity. Tho necessity for conceal
mcnt no longer exists. As Is well known, tho
period prior to tho reception OF Kansns into the
Union Of States was time OF trouble and
trihulation; n time which tried mons souls !;
when tho Bowie knife and tho ready revolver
wor. tho sole arbtcrs NJ qunrres. The strifc
for supremacy between the Free State men and
tho border rufllans was bitter 10 the last degree.
Among the Free State mon who wcrc cOnspic-
uous for their advocacy of equal rights was
youthful Massachusetts lawyer named Will
Hams brave. resOiutc, ana daring. He WIS II
was determined that he should be- put out OfthO
way Enrolled in the border ruiinn ranks was
lusty SOuthcrncr named Jackson, u, Ton
nossccan. "A firm believer In the " code" Il
crack shot. md utterly fearless; cold-hloodnd.
cool, man OF fine presence. and who hated II
Yankee ms hc hated tho devil He was the
ono sclc'o1 to nut Willnms out OF tho
way to PIX quarrel win the victim and
ono afternoon on Delaware street, the two be-
emo engaged IN 'Qnyersution. AMI hot dis
putc arose. ending by Jackson splitting In Will
liams' face. This was an insult too gross To be
hrouknd. and nothing hut tho interference OF
irlrhds prevented tinLedX thoh hhi t'rr
The rc-u WIS challenge, the PARTIES To meet
upon the Government reserve the next morn
ing Mt daylight 20 iight II out Pistols were
chosen, after the first two shots tho parties TO
close with knives
Jackson. being tho challenged party. had the
sole ton ~ the weapons, ana hring an expert
with both tho revolver and knife. oh SO them to
lr used N the duel. Wlinms Will, compare
lively a good shot with the revolver. could not
weapon while with lhe knife h was wholly I'M
acquainted. How. lsr. hc could not back out.
and knowing inevitable death to toe the result.
he proceeded To the spot chosen, determined to
s,Il his lllc a. dearly ~ possible.
In the gray daylight NJ tho autumn morning
the two mon. accompanied by two seconds and
n surg 'on, Wet upon the reserve short dis,
tarrc northwest OF the head o. Brnndwav, and
prepared for the bloody work before them.
Both were cool and collected the first because
firm in the h"lioi that he was i'm The right and
resolved 60 make his mark. oven II 10 could not
Rim his adversary. Ten PAGES WAS tho distance:
loth men grasped their rovolvers and awaited
spe iriors would ut public execution wh"rc
a victim WIS TO DO sa.rlcci the word
M Sni vTnn M e2a hFfd iS oWny go61r
had fallen, although by tho nervous twit'h-
Ing 81 the muscles OF MllliAms's iHro
it could Doc seen that he had been hit. while
Jackson WIS uninjured At the second fire
Jn'k-ons bullet whistlel over Willams's head.
vhils the ball Of the iAucr imhrldod itself in
ia o. shy part OF his adv 'r-ary'- thigh. The
knives were tlcn drawn, nuI the two closed in
m rial strife. Madden by his wound. Jack
son fought with the dcsI Grafton OF de- pair.
vii Hms. cooler. stood Ike u lion at lay. de-
Ten ling himself AGAINST tn Ncrec ou~luu. Ais u
Tho tiger. In au up-sUUrlcl moment Va ksOu WIS
thrown from Ills guard. and at that instant the
keen blade III MS Antagonist pierced his LETT
SIDE. NJ inilirting. however. mortal wound.
But Williams from the ciIcct OF the bullet
haustnd. and. being a novice with thr knife. he
could not lus Stand w against So trained and
Irartlrnl an hdt lSury MS Jaf k~ou. anu tho rud
son came. in 'e~un. although weak from loss
Of blood press 4 Hereby on. he succn died hy
q quick movement IN lurrylng a side thrust ~
Williams. dashed forward, his bright blade gilt
tcrln- AMI nhsllne iora moment IN tue AIR.
and then being buried deep in tho throat OF his
enemy. the point protruding from tn back II
Williams neck. tn latter stood erect hut
moment. his knife dropped from his nervele-s
hand. his ryNs glazed in tue semi conscious
nc-s IRE ,cding dissolution. am then he fell
dend, WITHOUT u EroNn.
Jackson WIS snlD'd ut once by his friends and
hurried u,I - the river. where. after time
sufl Hisut to rN over from hi- wounds nee turned
bis steps houewnrd and never aplin set his
foot upon Kansas SOIL H. entered thc 4. hel
nrmy. uud ,url at tA' head of li. Z ,inleut 10
GNtN ur-, Tho seconds ana surgeon re-
irrN'd 20 the city and -rid nothing about the
aN.lr. Thu body OF Williams was nurr4nlly
aIl privately .ut .r at. aad Whll' tlr l.0tu-
r'a"nc' II 10th Jackson aad Williams for .
time "N Stood comment Iut caused tuo institute
muttrrw - soon lorEo,tcu in the midst ot t.e
Wiz cAeltH no 90 iIH ESQ MS turu trans llr liz.