San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1878-02-09

Ut Once tnc suDJcCt VI CohHohb' A<'O"s'
Augustus Aston determined, in the alb
sence of his Colonel, to protect his
honor, mounted horse, and plunged
through the woods for Augusta. Reach
ing that city, he made his way to the
Chronicle Office and demanded
to know the author of the Of
fensive article. 1t turned out that
it was Gov. Reed of Florida,
for long time bitter political enemy
of Calls. Lieut.. Aston at once sent
him peremptory challenge. Gov.
Reed replied that he would be happy to
accommodate Lieut.. Aston with salts
faction rs soon US he had concluded an
affair with Lieut.. Williams, of Calls
staff, who had already favored him with
q note upon the same subject. Aston
thereupon had to content his soul in pa
thence until the affair with Williams was
over. He did not have to wait long. A
meeting was soon arranged between
Reed and Williams, the conditions of
which were that they were to fight with
bowie knives 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 clasp
ed 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 q
signal they were dropped perpendicu-
larry along their legs, At the next word
they were raised into the air, and then
the terrible fencing began. 1t was brief,
strenuous struggle. The long knives
cut and gashed through the flesh of the
combatants and clashed and sparkled
against each other, now buried in vital
tissue, and now whipped out with dim,
blush moisture yelling the blades, until
at length Lieut.. Williams fell, hacked
almost to pieces. Gov. Reed escaped
without disabling injury.
"He then turned his attention to
Lieut.. Aston. Being the challenged
party he had the choice of weapons. He
selected murderous weapon, now hap
PLY obsolete, but then of common use,
and known as a wager. 1t was broad
mouthed, funnel-shaped, smooth-bore
gun, that carried a handful of shot, and
was warranted to hit every thing in the
neighborhood of its aim. The duel was
q most unfortunate one in its direct and
remote results. Capt. Kenon was Lieut..
Alston's second. The principals were
posted with their backs to each other.
AS the word "wheel'' was called it is
claimed that Aston slipped and stum-
bled. The commands 'Fire-one-two
-three!' followed almost Immediately, |
and before he could recover, his gun
went off into the air. Gov. Reed took
cool aim, fired promptly at the word, and
Lieut.. Aston dropped dead. Thus two
gallant young fellows had already fallen
in defense of the honor of an absent
comrade. But the cruel feud was hardly
opened.
"Col. Willis Aston, then living in
Louisiana, heard of his brothers death,
and became impressed with the idea
that he had not been fairly killed. He
claimed that Gov. Reed should have
his fire when he saw his
brothers. gun spring aimlessly toward
he sky. Indeed, it is said that sister
Of Lieut.. Aston had the lead taken
from her brothers. body, and
new bullet nodded, which she
sent to Colonel Willis Aston, and
demanded that he should come and
lvenge their brothers. death. Col. AL
ton came as fast as possible to this ho-
ell. Gov. Brown met him as he rode
Up to the piazza, and at once OWNED his
purpose. you have come here to chal-
enge ReedP' he asked. Col. Aston as
ented. Gov. Brown then begged him
o be very deliberate and cool and quiet
bout it. On the very night he got here
lie was sitting near the fireplace yonder,
With large cloak around him, and his
ead bowed upon his hand. He had
een sitting there only few moments
,hen some one brushed past him rather
oughly. Raising his head he discov-
red that it was Gov. Reed, the very
nan he had travelled so far to challenge
D deadly combat. In an instant he was ,
blaze with excitement, and rising ex-
laimed: You have murdered my broth
+, sir, and now do you presume to in 4,
ult me? Draw and defend yourself,
irl' As quick rs thought Reed drew a :.