The New York herald., 1879-03-16
A Carolina Family Whose Members Must Ali
Die With Their Boots On.
OLD TIME CHIVALRY.
Strange and Violent Deaths Of the AlstOns
Through Many Generations.
COLONEL BOB" MEETS THE FATE OF HIS RACE

Tho killing of Colonel Robert A. Aston in this
city last Tuesday revives the memory of the
most famous family probably Of the old-time
chivary days-the fighting Alstons Of Carolina. The
history of this audacous strain of blood is inter-
woven with the history Of those turbulent days when
gentlemen fought at the drop Of hat. and slight
movement Of the pistol finger was the answer to all
insult or insinuation-the close of all argument.
The Alstons were gallant men of gentle blood and
usually large fortunes. They were free lvers and
utterly reckless fighters. and frequently became in
volved in difficulties that drained Their estates with
costs and forfeitures. Probably the best known of
them, Colonel Ben Aston, had several affairs Of
honor and wounded his antagonist every time that
he went to the field. He an imperious. passion
ate man. and as cool under fire would be in his
drawing room. His most notable duel with
Hsyne. whom he wounded in the knee. On one oc-
casion he was visiting in Augusta. when gentle
man. installing him for acquaintance, tapped him
across the shoulders with riding whip. Alston
wheeled as quick as lightning. The gentleman apol-
ogized in the most ample terms Aston took the
whip from his hands, lashed him across the back
and then said, "Now. sir. your apology is accepted
OF meeting followed. 1t is said that Aston
once fought q gentleman who disputed the age of
some wine Of which Aston had been boasting.
throwing of the wine in his face that he might
get its full flavor.
Colonel Bob Aston came of the family known as
the Halifax Alstons. Their estates lay about Hall
fax. n. c.. and they dominated that whole section
for years. They were enormously wealthy and
travelled from one Of their estates to another in al
most regal state. They had hundreds Of slaves and
always travelled with a coach and four and small
army of retainers. The men were princey in their
habits of expense and put the "code'' above the
Bible. The women high strung and spirited
Mrs. Bob Alston, the grandmother of the subject Of
this sketch, always carried her own sheets and
pillows with her when she travelled. and case of
loaf sugar. 81 have known her, says Colonel Tom
Howard. a connection. Ito put 500 on cock fight
with her own birds, and then stand and watch the
struggle to the DEATH" Colonel Willis Aston. known
as Honest Willis Aston" the grand uncle Of Bob
Aston fought dozen duels in one winter, number
less quarrels having sprung from his assaults a
defaulting State treasurer. He killed two men and
was himself frequently wounded His favorlte
weapon was an old-fashioned "yager," which is a
sort of blunderbuss, carrying double handful Of
buck shot, and of fearful execution. volume
might be filed with the bloody exploits of these two
brothers, but shall deal only with the sons Of
Colonel Bob Alston who the later Alstons' i'm
mediate ancestors.
ALsToN MUST DIE WITH HIS BOOTS ON.
Old Colonel Alston, who was himself killed in o
duel. had three sons-willis. Gideon and Augustus.
Willis Aston the father of Colonel R. A. Aston.
Each Of these brothers came TO his death by vio-
lence or died. the family tradition runs. Gin his
boots" Gideon Aston, the first Of the three to die,
killed in peculiar manner. His brother Willis
was in Nashville, on lordly froic, when he became
very much enamored OF the lady who afterward mar
ried Sam Houston-a Miss Trimbe, believe. He
paid her assiduous suit for several months. and
while engaged in this dalliance, formed an attach
ment for young Spanish boy, named Pelat. This
boy friendess and poor and Alston adopted him
taking him home with him when he left Nashville
Tt appears that there feeling between Pela
and Gideon Aston; any they left the house al
night and went into the yard for the purpose Of
"practising with their pistols" Gideon was then 4
college boy. having just turned sophomore in the
State University. In few moments after he left the
house with Peat he was found in the yard with ,
pistol bullet through his brain. Peat said that h,
had shot himself accidentally and this is all that wa,
ever known of the matter.
FLORIDA TRAGEDY.
And now comes one of the most remarkable trage.
dies in the history Of this section full of tragedies
There living in Florida then primitive region
young Leigh Reed. man of great ability gentlenes,
and courage. He almost idolized by the people
of that State for his gallant services in the fierce
Indian wars, having by his skill and fearessness
era times saved the little colony from destruction by
the seminoles and their allies. story is told of him
that will illustrate his character and at the sam,
time show how delicate the sense Of persona
honor at that time General Reed was political op
ponent of Governor Calls and at the same time
his personal friend. Political feeling very high
and on election day q Mr.. White made some reAec
tions upon the integrity Of Governor Call. Reed Al
once challenged him for duel. The went, were
both desperately wounded and behaved with grea,
gaantry fighting. believe with bowie knives. Their
left hands being strapped together some time after
Astons. give the story as 1T was given me by
Colonel II. A. Aston himself. He said that article
appeared in newspaper rejecting Governor
Call. Colonel Augustus Alston, who the leader
of the Call faction. demanded the OF the author
He was furnished with the of General Reed. who
was the leader of the opposite faction He
at challenged General Reed, and meeting was
arranged The weapons selected were 'yagers. >
this deadly weapon being. have said iavoritt
| with the Alstons. Colonel Aston attended by
| Mr.. Kenon his brother-in-law. At the word ''One
Colonel Alston's gun exploded, il being har-trig
| gercd. The contents discharged into the air
General Reed aiming with deliberation. fired, and
Colonel Aston dropped dead in his tracks His SIS
ter, a most spirited woman, nearly crazcd at the
pews OF his DEATH She secured the lead that had
killed him. and with her own hands she moulded II
into bullets and sent them to her brother. Willis
Aston hc father of X. A. Alson). and implored him
| to come and avenge the death of his brother. She
| wrote that he had been murdered and the Alstons
mcnt is that the meeting was fair one General Reed
using only his just right in firing after the explosion
| of Alstons wager" At any rate 1t very well
derstood that Willis Alston would seek revenge fol-
his brothcrs death, the family for generations had
made one of all their quarrcls The first meeting be
tween Aston and Reed was dramatic The Leg ASIA
| ture had just met, and Reed had been elected
| Speaker. He was young man, of exceptional power
and popularity, aud his life promised to be brilliant
| and iilustrious. lie had invited his friends
| TO tho usual legislative supper, and the
banquet was in progress, everything going merrily
| and we'll Suddenly o tall figure muflicd in swing
4 ing cloak and with souch hat drawn down ovei
| the face stalked through the open door. without
word IL made for the head of the table, where Genera
| Reed was sitting. Instantly cries of "Alston
Aston!' arose and down the table. At thcs'
cries the cloak thrown back and Aston wal
recognized. Reed from his scat, and. whippin:
pistol out of his pocket cvecd IL ut his assailan
| and fired. The ball struck Aston his upliftes
hand. carrying away two fingers. This did not stol
| him, but brandishng bowie knife. he closed OF
| Reed Before the men could be parted Reed was GU
pretty severely, and Aston believe. wounded again
Aston taken from the room, and for SOM
| months nothing more was heard of the matter. On
day General Reed was walking down the streets o
xh ne urciu Inv n al