Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1879-03-27
OLD TIME 0HIVALRY.
How Southern Non Of Honor 0ettlst
Dihaculties-.A Bloody Feud.


A correspondent of the New York
Herald, in writing up the history of the
Aston family, member of which-Cel.
r. A. Alston-was killed at Atlanta,
Ca, recently, gives the following chap
ter from family history:
And now comes one OF the most re-
markable tragedies in the history of this
section 60 full of tragedies. There was
living in Florida, then primitive re.
gion, young Leigh Reed, a man of great
ability, gentleness and courage. He was
almost idiolized by the people Of that
state for his gallant services in the fierce
Indian wars, having by his skill and
fearlessness several times saved the little
colony from destruction by the Semin-
oles and their allies. A story is told of
him that will illustrate his character and
at the same time show how delicate was
the sense of personal honor at that time:
General Reed was political opponent of
Governor Calls son, and at the same
time his personal friend. Political feel
ing ran very high, and on election day
Mr. White made some reflections upon
the integrity of Governor Call. Reed
at once challenged him for duel. The
/ men met, were both desperately wound
ed and behaved with great gallantry,
fighting, I believe, with bowie knives,
their left hands being strapped together.
Some time afterward Reed became in
volved in a difficulty with the Alstons
| give the story as it was given me by
! Colonel r. A. Aston himself. He said
that an article appeared in a newspaper
rejecting on Governor Call. Colonel
Augustus Aston, who was the leader of
the Call faction. demanded the name of
the author. He was furnished with the
name of General Reed, who was the lead
er of the opposite faction. He at once
CHALLENGED General Reed, and meeting
was arranged. The weapons selected
"yagers," this deadly weapon being, as
I have said, favorite with the Alstons.
! Colonel Aston was attended by Mr.
Kenon, his brother-jn-law. At the word
"One'' Colonel Alston's gun exploded,
it being hair triggered. The contents
we're discharged into the air. General
! Reed, aiming with deliberation, fired,
and Colonel Aston dropped dead in his
tracks. His sister, a most spirited wo-
man, was nearly crazed at the news OF
his death. She secured the lead that
had killed him, and with her own hands
she moulded it into bullets and sent
them to her brother, Willis Aston,
(the father of R. 4. Alston,)
and implored him to come and
avenee the death of his brother. She
wrote that he had been murdered, and
the Alstons adhered to this belief, al
though the general statement is that the
meeting was a fair one, General Reed
using only his just right in firing after
the explosion Of Alston's "yager." At
any rate it was very we'll understood
that Willis Aston would seek revenge
for his brothers death, as the family for
generations had made one of all their
quarrels. The first meeting between
Aston and Reed was dramatic. The
legislature had just met, and Reed had
been elected speaker. he was young
man, of exceptional power and popular
ity, and his life promised to be brilliant
tand illustrious. He had invited his
friends to the usual legislative supper,
and the banquet was in progress. every
thing going merrily and we'll. Sudden
~ q tall figure, muff1ed in a swinging
cloak and with a SLOUGH hat drawn down
over the face, stalked through the open
door. Without word it made for the
head of the table, where General Reed
was sitting. Instantly cries OF I" Aston!
Alston!" arose and ran down the table.
At these cries the cloak was thrown back
and Aston was recognized. Reed rose
from his seat, and, whipping pistol out
of his pocket, leveled it at his assailant
and fired. The ball struck Aston in his
uplifted hand, carrying away two fingers.
This did not stop him, but brandishing
bowie knife. he closed on Reed. Be-
fore the men could be parted Reed was
cut pretty severely, and Aston, l be
lieve, wounded again. Aston was taken
from the room, and for some months
nothing more was heard of the matter.
One day General Reed was walking
down the streets of Tallahassee when he
was fired upon by Colonel Aston. The
contents of one barrel of shotgun was
poured into his shoulder, and as he
turned to confront his assailant the
other load went into his heart He fell
and died. Colonel Alston's friends say
that he had given Reed notice that he
intended to kill him on sight.
Willis Aston went to Texas, where
he lived for some time. He settled near
Brazoria. There was Dr. Stewart, who
for some reason or other, pursued the
matter of the Reed killing and used re-
marks derogatory to Aston: Aston
hearing it wrote the remarks down, and
meeting Stewart on the prairie one day
asked him to say whether or not he was
responsible for those remarks. DR..
Stewart took the paper, and While pre-
tending to read it put his hand into his
hostlers and drew his pistols. be jump
ed off his horse on the side opposite
Aston and fired into him. A desperate
fight ensued, in which Alstcn was shot
twice and his stomach 40 cut that his
bowels protruded. He killed Stewart,
however, pouring load of buckshot into
him afterIhe was prone upon the earth.
He was taken to Jail almost dead. He
was famous fiddler, and procuring a
fiddle sat there "with his entrails pro-
truding," as he wrote to friend, play
ing the old tunes of his boyhood. His
body servant gained admission to his
cell and had 4 coil of rope wrapped
about bis body, With this he was going
to try and escape. Suddenly mob as
saulted the Jail, overpowered the sheriff,
broke in the doors and seized Colonel
Aston. He was game to the last, and
iddled up to the very instant ne was
seized, his dauntless face looking full
upon his assailants. He was tumbled
into blanket, the ends twisted, and he
was then hustled out of the Jail. Once
out in the street, he was thrown to the
ground, still enveloped in the blanket,
| and hundred bullets thrown into his
body. Thus died the last of the " Hall
| fax Alstons.'
Recollections of Napoleon.
Robert Ratclihe, q pauper in the Nan
tucket almshouse, has a memorable his
tory. He was born at Newcastle'on-
Tyne Sc years ago, went to sea at the
age of II years as an apprentice IN a
British transport and was in number
! IAIl>. 49, ,~,o-o fo,,rhf with non.