The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-03-26
"THE FIGHTING ALSTONS."
A Carolina Family Whose Members
Must ALI Die With Their
Boots On.
Strange and Violent Deaths Of the Alstons
Through Many Generations.
"Col. Bob Meets the Fate of His Race.
[Atlanta Letter In New York Herald.l

in this city, on last Tuesday, revives the
memory of the most famous family, proba-
bly,, of the ole. tune chlvalry days-the fight |
ing Alstons of Carolina. The history of this
audacious strain of blood is interviewer with !
the history of those turbulent days when
gentlemen fought at the drop of the hat,
and slight movement of the pistol finger
was the answer to all insult or insipuation-
the close of all argument
The Alstons were gallant mensof gentle
blood and usually large fortunes They
were free lvers and reckless fighters, and
frequently became involved in difficulties
that drained their estates with coats and
forfeitures. Probably the best known OF
them, Colonel Ben Aston, had several
affairs of honor, and wounded his antagonist
every time he went to the field. He was an
imperious, passionate man, and as cool
under fire as he would be in his drawing
room. His most notable duel was with
Hayne, whom he wounded in the knee. On
one occasion he was visiting in Augusta,
when gentleman mistaking him for an
acquaintance, tapped him across the shoul-
ders with a T. ding whip. Aston wheeled as
quick as lightning. The gentlman apollo
| SiZeu III Tue uOSt dl1ptc tcTilis. alStou tOOk
the whip from his hands, lashed him across
the back, and then said: NOW, sir, your
apology is accepted" OF course q meeting
followed. 1t Is said that Aston once fought
a gentleman who disputed the age .of some
wine of which Aston had been Boosting,
throwing some 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 Halifax, n. c., and they domin-
ated that whole section for years. They were
enormously wealthy. and travelled from one
of their estates to another IN almost regal
state They had hundreds of slaves, and
always travelled with q coach and four and
small army of retainers. The men were
princely in their habits OF expense, and put
the code above the Bible. The women
were high strung and spirited. Mrs. Bob
Aston, 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, connection, ito
| put 800 on q cock fight, with her own birds,
and then stand and watch the struggle to
the DEATH Colonel Willis Aston, known
as Honest Willis Alston," the grand uncle
| OF Bob Aston, fought dozsn duels in one
winter, numberless quarrels having sprung
from his assaults on defaulting State treas
urer He killed two men, and was himself
frequently wounded. His favorite weapon
was an old-fashioned "yager,'' which is
sort of blunderbuss, carrying a double hand
full of ouckshot, and of fearful execution.
| ILL ~ l.
exploits of these two brothers, but shall
deal only with the sons of Colonel Bob Ais
ton, who were the later Alstons immediate
ancestors.
AN ASTON MUST DIE WITH HIS BOOTS ON.
Old Colonel Aston, who was himself killed
il duel, had three sons-Willis. Gideon
aud Augustus Willis Aston was the father
o. Colonel A. Aston. Each of these
brothers came to his death by violence, or
died, the family tradition runs, Sin his
boots.'' Gideon Aston, the first of the
three to die was killed in peculiar man.
ner. His brother Willis was in Nashville,
on a lordly frolic, when he became very
much enamored of the lady who afterward
married Sam Houston-a Miss Trimble, 1
believe. He, paid her assiduous suit for
several months and, while engaged in this
dalliance, formed an attachment for young
Spanish boy, named Pelat. This boy was
friendess and poor and Aston adopted him,
Nashville. 1t appears that there was some
| feeling between Pelat and Gideon Aston;
at any rate they left the house at night and
went into the yard for the purpose of ''prac
ticing with their pistols Gideon was
, then a college boy, having just turned
sophomore In the State University. In a
few moments after he left the house with
Pellet he was found in the yard with pistol
bullet through his brain. Pelat said that he
had shot himself accidentally, and this is all
baf VIZ NJ 10 m a
FLORIDA TRAGEDY.
And now comes one of the most remarka-
. BILE tragedies in the history of this section so
+ full of tragedies. There was living in Flori-
a da, then primitive region, young Leigh
3 Reed, a man of great ability, gentleness and
coulage He was almost idolzed by the peo-
? pie of that State for his gallant services in
: the fierce Indian wars, having by his skill
. and fearlessoess several times saved the lit.
r tie colony from destruction by the Semi.
q noles and their allies. story is told oil
him that will illustrate his character and al
:, the same time show how delicate was the
sense of personal honor at that time. Cen
+ eral Reed was political opponent OF Cover
e nor Call's son, and at the same time his per
e sonal friend. Political feeling very
a some reflections upon the integrity of Cover
s Call. Reed at once challenged him for q
duel. The men went, were both desperately
:. wounded, and behaved with great gailantry
9 fighting, / believe with bowie knives, theil
Il left hands being strapped together. Some
d time afterward Reed became involved in
difficulty with the Alstons. Il give the story
as 1t was given me by Colonel r A. Aston
It himself. He said that an article appeared
in a newspaper rejecting on Governor Call
o Colonel Augustus Aston, who was tn,
It leader of the Call faction, demanded tn,
name of the author. He was furnished will
v the name OF General Reed, who was ths
leader of the opposite faction. He at onc'
ololla q m W
arranged. The weapons selected were IVA
GERS this deadly weapon being, as havi
Of said, a favorite with the Alstons. Colone
D. Aston was attended by Mr. Kenon, hi
IL brother-in-law. At the word lone" Colone
Alstons gun exploded, 1t being hair-trig
e. gered The contents were discharged int.