Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1879-04-03

"'S's "u" "cuI tutO the yard Tor the pur-
pose of ''practicing with their pistols"
Gideon was then college boy, having just
turned sophomore in the State University.
In few moments after he left tho house
with Pclat, he was found in tho yard with
apistol bullet through his brain. Pelat
said that he had shot himself accidentally,
! and this was oil that was over known of the
| matter.
a FLORIDA TRAGEDY.
And now comes one of the most remark
able tragedies in the history of this section
so full of tragedies. There was living in
Florida, then primitive region, young
Leigh Keed, mau of great ability, gentle
ness and courage. lie was almost idolizcd
by the people of that State for his galIuut
services in the fierce Indian wars, having by
his skill and fearlcssncss several times saved
the little colony from destruction by the
Seminolcs and their allies. a story is told
of him that will illustrate his character aud
as the same time show how delicate was the
sense OF personal honor at that time. Geo.
Reed was political opponent of Governor
Calls son and at the same timo his personal
friend. Political feeling ran very high,
aud on election day Mr.. White mado
somo reflections upon the integrity of Gov.
Gail. Recd at once challenged him for a
duel. The men went, were both desperate
" wounded, and behaved with great gal
lantry, fighting, l believe, with bowie
knives, their left hands strapped together
Some time aftcrward Reed tcoamc involved
IN difficulty with tho Alstons. l give tho
stor? as it was given mo by Colonel II. A.
Aston himself. He said that au article
appeared in newspaper rcflcctiug on Gov.
Call. Colonel Augustus Alstou, who was
the leader of the Call fiction, demanded
the name Of the author. IIc was furnished
with tho name of General Reed, who was
tho leader of the opposite faction. lie at
once challenged General Reed, and meet
ing wus arranged. The weapons selected
were "jagcrs," this deadly weapon being;
as have aaid, u favorito with the Alstons.
Colonel Aston was attended by Mr.. Kenou,
his brother-in-law. AZ the word "Ono"
Colonel Alston's gun exploded, it being
6assssa ses ssaslega sleg ae AT, ,Th nGsaps
with dolibcration, fired, and Colonel Aston
dropped dead in his tracks. His sister,
most spirited woman, was nearly crazed at
the news Of his death. Sho secured tho
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. n. Alston), and implored him
to come and avcnge the death Of his brother.
She wrote that he had been murdered, and
tho Alstons adhered to this belief, although
the general statement is that the meeting
was fair one, General Reed using only
his just right in firing after tho explosion
of Alston's "yagcr." 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 frHt meeting
between Aston and Reed wus dramatic.
Tho Legislature had just met and Reed
had been elected Speaker. lie was
young man of exceptional power and popu--
larity, and his lifo promised to be brilliant
and ilustrious. lie Ind invited his friends
to the usual legislative supper, and the ban.
quet was was in progress, everything going
mcrrily and we'll. Suddenly tall figure
mufilcd in a swinging cloak and with
slouch hat drawn down over tho faco,
staked through the open door. Without
word It made for tho head of tho table,
whero General Reed was sitting. Instantly
cries of "4Alston! 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, leycllcd it at his |
assailant and fired. The ball struck Aston
in his uplifted hand, carrying away two
fingers. This did not stop him, but bran.
dishing bowie knife, he closed on Reed
Before tho men could be parted Rccd was
cut pretty severely, and Alston, believe,
was wounded again. Aston was taken
from the room, and for some months nothing
moro was heard Of tho matter. Ono day |
General Reed was walking down tho streets
of Tallahassee when he was fired upon by |
Colonel Aston. The contents of one barrel |
of shot gun was poured into his shoulder
and as he turned to confront his assaiant,
tho other load went into his heart lie
foil and died. Colonel Alston 8 friends say
that ho had given Reed notice that he in
tended to kill him on sight.
KILLED by A MOB.
Willis Alston went to Texas, whore he
lived for some time. lie settled near Bra
zoria. There was DR.. Stewart, who for
somo reason or other, pursued the matter of
tho Reed killing and used remarks deroga-
tory to Alston. Alston hearing of it, wrote
tho remarks down, and meeting Stewart on |
tha prairie one day, asked him to say whether
or not he was responsible for thoso remarks
DR.. Stewart took tho paper, and, while pre-
tcnding to read it, put his hand into his
holster and drew his pistols. He jumped |
off his horse on tho side opposite Aston and
fired into him. A desperate fight onsucd,
10 which Aston was shot twice, and his
stomach 50 out that his bowels protruded.