The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-04-17

stubborn heroism it required to carr,
him into an affair Of honor. He shranl
with horror from such test. His whole
life was overshadowed by the memory
of his ancestors and their bloody ends
lie was recognized authority on mat
ters of the code, and was usually called
into all prominent affairs. While he
was tenacious of the honor of his princi
pals, he never stickled for technicaltes
and usually succeeded in adjusting the
differences. Only once was he second
in fatal meeting. He attend young
McGraw, CT Charleston, and loaded tho
pistol t',at killed Tabor. There had ap-
peared in the Charleston Mercury com
munication assailing Judge McGraw
signed with non de plume. Contrary
to the usual practice of demanding the
name Of the author Of the offensive arti.
Gle Aston demanded for McGraw salts
faction of Tabor and his two editorial
associates, holding that gravamen of the
offence was in the publication. Tho
name of the author was offered and de,
clined. Tabor then announced himself
responsible. McGraw, through Aston
challenged the three editors, naming Ia.
bor first. The parties went to the field
At the second shot Tabor jumped straight
into the air, fell upon his back, shivered
and died. McGraw was unhurt, and the
affair stopped there.
HIS LAST MEETING.
Aston had been engaged in many
PERSONAL enconters, but never had been
seriously hurt. 1t was harder for him
to take an insinuation of insnlt than for
almost any one else; but he always re-
rcpressed his anger, if possible, avoided
truble. He WAS fine talker, n genial
gentleman, of winning address, and those
saved him from many difficulties that his
impetuosity would have led him into.
His favorite maxim, however, was saying
of Sir Boyle Roach, "The best way 10
avoid danger is to meet it plumply p and
his boldness often sufiiced where tempo
rizing would have failed. In the trou-
bic that led TO his death. after lie had
been sent OH by Cox to arm himself his
first impulse was to get n double barreled
shot gun and go and look Cox up and
kill him. He was thoroughly acquain-
ted with the violent habits of his enemy,
and knew best how to meet them. He
was dissuaded from this course, however
by Governor Colquitt and others. He
was very much depressed at the idea that
Cox was hunting him down, and
seemed to have premonition of what
wss coming. He said throwing himself
into chair in the Treasurer Office, at
is awful hard to know that man is
dogging you and that you have got to
kill him or be killed" Instead of going
off to arm himself, he went to a restaurant
to get some dinner. He ate heartily.
hnt was very much worried At length
he was persuaded to take pistol, getting
one that he had never seen before. a
selfcookirg- six shooter. When he en-
tered the Treasurer's Office he seemed
relieved to think he had found a retreat
from the trouble. No sort of personal
fear moved him, but the idea of blood
shed seemed to sicken him. When he
saw Cox enter and half draw his pistol at
man evidently mistaken for him he
seemed to know that his time had come.
He grew shade pale and his face har-
dened and grew stern. His first word was
an appeal:
II am not going to have any difficulty
with yon," he said "you must let me
alone" Cox still persisted, however,
growing angrier oil the time. At lengh,
when he stepped back and closed the
door and said, III will force you, sir" lie
seemed to give up all hope. Capt. John
Neyins, his friend, who witnessed it all,
describes the scenes that followed :
"Coloncl Bob rose quiet and calm, just
like he was going to make a speech
There was not a tromor about him. 'Aii
right, he says, we'll have it cut right
here. Are you arr. ed?" With that he
drew his pistol. Cox's was already out.
] threw myself between them and said
No you don't, gentlemen ? Colonel
Bop thrust bis hand over my shoulder
and fred, striking Cox in the mouth. AT
the same time Cox fred and the ball
went through my whiskers. Their hands
nearly crossed az they fired. l still held
them apart. They fired again by me and
! then turned them loose Cox was
jumping and dodging around, but Colo.
mel Bob never moved. He stood straigh,
MS statue. After he had shot his fourth
shot he turned his face to me and smiled
that peculiar smile he has. AS he turned
he pulled trigger again and his pistol
snapped. Then Cox fired again, and
l saw a red spot ooze out in Col. Bob;
temple. Cox WAS trying to cock his pis.
tol again when l jumped in and threw
him back, catching Col. Bob. He sank in
my arms. When / turned, Cox was sit.
ting in chair splitting blood, with his
pistol on table. He said, Il am 6
dead man. l cut Col. Bob's shirt open.'
State Treasurer Raynor says that Alstor
put both his hands on Cox's breast and
said, ed, for Gods sake let us have nc
difficulty. don't want to kill 70"
you shouldn't want to kill me-"
THE ALSTON DESTINY.
Aston had peculiarly winning anc
handsome face, and military man
ner. He stood like statue while shoot
ing, his handsome face set and stern
with the old Aston fire blazing from hi!
eyes, turning his erect figure by military
half wheels to present his side always Il
his shifting enemy. After he had beer
shot down Mr.. Ed. Mercer, who knew
Of his foreboding about dying with hi
boots on, said, He shall not die in hi
boots, by, God!" and tenderly took then
of. "The scene Mt the death he.ls;,l.
was affecting in the extreme. Only tn,
most intimate friends and the famil,
were admitted, force of police beatinl
back the host tina. surged against tn,
doors. AS it was evide,.t that he mus
die in few moments, Mrs. Aston asked
Governor Colquitt, who was knecling b,
the bedside and who was devotedly at
tached to the dying man, to pray. Will
Aoice broken with emotion, holdin,
Aslton's hand, the Governor prayed alous
while every head in the room was bowet
and every eye streamed with tears. Ant
thus without shuddcr, with hardly
moan, his face peaceful and half smiiin,
he died. In his bed, his wife and friend
about him, prayers going to God will
his iieeting soul, and only the ghastl,
blue-red hole in his temple to tell tina