The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1879-04-03
THE FIGHTING ALSTONS.
a CaroIz1a Family whose Members All DIE
" TIA Their Boots On


A CArGIEGa Fa nlIIy WI hose Mem bers All Die
with Their Boots Oh
Atlanta Letter in New York Herald.
The killing of Col Robert A. Aston
in this city on last Tuesday revives the
memory of the most famous family prob
ably of the old-time chivslry days-the
fighting Alstons of Carolina. The his
tory of this audacious strain of blood is
interviewer with history of those tur~
bulent days when gentlemen fought at
the drop of the hat, and q slight move
ment of the pistol finger was the answer
to all insult or ipsinuation-thec close Oh
all argument.
The Aletons were gallant men of gentle
blood and usually of large fortune. They
were free liveFs and reckless fighters. and
frequently became involved in difficult
ties that drained their estates with costs
and forfeitureg. Probably the best
known of them, Col. Ben. Alston, had
several affairs OF honor. and wounded his
antagonist every time he went to the
field. He was en- imperious, passionate
man, and as cool under fire as he would
| be in his drawing groom. His most Do-
table duel was with Hayne, whom he
wounded in the knee. On one occasion
tleman, mistaking him for an acquain<
tance, tapped him across the shoulders
with a riding whip. Aston wheeled as
quick as lightning. The gentleman
apologized in the most ample terms
Alston took the whip from his hands,
Iashed him across the back and then
said: "NOw, sir, your apology is &C.
cepted." Of course meeting followed
1t is said that Aston once fought q gen
tleman who disputed the age of some
wine of which Aston had been bOastiBR,
throwing some of the wine in his face
that he might get its full favor.
Colonel Bob Aston came of the family
known as the Halifax AlstOns. Their
estates lay about Halifax, n. O., and
they dominated that whole section Tor
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 fonr and q small q my
of retainers. The men we're priucely 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 sub
ject of this sketch, always carried her
own sheets and pillows with her when
"I have known her." says Colonel Tom
| Howard, q connection, "to put 800 on
a 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 AlstOn, fought a dozen
duels in one winter, numherless quarrels
having sprung from his assaults on a de-
faultiag state treasurer. He killed two
men and was himself frequently wound
ed. His favOrite weapon was an old
fashioned ''yager," which Is a sort OF
blunderbuss, carrying g double handful
of buck>shot, and of fearful execution
A volume might be filed with the
bloody exploits of these two brothers,
but 1 shall deal only with the sons o.
Colonel Bob Aston, who were the later
Alstons' immediate ancestors
! Old Colonel Aston, who was himself
killed in duel, had three sons-Willis
Gideon aud Augustus. Willis Aston
was the father of Colonel r A Aston
Each of these brothers came to his death
by violence, or died, as the family ira
dition runs. Gin his boots" Gideon
Aston, the first of the three to die, was
killed in a peculiar manner. His brother
Willis was in Nashville on lordly frolic
|
, the lady who afterward married Sam
Houston Miss Trimble, believe. He
paid her assiduous suit for several
months, and, while engaged in this dal
} ! liance, formed an attachment Tor young
: Spanish boy named Pelat. This boy wa
: friendless and poor and Aston adopted
5 him, taking him home with him wher
T he left Nashville. 1t appears that there
was some feeling between Pelat and Gid
con Aston; at any rate they left the
house st night and went into the ward
for the purpose of FpractiCing with tnelI
a pistols" Gideon was then college boy
having just turned sophomore in the
, State University. In 8 few moments
alter he lett the house with Pelat he wa
found in the yard with q pistol bullet
! through his brain. Pelat said that he
had shot himself accidentally, and this
is all that was ever known of the matter
And now comes one Of the most
remarkable tragedies IN the history o
this section, 50 full of tragedies There
was living in Florida, then primitive
region, young Leigh Reed, 8 man o.
great ability, gentleEess and courage
He was almost idoiized by the psople o
that state for his gallant services IN ths
fierce Indian wars, having By bis skill
and leaFlessness several times saved tbe
little colony from destruction by the
Semineles and their allies. A stery Ii
. told of him that viii illustrate his char
8 acter and at the same time show hos
b delicate Wss the sense of personal honor
e at that time General Reed y as & poll,
g ticsl opponent of Governor Calls soT
' and at the same time his personal friend
= Political feeling ran very high, and OF
t election day a Mr.. White made soms
/. reflections upon the integrity OF Cover
nor Call. Reed at once challenged hin
z or 8 duel. The men went. were bott
desperately wounded, and behaved viii
5 great gallantry, fighting, bslieve, with
t bowie knives, their left hands being
2 strapped together. Some time sfterwarC
!, Reed became involved II 8 difficulty
!, with the Aistons I give the history &
7 it was given me by Colonel :. A. Alstol
himself, BE said that an sFticle sp