Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1880-01-21
sam Ifouston's Duel.

IN 1910, SIX miles sOutn OF fraDkiln,
Kentucky, on the farm of H. J. Duncan.
two hundred yards from the Tennessee
! line, was fought duel which created
widespread excitement throughout the
Union, owing to the reputation of the prin-
cipals. In 1926, Gen. Sam Houston was a
member of congress from the Nashville
district in Tennessee, and sending home for
| distribution a number OF public documents,
he claimed that Curry, the postmaster at
Nashville, suppressed and failed to deliver
them, and denounced him u scroundrel For
this Curry sent him q challenge by Gen.
White Houston refused to receive the
message, as he stated, ''from such a con-
temptible source" throwing it on the
ground and stamping on it. Gen. White
said he was surprised, as no one expected
Houston 10 fight To this Houston re-
torted, ''Do you try ne" OF course a
challenge followed from White which
Houston promptly accepted. The terms
and conditions were, ''fifteen feet distance !;
holster pistols; time, sunrise The place
chosen as stated, was in Simpson county
On the 23d day of September, 1926, the
parties met at the designated point with
their seconds. The fact that duel was 20
be fought had gone abroad, and number
of persons had secreted themselves near
the field to witness the affair, fact I'LL
known to either principals or seconds.
After the first shots had been exchanged
and White had fallen to the ground
the people rushed to the spot. Houston
seeing them, and fearing an arrest, started
toward the state line with view of escap-
ing Gen. White called to him, General,
you have killed me-" Houston then faced
the crowd with pistol still il hand, and in
quired if there were any officers of tie law
among them, and beng answered in the
negative ne advanced TO the side Of his late
antagonist and kneeling by him took his hand
saying: Il am very sorry for you but you
know that 1t was forced upon me-" Gen
White replied, Il know it and forgive
you" White had been shot through Just
above the hips, and to cleanse the wound
OF blood the surgeons run one of their old
fashioned silk neckerchiefS through the
wound. Gen. White recovered from his
fearful wound as much to the Joy of
Houston as to himself. During the week
preceding the duel Gen. Houston remained
at the home of Sanford Duncan, near the
field, practicing meanwhile with pistols.
AT his temporary home were two belliger-
ent young dogs, named for their pugnacious
disposition Andrew jackson and Thomas
H. Benton. These were continually light
ing, HOuston's political sentiments leading
him to espouse the cause of the Jackson
pup, who, very much to his delight, was 4
constant winner in tho s-svs TIE hour of
arising and preparing for the duel on the
arrival of the day was $40 A. NJ Just be-
fore that hour ''Gen. jackson" barked
beneath the window Of his admirers room.
awakening him. Houston arose without
disturbing his attending friends, and began
the task OF molding bullets with which to
fight General White. As the first bullet fell
from the mold n game-cock, which he had
admired scarcely less than lie did the dog,
crowded loud, clear note. Houston, with
that element of superstition which finds a
place in nearly every nind, accepted tie
early greetings Of his friends as happy
omen, and marking the bullet one side for
the dog and the other for the chicken, made
up his mind that his pistol should be loaded
with it, and that he would first fire that
particular ball at General White He af-
terward said that ''he was not supersti-
tious, but these two circumstances made
him feel assured Of success" thus disprov-
ing his own words The bullet was used
and White fell at the first fire. as stated.
After the duel Houston selected as a coat
of-arms "a chicken. cock and dog and
many were the comments made by those
unfamiliar with the facts in after years,
when as president of Texas and senator in
congress, he spUrted so strange a crest.
These facts are authentic having been re-
lated by Gen. Houston to Sanford Duncan,
jr., late of Louisville, while the two were
en- route to Washington city during Hous-
tons term as senator.