Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1880-01-07
SAM. HOUsToN,s DUEL.
Molding Bullets Before Daylight and
Fighting at Sunrise.

enough in these latter days, was in it's
earlier history the scene of rencounters
that have passed into history. Within
it's borders, or adjacent thereto, the hot
biooded Tenneaseeans were wont to SET
tie their affairs of honor, and the crack
of the duelists' pistols not unfrequently
resounded in it's quiet forests. Near
Adairsville, in the edge of Logan county,
Gen. Jackson fought Dickson for the
honor of the woman he loved, and stood
| like statue after he was struck by his
antagonists shot. It was on this occa-
sion that he proved his iron will by tell
ing his second that chad been
shot through the heart, he would have
lived long enough to kill his antagon.
| ist."
Six miles south of Franklin, on the
farm of ii. j. Duncan, two hundred
yards from the Tennessee line, was fought
duel which created widespread excite
ment throughout the Union, owing to
the regulations of the principals. In
1926 Gen. Sam. Houston was member
of congress from the Nashville district
in Tennessee, and sending home for
distribution among his constituents a
number Of public documents, he claimed
that Curry, the postmaster at Nashville,
suppressed and failed to deliver them,
and denounced him as a scoundrel. For
this Curry sent him 8 challenge by Gen,
White, Houston refused to receive the
message, rs he stated, +" from such q con-
temptible source" throwing it on the
floor and stamping on it. Gen. White
said he was not surprised, as no one ex-
pected Houston to fight. To this Hous-
ton retorted, "Do YOU try me-" Of
course challenge followed from White,
which Houston promptly accepted.
The terms and conditions fifteen feet
distance; holster pistols; time, SUM-
rise" The place chosen, as stated
was in Simpson county. On the 23d of
September; 1926, the parties met at the
designated point with their seconds.
The fact that duel was to be fought
had gone abroad, and number of per-
sons had secreted themselves near the
field to witness the affair, fact unknown
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 arrest, started
toward the state line with view of
crossing and escaping. Gen. White
called to him, General, you have killed
me-" Houston then faced the crowd
with pistol still in hand, and inquired if
there were any officers of the law among
them, and being answered in the mega
tive, he advanced to the side of his late
antagonist, and, kneeling by him, took
his hand saying, 81 am very sorry for
you, but you know that it was forced
upon me-" Gen. White replied, 81
know it, and forgive YOU" White had
been shot through just ABOVE the hips,
and the surgeons, to cleanse the wound
of blood, took one of their old fashioned
silk neckerchiefs and ran it 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, practic-
ing, meanwhile, with pistols. At his
temporary home were two belligerent
young dogs, famed, for their pugnacious
disposition, Andrew Jackson and Thorn
as III. Benton. These were continually
fighting, Houston's politicsl sentiments
leading him to espouse the cause of the
Jackson pup, who, very much to his
delight, WAS constant winner in the
trays. The hour for arising and prepar-
ing for the duel on the arrival of the
| day was $3.50 A. M. Just before that
hour "Gen. jackson" barked beneath
the window of his admirers room,
awakening him. Houston arose, with
out disturbing his attending friends, and
began the task of molding bullets with
| 81, IN H~h@ h.
bullet fell from the mold, a game-cock,
which he admired scarcely less
than he did the dog, crowed
loud, clear note. Houston, with that
element of superstition which finds a.
place in nearly every mind, accepted the
early greetings of his friends as happy
omens, and marking the bullet on 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 bail at
Gen. White. He afterward said that she
was not superstitious, but these two,
circumstances made him feel assured of
success" thus disproving his own words.
The bullet was used and White fell at
the first fire, as stated. After the duel
Houston selected rs a coat-of arms "
chicken cock and dog" and many were
the comments made by those familiar
with the facts, in after years, when, as
president of Texas and senator in con-
gress, he sported SO strange a crest.
These facts are authentic, having been
related by Gen. Houston to Sanford
Duncan, Jr., late of Louisville, while.
the two were en- route to Washington
City during Houston's term of senator.
The Government Clerk.