The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1880-02-10
allen. STEPHENS DUEL.

One Of our dispatches on the first
page states that the personalities be-
tween Senator Gordon and Representa-
tive Stephens, both of Georgia, are
growing very bitter. The fight is over
the census supervisorships, each being
interested in the appointments in their
state. The despatch hints that although
nc challenge may be issued, Stephens
has the record of one duel, fought be-
fore the war with Ben. Hill.
This is true. There are different
versions Of the affair extant. The one
generally accepted is that Hills chal-
lenge was sent on account of some bit
ter epithets hurled by Stephens. When
the challenge was issued, the friends
of the gentlemen thought that Stephens
would decline because he was much the
smaller man, being, in fact, no more
than the equal, physically, of a good
sized boy; besides, Hill was known to
be a dead shot. Nothing daunted, lit
tie Alex. picked up the gauntlet and
named daggers as the weapons. The
seconds set a time and fixed upon a
place.
Promptly at the hour both parties
appeared and the principals stripped for
the fray. Stephens would not be dis
suaded from the unequal contest. ALI
present predicted an easy victory for
Hill and said that Stephens would go
down early in the battle.
Time being called, Hill and Stephens
went into their deadly work in true
gladiatorial style, minus helmets or
shields, however, each being vulnerable
to the sharp points of the long and
cleaning daggers that shimmered in
the clear morning sunlight. After
several feints and false passes, Steph-
ems, who was the most agile, got in a
cutting blow on Hill, the sting of which
enraged the latter and instantly devel-
oped his lion fury and strength. Seiz-
ing Stephens bodily he threw him upon
the broad of his back, and before he
cOuiu iecONci iiOui tho chOCh, NH
wrested the dagger from his grasp, and
Stephens was rendered helpless. With
n savage leer that spoke only too plainly
murderous intent, Hill raised his arm
high as he sat on the PROSTATE form of
Stephens and aimed a deadly thrust at
the latteE's heart. The latter caught
Hills wrist as the blow was descend
ing.
"Apologize!" fercely demanded Hill,
it being the first word spoken during
the conflict.
'Neverl" iierce.y screamed Stephens
through his teeth.
Hill thea e~ndeavored to free his arm
from the grasp of Stephens and clutched
his throat while struggling. Although
Stephens was livid with the loss of
breath he held firmly to the dagger arm
and had his hands cut dreadfully, the
weapon being once drawn through
them leaving horrible cuts from which
blood spurted profusely.
The sickening sight impelled the Sec
onds to separate the combatants, and
surgeons being present proceeded to
dress the wounds of the duelists, Steph-
ems being by far the worst injured.
All agreed to keep the affair u secret,
but in time the facts became known.
The knowledge of the same only served
to increase the admiration for Stephens
among the people of his state. They re-
count with great gusto, the fact that
burly Ben Hill failed to make little
Alex. Stephens apologize.
Our authority for the above is a
Georgian, whose account of the famous
duel we reread less than a year since.
1t is so fixed in our memory on account
of the disparity between the confess
tants for life, thesavage nature of the
conflict, and the remarkable grit of the
diminutive Stephens, that we shall never
forget the incident.