Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-09-19
HISTORY.
Sam Hos.sto,s's Duet.


In 1926 Gen. Sam Houston was a
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 scoundrel. For
this Curry sent him challenge by Gen.
White. Houston refused to receive the
message, as he stated, "from such
contemplate source, throwing it on the
ground 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 were: Fifteen feet
distance; holster pistols; time, sunrise"
The place chosen was in Simpson coun--
ty, Ky. On the 23d day 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 persons had secreted
themselves near the field to witness the
affair, fact unknown to either prinoi-
pals or seconds. After the first shots.
had been exchanged and White had fall
en- to the ground the people rushed to
the spot. Houston, seeing them, and
fearing an arrest, started toward the
State line, with view of crossing and
escaping. Gen. White called to him,
General, you have killed me" Hous--
ton then faced the crowd, with pistol in,
hand, and inquired if there were any Of
fcers of the law among them, and, being
answered in the negative, he advanced
to the side of his late antagonist, and,
kneeling by him, took his hand, saying,
CT am very sorry for you, but you know
that it was forced upon me-" Gen.
White replied, "I 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.
through the wound. Gen. White re-
covered 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, prac-
ticing meanwhile with pistols. At his
temporary home were two belligerent
young dogs, named, for their pugnacious
disposition, Andrew Jackson and Thomas
Fl. Benton. These were continually
fighting, Houston's political sentiments.
leading him to espouse the cause of the
Jackson pup, who very much to his de-
light was constant winner in the trays.
The hour for arising and preparing for
the duel on the arrival of the day was $40
a. m. Just before that hour "Gen.
Jackson" barked beneath the window Of
his admirers room, awakening him.
Houston arose without disturbing his at
tending friends, and began the task Of
molding bullets with which to fight Gen..
White. AS the first bullet fell from the
mold game-cock, which he admired
scarcely less than he did the dog, crowed
loud, clear note. Houston, with that
element of superstition which finds %
place in nearly every mind, accepted the
early greeting 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 ball at
Gen. White. He afterward said that
she was not superstitious, but these two
circumstances made him feel assured of
success" thus disproEing his own words.
The bullet was used and White fell at the
first fire, as stated. After the duel Hous-
ton selected as coat of-arms ga chicken
cock and dog" and many were the COM
ments made by those unfamiliar with
the facts in after years, when, as Presi-
dent of Texas and Senator in Congress,
he sported so strange crest.