River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1880-01-08
SAM nsUsTON's DUEL.
MOlding Bullets Before Daylight and
Fighting at Sunrise.

MOlding Bullets Before Daylight anu
Fighting at Sunrise.
Bowling Green (Ky.) Intelligence.
Simpson county, though peaceful en-
ough in these latter days, was in its
earlier history:the scene of RECRUITERS
that have passed into history. Within
its borders, or adjacent thereto, the hot
blooded Tennesseeans were wont to set
tie their affaira of honor, and the crack
of the duelsts' pistols not unfrequently
resounded in its quiet forests. Near
Adairvile, in The edge of Logan county,
Gen. Jackson fought Dickson for the
honor of the woman he loved, and stood
like a statue after struck by his antago
uist's shot. Il was on this occasion
that he proved his iron will by telling
his second that chad he been shot
through the heart, ne would have lived
long CROUCH 10 kill his antagonist"
Six miles south of Franklin, ON the
farm of IL. J. Duncan, two hundred
yards from the Tennessee line, was
fought duel which created widespread
excitement throughout the union,
owing 10 the reputation Of the princi-
pals. In 1926 Gen. Sam Houston was
a member of congress from the Nash
vile district in Tennessee, and sending
home from distribution among his con-
stituents number of public docu-
ments, he claimed that Curry, the post
master at Nashville, suppressed and
failed 10 deliver them, and denounced
him as a scoundrel. For this Curry
sent him a challenge by Gen. White.
Houston refused to receive the message,
as he stated, IRON such q contempti-
BILE source" throwing il on the ground
and stamping on it. Gen. White said
he was not surprised, as no one expect
ed Houston to fight. TO this Houston
retorted, "Do you try me" OF course
a challenge followed from White which
Houston promptly accepted. The terms
and conditions were, Fifteen feet dis.
lance; holster pistols; time, sunrise"
The place chosed as stated was in
Simpson county. On the 23l 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 q number of per-
SONS had secreted themselves near the
field to witness the affair, n fact UNI
known to either principals OF 'econds.
After the first shots had been ex-
changed 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 a 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 negative he advanced
to the side of his late antagonist and
kneeling by him took his hand, saying,
II am very sorry for you, but you know
that it was forced upon me-" Gen.
| White replied, Il know it and forgive
| YOU" White had been shot through
ust aboyethe hips, and the surgeons to
cleanse the wound of bio ID took one OF
their old-fashioned silk neckercheis
through the wound. Gen. White re-
covered from his fearful wound as
much to the Joy of Houston as to HIM
self.
| During the week preceding the duel,
| Gen. Houston remained at the home OF
| Sanford Duncan, near the field, practic-
inc meanwhile with pistols. AT this
! Temporary home were two belligerent
Young dogs named for their pugnacious
| disposition Andrew jackson and
| Thomas II. Benton. These were con-
tinually fighting, Houston's political
sentiments leading HIM to espouse the
cause of the jackson pup, who very
much to his delight was constant VIM
ner in the trays. The hour for arising
and preparing for the duel on the arrival
of the dav was $40 A. Nj. Just before
that hour Ger. jackson" barked be-
meath the windows of his admirers
room awakening him. Houston arose
without disturbing his attending friends,
and began the task of molding bullets
with which to fight Gen. White. AS the
! first bullet fell from the mold a game
cock, which he admired scarcely less
than he did the dog, crowed a loud,
clear note. Houston, with that element
! of superstition which finds place IN
nearly every mind, accepted the early
greeting OF his friends rs happy omens,
and marking the bullet on one side for
the dog aud 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 zen.
White. lie afterwards said that he
was not .auperstitious, but these two
circumstances made him feel assured OF
success" thus disproving his own
words. 1:4e bullet was used and White
fell at the iirst fire, as stated. Alter
the duel Houston selected as a coat-of-
arms 20 chicken cock ard dog" and
many were the comments made by
those unfamiliar with the facts in after
years, when, as a president OF Texas
and senator in congress, he spored SO
strange crest These facts are anthem
tic, having been related by Gen. Hous.-
ton to Sanford Duncan, Jr., late OF
Louisville, while the two we're en- route
to Washington City during Houstons
term as senator.