The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-06-08
Comsdore Stockton's Duel.


the most marvellous dueling adven-
ture in which Stockton was engaged
and this l shall give as | heard the
story told by its hero one day after
dinner and in the presence of sever
al gentlemen who were lingering
about the table.
The scene was at Gibraltar, and
there had been previous duel be-
tween Stockton and a British officer
attached to the station, who, howev-
er, was not the officer from whom
the affront to be avenged had really
come. There had been charges
and counter charges, negotiations
and examinations, till finally the
American officer in command, put a
stop to proceedings by an order that
none of his subordinates should go
ashore while the ship remained in
that port. The hull was only tempo
rary. After short cruize the Erie
retured to Gibraltar, and this time
the real offender vas forced by the
public opinion of his fellows to give
the Yankee lieutenant the meeting
he had demanded. A guaranty
was required by Stockton that the
British authorities of the town
should not be informed of the duel,
with a view to ordering his arrest
and a pledge was given that there
should be no interference. "Under
these circumstance" said Stockton,
II went ashore without distrust.
The flag had been grossly insulted
by British officer, who was now
backed up by comrades. | was the
only unmarried officer on board the
Erie, and my duty was, Of course,
clear. The governor of the fortress
during our previous visit had an
nounced that he would hang any
Yankee who came ashore for the
purpose of fighting; and, although
it was not probable that he would
have dared to carry out the threat,
he would have been ugly enough
had he caught me. 1t was arranged
between our seconds that upon
landing, we should be conducted to
a retired place where the duel might
come off without interference. Brit
ish honor was pledged to this, and
believeing it still to be worth some
thing, | was rowed ashore, accom-
panied bv my second and ships
d1ctor."
The graphic DESCRIPTION of what
followed must be given in feeble
outline. The Americans were con-
Quoted to a spot near the top of the
rock, where they met the opposing
party. 1t then appeared that no
immediate fighting was contempla-
ted, for the Englishmen began to
enter upon discussion, and to
raise frivolous objections to the rec
ognized code of dueling. Stockton,
seeing that all this tended to delay,
and suspecting treachery, suddenly
declared that he would wave all
rights, and fight at once upon what
ever terms his opponent chose to
exact. After such declaration no
retreat was possible. The ground
was measured, shots were exchang-
ed, and the British officer fell wound
ed. Stockton advanced to inquire
into the nature of the injury, and
then the wretched man was shamed
into confession that treachery
had been practiced, and that in
slant flight was necessary if his OPP
ponent would avoid arrest. Upon
this the Lieutenant started for his
boat, running at full speed. His
way lay through a passage cut out
of the rock, which gave access to the
beach below. Upon turning a corn
er, when about half way down, he
was confronted by file of soldiers
drawn up to oppose his passage.
The officer in command was a pus-
sy little fellow, who seemed to en-
Joy hugely the discontinue of his
supposed captive. There stood this
merry gentleman upon a parapet
which guarded the road, and which
was raised few feet above it. His
squad was ranged in a line with
him, completely cutting off the pas
sage. There was not moment for
delay; the situation was desperate ;
it could be met only by a resolve as
desperate. The officer was off his
guard and was chuckling with de-
light. Now was the instant for a
dash. Now stifien the sinews, sum-
mon up the blood, and there was
yet 4 chance for liberty. Instead of
making the surrender which was
expected, Stockton sprang at this
cheerful officer. He grappled with
him; he got his head under his
arm; he jumped with him from the
parapet, and in moment the two
men clasped together were rolling
over and down the side of the rock.
Presently the parties separated, the
Englishman rolling one way and
the American another At length
Stockton managed to stop his peril
Gus descent and dropped number
of feet to the beach below. Covered
with blood and dirt, with his clothes
nearly stripped from him, he ac-
costed gentleman who was taking
his morning ride upon the beach,
and begged the instant loan of his
horse. This request the rider nat
urally declined. Whereupon he
was seized by the leg and pulled
from the saddle. His assailant in
stantly mounted the horse and putt
ing him to his speed made for the
boat. He looked up for moment
and saw the soldiers running about
in distracted manner, most of
them tearing down the road TO cut
him off. Stockton, however, reach
ed the boat, gave the order to pull
for the frigate and then tainted. He
did not recover consciousness until
he found himself in his berth on
board the Erie.