The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-01-18
a DuellnH "Reminiscences,

The recent unvciling Of the statue of
Alexander Hamilton, in New York, brings
up recollectitns of the ground upon which
the duel between Hamilton and Burr was
fought. Ia recent conversation with an
elderly gentleman, an old New Yorker,
this subject was brought up, and ho gave
graphic account of duel between one
DR.. Barton and Or. Graham, not far from
the very spot where Hamilton had lost his
life some years before. In the spring of
1871 or 1921 the narrator, being then q
young man and the owner of fast White
hall boat, was approached one evening by
two gcntlomcn who wished to know if he
would take party from the foot of Cort-
landt street the next morning at 5 o'clock
This the narrator promised 10 do, AMI at
the time appointed he was on hand with his
poat, manned by four oarsmen, and himself
at the tiller. Three gentlemen got on
board, and he was directed to steer toward
Paulus Hook, (now Jersey City.) From
there they proceeded up tho river to >. spot
on the beach alovo Hoboken, and about
100 yards from where the memorable duel
had been fought They all landed, and
about fifteen minutes afterwards another
boat, owned by "Capt." Anthony Il.
Fountain, put ashore, with Mr. Graham
and another party. When this last boat
landed, and while stepping ashore, Graham
stumbled and fell over a rock, saying to
the gentleman with him, who turned out
to be his second, Eddy, 1t won't do to fall
yet" This was The first intimation the mar
rator and "Capt." Fountain received that
duel wus about TO take place. Whilo tho
seconds were measuring the ground, an
old farmer and several men with hoes over
their shoulders. approached tho spot, and
one OF the men hurried as though he were
about to try and stop matters where they
were, but the old farmer said, ''Stop, John,
- IT all, If they want to shoot, let
them shoot one another After some ten
PAGES were measured of on tho beach, the
seconds tossed for choice of position, tho
principals took their pistols, and Barton
took his stand facing the south, Graham
facing north. The narrator and "Capt."
Fountain stood near the beach about mid
way between the combatanls, the seconds
and the doctor who was with them stund-
ing opposite.
When the signal was given they fired,
drahanis shot striking tho ground about
midway between the c0mbatants, and Bar
toms shot almost grazing Graham's right
side. After tho first fire 4 short conversa-
tion cnsucd between tho principals and
seconds, which the narrator did not over
hear, after which they again took their
positions. At the second fire Graham fired
first without hitting Barton, and Barton,
after taking deliberate aim, fired, hitting
Graham in the groin. The injured man
jumped about two feet into tho air, and
tho narrator and "Capt." Fountain ran t.
the spot and caught hiA as he fell. DR..
1cLeod then examined him, and observed,
''t- - III 49, ..t,i. ,.i.....' o.,,u,
'1larton, my dear fellow, you have shot
me; forgive YOU" Burton said, IL am
sorry" The old farmer and his men tl,on
approached, but before they hnd reached
the place the parties had taken to their re-
spcctivc boats. On first leaving tho shore
the boats were somewhat separated, but
they afterwards came together. and Barton
took from his pocket a flask containing
brandy and passed 1t to Graham. The
two boats then took different directions
the narrator taking Barton back to Cort-
landt street, and on the way the narrator
asked Barton why lie shot Graham after
the latlcr's pistol went off, and his reply
was, "My God, never thought of it, "nnd
the narrator was convinced from his man
ncr thut it had mover occurred to him that
IlC IulBllt IihVC thrown away lib ire. ljnr- !
ton told the narrator (and At such time 1t
is to be supposed that he would have told
the truth) that the pistol with which he had
shot Graham was tho Identical pistol with
which Burr hud shot Hamilton.
Barton went to the City lIoteland packed |
his trunks, and was rOwcd to Staten Is- |
land. He was then driven across to Ami
boy, thence to Cape May, where pilot
boat conveyed him to n ship bound for
llavre. The narrator understands that he |
remained in Paris for some time, and was
engaged in the Office OF the United States
Consul. Graham died before the boat
reached shore, and there was consj dcrabIe
excitement at the time over ,he affair
The narrator, "Capt." Fountain, as also
the oarsmcn in the two boats, kept shady
for few days, but upon being advised to
80 to the proper authorities and make u
clean breast OF 1t, they did 30 and wcrc
discharged.