The Russellville Democrat., 1881-01-13
The shields-LincoIn Duel.
Kansas City Times.

When Gen. James Shields was Auditor of the State of Illinois he was one of the popular young men of the city of Spring field, and was always with the young people in their pleasure parties. It was during the time the General was State Auditor that the memorable duel oc- cured between him and MT. Lincoln. The writer of this was then a resident of the State of Illinois and was an eye wit ness of the conclusion of that affair. The cause of the challenge from Shields to Lincoln was the publication in a weekly paper called the Sangamon Jour nal, published by Simeon Francis, of a piece of poetry in which Gen. Shields was held to ridicule. The General was very sensitive and no sooner did he read the article than he visited the printing office and demanded of Cinnamon" as Mir. Francis was called by everybody in those days, the name of the author. Francis was as a fat, pompous, ignorant man, with the largest bump of self esteem it was possible to raise on any one head, but he was taken aback by the impetuous manner of Shields demand for the name of the author Now, the article had been concocted by two or three of the young ladies of the little town--among them being Miss Jayne, afterward the first wife of Lyman Trumbull, and Miss Todd, afterward Mrs. Lincoln-so that MT. Francis hesitated as to what he should say. Finally, in answer to the threat that unless the name of the author was given he would be held personally re- sponsible, Mir. Francis requested till next morning to consult with the author. This was agreed to, and Gen. Shields went away nursing his wrath. Francis, in his extremity, consulted MT. Lincoln, and he, thinking that it was only tenn porary excitement on the part of Gen. Shields, that would cool down after few hours thought, said: "Oh, tell Jimmy 1 am responsible for it." In the primitive times of this occurrence there were no misters but preachers of the gospel, and these only got the title rarely. Every body was Jimmy, Abe, Ben, etc. On calling the next day for his answer, MT. Lincoln's name was given as the author, and forthwith an angry challenge, de- manding retraction and apology or satis- | faction, was forwarded to Lincoln. The latter on receiving it at once went, with it open in his hand, to the State House, and in the office found the Auditor
 "Why, Jimmy" said MT. Lincoln, "you don't understand this; let me explain" q can have no conversation with you, sir" was the answer My friend will receive any communication you have to make" Finding the General so implaca- ble, Lincoln went to his office, but for some days refused to answer the chal- lenge on account of the warm friendship previously existing between them. In the meantime mutual friends endeavored to heal the breach, for singularly enough everybody but Shields knew the authors of the offensive article. All efforts at peace, however, were unavailing, and MT. Lincoln finally said: ''If Jimmy must have fight, all right" While these at- tempts at settlement were being made some ten days or two weeks elapsed, and, supposing that if any duel should be fought it would be with rifles, as Mir. Lin coin was known to be an expert with that weapon, Gen. Shields went daily to the grove north of the town,- just sbba,.e ssbo 2 :
 where Hon. B. S. Edwards now lives, and practiced for an hour or two with a rifle. As the constitution of the State of Illinois contained severe penalties against duelling, it was deemed neces- sary, after the challenge was accepted, to go to the State of Missouri to fight. The nearest point to Springfield was at Alton, 75 miles distant, and to this city one bright morning started the combat ants Ill separate private conveyances, there being then no railroads. Each party was accompanied by seconds, sur geon and friend or two At Alton the Shields party was augmented by Dr. T. M. Hope, well-known physician of that city, a warm personal friend of Shields and leading Democrat. He urged Shields to abandon the project then, in- sisting that it would only bring ridicule on him and on the Democratic party; but nothing could move the General.
 The two parties made arrangements to cross the Mississippi river into Missouri. The only available means at that time was ramshackling old ferryboat pro- pelled by two horses; owned by man named Chapman. With the combatants and several citizens of Alton who had got wind of the affair there were as many as 30 persons to cross, and this large ac- cession of business quite overpowered Chapman, so that he gave boy permis- sion to ride over on condition that he would beat the horses to induce them to do their work.
 Up to this time there had been no mo- tice given by the challenged party of a choice of weapons, but early that morn- ing a visit to the State arsenal then part of the State penitentiary, which was located at Alton, revealed the fact that among the arms of the State were certain sabers of the old-fashioned kind, with iron scabbards, and as the parties were about to embark it was announced that the weapons to decide the fight were "broadswords en barriers"
 Shields was furious; the extreme dis parity in size between him and Lincoln was sufficient to throw the greatest ridi- cule on the whole proceedings, and his friends could do nothing to avert the chance of turning the whole thing into farce The parties went over the river, and there the counsels of Dr. Hope and John J. Hardin prevailed, and the mat Ger was settled without resort to arms. Gen. Shields would have stood up before Lincoln or anybody else. He was as brave as any man that ever lived, and as honest as he was brave. The writer saw him when he was brought back f,om nexico with an escopata ball through lis lungs, and chronicled his wonderful l escape from death by that wound. Gen. | Shields was deserving a better recogni- | tbn than he received at the hands of the | government,
 Rabbit Story,
 Henderson Reporter
 Awhile ago father and son went out mo the snow rahhit-hunting, The snow