The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1882-05-21
AUGUST BELMONTS DUEL.
WHY the Father of His Son Limps
Like an Army Of the Potomac
Veteran.

The recent verbal encounter at
Washington between Mr.. Blaine and
AR Belmont, in which the latter was
an ser,ously Worsted, recalls q some
Wbst more sanguinary affair which
hannened near this town nearly
forty-one years ago, in which the f.
thef of Belmont. the well known
banker and democratic politician,
Anoust Belmont, was one OF the prlD-
cinSl participants. On Wednesday
evening, August %, 1841, two parties
of men in carriages, drove up to the
two hotels of the town. There Was
saws the chronicle of the day, ian
snnsrent strangeness in their &C.
tons" and the Wiseacres OF the town
we're as their Wits end to determine
the object OF their visit. About twelve
o'cl0ck that night q conference was
he dbetWeeu representatives Of the two
parties. numerous inquiries in the
meantime having been made ss to the
distance to the Delaware iline and
other questions asked, indicating
that a duel, or at least some hostile
encounter, was in contemplation be-
tween these mysterious gentry.
Late in the night, or rather early
in the morning, they left town. drlv-
ing directly east. They were followed
by some citizens OF the village,
whose Curiosity bad induced them to
watch their movements. but were
not overtaken, and no one it seems,
resident in Elkron. was an eye Wit
ness to the duel, which occurred at
an early hour on the morning of the
10Th on Grey's Hill, about one mile
east of the town. As it afterwards
proved, the principals in the affair
had taken assumed names. one of
them being addressed as Moore. the
other as Goldsmith. In reality, how
. ever. they were Mr.. August Belmont,
of New York, the American agent OF
the RothschiIds, and who has since
figured very prominently as New
York democratic politician, and Mr..
VIM. Hayward, OF South Carolina.
They had been together residents OF
the American :Hotel in New York,
and the quarrel seemed to have orig.
mated in ''love affair."" Hsywaro's
} brother stated at the time that Bel
mont's intimacy with lady had been
resented by Hayward, and the former
having spoken OF the latter in terms
not particularly complimentary. Hay
ward had struck Belmont, whereuDon
the latter bad challenged him TO
} mortal combat. Intent upon blood
they had arranged a duel. to be
J fought upon the classic soil oil Della
ware, and for that purpose had taken
carriages at Wilmington and driven
to Elktou, intending to meet upon the
field of honor by sunrise just over the
Delaware line.
!, As it TUNED out, however, they did
not drive far enough east. and the go
} of 6ray's Hill, in Cecil county. was
Redeemed with the blood Of the He
brew banker, and which in later
years the execution of Swift, the MUIR
derer of KIlhour, rendered more no
torious. A gentleman named Lake
acted as second for Belmont, and
MIR. Purdy served Hay ward in SIM
liar capacity. Arriving upon the
ground. the principals were placed
by their seconds, and upon the frat
round Mr.. Belmont was shot in the
hip. One fire, it seems. was sutici-
ent to appease the wounded feelings
of these chlvslrous gentlemen, end
Mr.. Belmont was borne bleeoing to
his carriage. At the time it was
supposed that be was MORALLY
wounded,
Taking to their carriages, the San
culinary southerRer ana the Hebrew
were driven to Wilmington, Elkton
not then, nor since.so lar az we know,
having been honored by the presence
of either of these barbsric gentlemen.
Cecil Wing.