Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-02-10

this vicinity-Extraordinn sequel
TO the Affair.
WRITTEN ESPECIALLY FOR THE STAR BY COL. CHI:
LEE JONES.
One day In the month of February. 1916, the
writer. returning to his office after q short
absence found on his table note from the Hon.
Daniel NJ. Barringer, then Representative In
Congress from North Carolina. stating he had
called. was very DESTROYS of seeing me, and
asked the favor that would Immediately, on
my return, come to his rooms in the house only
next door to my own. This request was COM
piled with, when I was introduced to a gentle
man, Dr. Alexander Henderson. of North Caro-
lima. whom l found anXiously awaiting my
coming. and was then informed that he had come
on toact as second for his brother-in-law, DR..
Daniel Johnson. in duel impending between
him and Mr.. ThOs. +. Jones' lawyer of some
distinction, and both gentlemen Of the very
highest social position in his state and being
entirely IMMERSED In the rules and etiquette of
the code duello, he wished TO be advised on
some pOints,-which seemed 10 be giving him
mental trouble. First he wished to be in
formed. whether, being the brother-in-law of
Dr. j. he could. consistently with the re-
quremeDts OF the code, serve as his second.
He was informed that brOther-n-law not be-
ing "a blood relation. did not come within the
degrees of eOnsanguinity prohibited by the code,
which extended only to a son. father or brother.
And if the other side had not objected, he need
give himself no concern on that point. He re-
piled. that on the other hand, they had ex-
pressed great qualification at meeting him in
snch position; and then stated, what seemed to
give him much pain. that his principal had in
formed him. he intended to throw away his fire
and fire in the air, and wished to know if it
would be proper. with such knowledge, to &C
company him to the field. He was answered
that there was no rule one way or the other on
the subject. and 1t was matter entirely within
his own Judgment, and to be decided by him
self.
THE CAUSE OF THE DUEL.
Twas informed the parties had been intimate
personal friends. and that their present attitude
grew out of the charge Of an improper intimacy
between the challenger and the wife of the
challenger. was also informed that Dr. J. had
settled up his affairs i'm North Carolina, an d If
he survived the duel it was his intention to
settle permanently in New Orleans. From this
inferred the charge was well founded and per-
haps rested on some positive proof In con-
versing, the question was mooted as to the pro-
per sort of pistols to be used. DIR. III. stated his
principal had an idea that the old fashioned
flint and steel and not the percussion, was the
weapon recognized by the code, those which
had been secured for him were Of the latter
sort and while it was immaterial to him which
sort was used. yet he wished to conform strictly
to every punctiiiio. and If it was CONNIE
u fdf to carry to the field the old flint and steel
pistol, he would ask my kindness to assist him
in procuring pair The writer replied he had
heard there were in some parts of the south. a
few years back, some +sticklers for old fashions
and old things, who insisted that none other
than the flint and steel could legtimately be
used but he believed this notion had now every
where been abandoned; that 1t would be quite
difficult thing to procure at least in this re-
gion, pair of the older kind, as they had gen
orally been altered to the decorating system
and. like the 10. MantOn gun. been ruined and
had lost their cunning 10y the alteration and
were not now equal to the modern Cheap de-
tonater. that the practice in this country and
In England was for each party to bring
to the field his own pistols. smooth bore of
course. and not to exceed the usual length
thirty inches, the principal to be armed with
one and his second with the other If how
ever. one OF the parties should bring superior
pair. which might be supposed to give him any
advantage. the great principle Of the duellO.
that the parties must be on equality .intervenes.
and the other side may insist that the better
pair shall be used by both principals, or they
may decide by the toss of a coin-the winner to
select which pair shall be used. Under the
French code. a different mode prevails; there.
the seconds bring the pistols to the field, and
honor is pledged that the principals have never
Practiced with them. The distance Is never
less than thirty yards. and the seconds toss for
the first fire. and the principals fire at will and
with deliberate aim. In cases of gross aggrava-
eiOn the first fire is conceded to the challenger
or offended party. In this country the usual
distance is from ten to fifteen yards miscalled
spaces" and the parties fire between the words.
"fre, one, two. three. halt" given at Intervals
OF one second each wide spread notion once
prevailed that the challenged party bad the right
TO name time. place and distance. This vulgar
error has long since been exploded. The time
must be as soon as practicable, the place such as
has ordinarily been used where the parties are
ana the weapon the smooth duelling
pistol The details arranged by the seconds so
rs TO put the parties "a far as possible on equal
1ty. The very words of challenge are to " de-
mand the satisfaction usual among gentlemen :"
and II the challenger refuses To give that salts
faction by naming Ungentlemanke or UNEQUAL
terms. he subjects himself under the code to
the penalty Of being posted as a bully and a
coward.
DUELLING MANIAs.
During the reign of Queen Ann a duelling
mania broke out in England similar to that
which disfigures French history at different
epochs. The sword then formed part OF the
costume of a gentleman, and that weapon was
then most generally used, but the pistol was
also IN vogue, the distance only six and eight
PAGES. the firing at will apd with deliberate
aim. and the duels fought with them ALWAYS
terminated with one or both of the parties being
killed or wounded In the latter part of the
century the sword was generally abandoned for
more humanity and magnanimity. the usual
distance was ten PAGES. and the mode Of firing
very similar to that which now prevails Note
the chivalrous bearing of the parties in the duels
between Charles James Fox and Mr. Adam. in
11s. and in that of the Duke of Wellington and
LoTk Winchilsea, i'll 1927. And while on the
subject. the writer cannot restrain expressing
his admiration for the lofty dignity with which
our own great statesman. Henry Clay stepped
down from his high position. Secretary OF State
In 1876 TO call Mr. Randolph to account when
his personal character was assaied
The writer saw no opening, under the circum-
stances of the case. Of his being useful In bring
Ing about an amicabe adjustment and he de-
cined an invitation TO accompany the party as
an Impartial spectator to the field He drew nm
In writing. for DR. H.. terms for the meeting In
which he made the distance twelve PAGES. and
placed the parties back to back and required
that they wheel and fire between the words
FIRE. One. Ttco, Three, Hat" And suggested
TO him that he instruct his principal to wheel
quickly. drop his pistol TO an aim, and after re-
ceiving his adyersarys fire to elevate it and fire
In the air. thought the wheeling and move
ment OF the arm would In some measure dis
tract his adyersarys aim; IT, after the fire, his
principal was unhit. and the other side were M
satisfied and insisted on another fire. the best
advice could give was for him to protest and