Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-09-02
ABRAHAM LIsCoLys DUEL.

Maj. J. NJ. Lucas, one of the pioneer
citizens of Jacksonville, Ill, and who.
visited Chicago as early as 1886, is now
OF visit here, having recently returned
from a visit to Europe, where he has
lately resigned his position as United
States Consul at Tunstall, England.
Maj. Lucas is the only man now living
who was an eyewitness of the alleged
duel between Mr.. Lincoln and Gen.
James Shields, across the Mississippi
river, at Alton, in 1912. The details Of
that now almost forgotten " affair Of
honor" are still present to his mind,
although he is rather reluctant to call
it up out Of the past, where, as he says,
it is as we'll it should lie buried. The
idea of.Abraham Lincoln going to the
field armed with a broadsword to fight
a duel seems to those who knew him
in his later days so inconsistent with
his pacific character that many have
doubted the authenticity of the story.
But it verify did occur, says Maj. Lucas,
who rode down to the spot, and was
there when the affair was amicably
adjusted.
The challenge of Shields arose out of
quizzical newspaper article which
was written by the sister of Mrs.
Lincoln, who welded peppery pen.
This gave such ofense to Gen. Shields
that he went to the editor and de-
manded to know who the writer was.
The editor of the paper was in %
quandary, and, meeting Lincoln on the
street, asked him what he had better
do. "Oh," said Lincoln, "just tell
Shields that it was me-" The editor did
so, and Shields sent challenge to Lin
coin, who had just gone to Tazeweu
county to attend to lawsuit.
Lincoln accepted the challenge, and
the weapons selected were broadswords,
which Uncle Abe knew well how to-
handle, having been thoroughly drilled
in the use by Maj. Duncan, a brother-in-
law of Maj. Lucas. The field selected
for the combat was near Alton, and
thither the combatants proceeded. But
the affair got wind, and reached the ears
Of Gen. Hardin, who Immediately
started after the party, reaching the
scene just as the preliminaries were
being arranged. He interposed, saying
"Th;s is all nonsense" and succeeded in
putting stop to the whole proceeding.
Maj Lucas says he saddled horse,
and got to the field about the same time.
"Then Lincoln was in dead earnest in
the matter?"
@Oh, yes" said the Major, Lincoln
meant to fight. He was no coward, and
he would unquestionably have held his
own against his antagonist, for he was a
powerful man in those days, and was
quite skilled in the use of the broad
sword. He said to me after the affair was
all over, I could have split him in two"
JOHN BROWNS FORTRESS.
"The walls of the old engine-house at;
Harper's Ferry, where John Brown
made his last stand with dozen men
against 7OOO," says correspondent
"now furnish an artistic background to-
a huge placard setting forth the virtues
of somebody's liver pad. The inscrip-
ton on the front of the building, which:
tells the story of Browns crusade, can
not be read at any distance. The adj
vertisement of the liver pad is in letters
as long as Springfield musket. The
grass grows rank in front of the historic
spot, as though few pilgrim feet visited,
it. A clump of tall rag weed stands in.
the open doorway where young Watson
Brown and his brother were shot down.
The roof has gone, the windows have
disappeared and there is an air of neg
lcct and gradual decay about the spot
that accords well with the stagnation of,
the town"