Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1885-11-20


ia CKSON'SD DUEL.
a Chapter From tho EARLY History of I; Ton 8
/ nassee. s5ts ss
From the Chicago Current.
It il from the early career Of Andrew
jackson that we can form the best
conception OF the social condi lions
which exist in the south and south
west until late in the first half Of the
present century. His life is an mex
haustible repository of broils. a
writer, inspired by the zeal which
laYishes it's energies upon objects in an
inverse relation to their Importance
has computed that the seventh presi-
dent of the United States was par
ticipant in nearly 100 flights or vio-
lent and abusive quarrels" in the
course OF the long squabble Whichcon
stituted his existence. One duel was
prosecuted with such stern purpose ups
on his part that he afterwards declared
in words, which gives us an additional
insight into the iron will which made
him an once the hero and scourge OF
his country, that he could have killed
his foe if he had himself been shot
through the brain. For our purpose,
it is enough to say, that in the year
1906, Andrew jackson and Charles
Dickinson, a brother attorney in Ten
nessee, had a feud; that this feud led
to q challenge which was at once &C
cepted by Dickinson; and that the
seconds Of the parties fixed upon a
spot in Kentucky as the scene of the
duel ... :..'.. fsa. ILL.,.
Bets were freely made upon the re-
sulfby the public. The duel was to
take place on Friday, the 30th of
May. On Thursday morning before
dawn, Dickinson arose from the side
of his young and beautiful wife, quoted
her inquiries wit an evasive answer,
kissed her tenderly, and assured her
that hewould certainly be athome on
set off for the scene of the duel, accom-
panied by his second and several other
sworn friends. That night he slept at a
tavern only O. short ride from the spot
which he sought. Andrew Jackson aud
his party slept at tavern about two
miles off. Early next morning the two
cayalcades were in motion. The spot
which had been selected for the duel
was in copse of poplars in the heart
OF a dense forest; and, under the agree
ment between the seconds, if either of
the principals fired before the word was
given, the seconds were to shoot him
down instantly. Here jackson and
Dickinson met. What then happened
cannot be more wildly and powerful
ly described than has already been de-
scribed by Parton. jackson was
dressed in a loose frock coat, buttoned
carelessly over his chest, and conceal
ing in some degree the extreme slender
ness OF his figure. Dickinson was the
younger end handsomer man of the
two. But Jackson's tall, erect figure,
and the still intensity ofhis demeanor,
it is said, gave him a most superior
and commanding air, rs he stood un~
der the tall poplars on this bright
May morning. silently awaiting the
moment Of doom.
care you ready?" said Overton,
II ON ready" replied Dickinson.
II am ready" said Jackson.
The words were no sooner pronounc-
ed than Overton, with sudden shout,
cried in his old country pronunciation:
"Fere!"
Dickinson raised his pistol quickly
and fired, Overton, who was looking
with anxiety and dread at Jackson,
saw a puff of dust fly from the breast
OF his coat, and saw him raise his left
arm and place it tightly across his
chest. He is surely hit, thought Over
ton, and in a. bad place, too, but no; he
does not fall.
Erect and grim as tate he stood, his
teeth clenched, raising his pistol. Over
ton glanced at Dickinson. Amazed at
the unwonton failure of his aim, and
apparently appalled, at the awful figure
and face before him, Dickinson had I'M
consciously recoiled a pace or two.
"Great God!'' he faltered, "have mis-
sed him" "Back to the mark, sir!"
shrieked Overton, with his hand upon
his pistol.
Shall we go on? Dickinson stepped
back to the mark and took his place
with his eyes averted from Jackson.
jackson covered the body of Dickin-
son with his pistol, sighted him DELHI
erately and pulled the trigger. The
weapon was lowered, the hammerwas
reversed, and Jackson again took aim.
There was a report. "Dickinson's
face blanched; he reeled; his friends
rushed toward him, caught him in their
arms, and gently seated him on the
ground leaning against bush. His
trousers Redeemed. They stripped off
his clothes. The blood was gushing
from his side in a torrent. And, alas!
here is the bali, not near the wound,
but above the opposite hip, just under
the skin. The bali had passed through
the body below the ribs. Such q
wound could not help but befatal."
The rest is easily told. The wound.
which he had slept the night before.
The mattress ON which he had laid
was. soon soaked with blood. Allday
long he suffered with great agony; and
his cries of pain mingled with his exc
| crations upon the bullet in his side are
said to have been terrible to hear.
About o. clock at night he asked why
the light had been put out Five min
utes afterward he died, and the next
day, when his miserable wife was hur-
rylng toward the spot where she had
heard that hep husband had boar