Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-09-29
faction. Murderous minded gossips smiled

faction. Murderous minded gossips smiled
knowingly when they said that the affair
mad been so easily compromised. 1t was
evident that the two men were not anxious
to fight. Cowards who had no idea Of what
was real courage spoke lightly of the bravery
of these two veteran soldiers. One night
| McCarty was in the smoking room of the
| fashionable club of Richmond. 4 group Of
young men were about him. Some of them
Indignantly commented upon the low gos-
| sip, the echo of the tigerish dissatisfaction
| of cruel minds over the fact tlias the blood
of neither of these gallant men had been
shed. Suddenly McCarty said, im patiently,
| II am ed of all this talk. | wish to God
| the affair was back in the hands Of our Sec
onds again. Acai:i fatality iutsrposed.
| As these words were uttered, in q loud i'm
patient voice, Mordecai entered the room.
He came just in time 10 hear what was sald
A moment sooner or later aud he wuuld net
have encountered The danger Of re"pcning
the quarrel. Ever uDc nas dumb when
Mordecai came. Al tarncd 10 hm. He
walked quickly up To McCarty and said,
"What was that YOU said ?" in tone CT
sharp irritation. McCarty, III his reply, ad.
hered to the agreement made IN the settle
ment of their first difficulty. He said, II
don't know you, sir"
II will have yGu t" un'ss.&:"r'! ti.mt am
a gent!eman."
ooh, you are 2" sueered MrCarty.
AT this Mordecai struck McGGrty in the
face. Friends instantly ru-so' up Gni sep,
arated tht. two lucn Nov i was evident
that duel TO tho death could .:io'a r,.ult.
After blows we're exchanged in possibility
of a peaceful settlement was f,rceer at an
end.
The same fatality pursued The victims Of
this duel TO the end. The first surgeon ask
ed to assist refused. 1t il always supposed
that he gave the information 10 the authOri-
ties, for the police came upon the ground
Just as the duel had ended fatally for Nor
deca When the first shots were exchanged
neither was hit. This was very strange, as
both of the principals were dead shots and
could snuff candle at thirty PAGES. McCar-
ty wore o single buttoned coat Morde-
calls first bullet took Off this button, as McCarty
stood sidcwise to him. McCarty's ball passed
wide of Mordccai. If the code had been observed
here the duel would not have had fatal ending.
1t was now the duty Of the seconds to retire
their principals to examine them to see if either
was in urcd and to ask whether tho principals
would not settle their differences before again
placing their lives in jeopardy. But the prirci-
pals took the affair in their own hands. One said:
Are you hit?'
mo"
"Aro you?'
"No"
Then, "Are you ready?'
"Yc5."
Then, as if actuated by one mind, the two men
raised their pistols and fired again. The two re.
ports were so close together that they sounded
as one. Mordecai fell his face as fall men with
death wounds McCarty reeled and fell back
ward. Both men were hit in exactly the same
spot upon the right side The ball in Mordecais
case went right through his bowels, giving him
wound from which he very soon died. The ball
entering McCarty's body at the same place passed
around. he was six months in bed and then ro-
covered.
If tho police had not come up over the hill just
as the two men fired there would have been no
evidence against McCarty. AS it was he had
hard time getting out Of the clutches of the law
after he had recovered. 1t cost him all the for
tune he had but the fact of his having placed his
own life absolutely in tho balance against Morde-
cai's. and that the latter had provoked the quar-
rel finally freed him. The lady is still living.
r. G.. CRAWFORD.