Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-09-13
A NOTED DUEL.
The Fight Between smythe and Thomas
a THIRD of n Century Ago.
From the Washington GGsette.

Third of n Century Ago.
From. the Washington GGsotte.
just thirty-fve years ago the most
noted duel which ever took place in this
part of the country, within the memory of
our older citizens, was fought on the
Carolina side of the Savannah river, just
opposite where the swift waters Of this
rapidly flowing stream dispute the pas
sage Of the still waters OF the Broad.
A few years previous to this duel Thos.
w. Thomas, one OF the principals, and
George Smythe, a brother OF the other
principal, quarreled; the result OF which
was q challenge to mortal combat. Such
serious turns of difficulties were not In
frequent in those days. Both principals
were residents Of this section, and we'll
known TO our citizens. The dueling par
ty left Washington in carriages for the
Savannah river. They arrived at the old
town Of Lisbon on this side Of the river in
time for sup per, and stopped at the public
inn. Both principals and the entire
dueling party sat dOwntO the same table,
and were as calm as il nothing unusual
was on hand. The plan was to cross the
river, sleep on the Carolina side, and fight
at sunrise next morning.
The night was clear and beautiful, the
moon shining its brightest. The Thomas
party had crossed the river, and the
Smythe party had taken boat and
pushed of from the bank. When about
half way across the river some one ran
down to the brink of the stream and
called very Justify and urgently to the
parties in the boat. Surprising it was
some of their own party who mad been
lett, they pulled back to the Georgia side,
when the Sheriff with his posse jumped
into the boat, arrested the whole party,
and brought them back.
Both parties came nack to Washington
where the difficulty was amicably settled
in the residence on the square now owned
by e. Beal. . Or. Marshall Andrews was
Mr.. Tomas second and George Dyson
was Mr.. Smythe's second. Both seconds
We're residents Of this place.
The duel which took place in 1850, was
between Thomas w. Thomas and James
NJ. Smythe. a brother Of the abOVe-named
gentleman, whom Mr.. Thomas came so
near fighting. 1t grew out of this trouble,
but politics were at the bottom of the
whole affair. James M. Smythe was a
Southern Rights man and Thomas w.
Thomas was for constitutional Union.
luose are political terms which sound
strange in our ears after the lapse OF time
covering third of century,
The same ground WAS chosen for this
duel, and the two parties approached it
from different directions. On the way
both principals were practicing with
their pistols, and Mr.. Smythe was pro-
nOunced a remarkably good shot. MIR.
Thomas was large man and was poor
shot.
Mr.. smythe selected Mr.. James Gard
ner as his second, and Mr.. Thomas
selected Judge Linton Stephens.
Three O'Clock in the evening was the time
CHOSEN, and all parties and large num-
Der of friends appeared on the grounds at
the appointed hour. The crowd congre-
gated on the bluff above the grounds, and
the principals and their seconds stood
below near the river bank. The choice of
position fell to Thomas, and be chose to
stand with his back to the west.
When the two walked up to the pegs
that were driven in the ground, Smythe
was facing the sun. The weapons used
were regular dueling pistols and carried
a very large ball. At the first fire each
| ball missed it's mark and the dust was cut
UP by the balls some distance behind the
! dueists. Shots were exchanged the
second time with the same result. At the
! third fire Smythe WAS shot through the
| thighs and Thomas still remained I'M
touched. The wounded man was lowered
on a bed by his friends, and the duel de-
clAred ended.
Mr.. Smythe was pronounced not fatally
wounded by the attending surgeon, and
when Mr.. Thomas was appraised Of this
fact, ne expressed himself much gratified
that he would not be the cause of his
death.