The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1885-10-15
POTTER.PRYOR.
The Facts About the Duel With Bowie
Knives that Didn't Come on.

The Facts About the Duel With Bowie
Knives that Didn't Come ON.
was in Washington during the three
years subsequent 10 the affair, and
know the facts from Mr.. Potter him
self and from other participants. 1t
was the Beginning of Buchanan last
years. For year or two Northern
congressman had been intimidated by
those from the South. the latter being
generally expert swordsmen or pistol
shots, and the former unfamiliar with
either weapon and brought up to re-
gard dueling with adherence. Two or
three Northerners had been insulted,
posted" and bullied, replying simply
that they would fight if attacked.
There was a growing feeling among
Mr.. Lincolns friends that it was neces-
sary for some Yankee" to fight.
Mr.. Pryor rose to question OF privi-
lege one morning, saying that at the
Congress iondi Globe Office he had
found that Mr.. Potter had inserted at
the end of his (Potters) speech the,
word "The Republicans will be heard,
let the consequences be what they
may" No such words, Mr. Pryor said,
had been uttered in debate.
Mr.. otter replied that he had used
the words referred to, and that Pryor
had erased them from the record, and
added: "He had no right to do it. 1t
was none of the gentleman's business.
I stand by what said"
j doubt if these words are properly
challengeable; but those were hot
times, and Pryor sent challenge and
escaped to Virginia to avoid arrest.
Potter answered through his friend,
Col. +. w. Lander, that ho would fight
with bowie knives, in the presence OF
four friends of the parties, who should
be armed with navy revolvers to see
fair play. Distance four feet at COM
mencement of engagement. Knives OF
equal weight and length of blade.
Fight to commence at the word three. !"
It was added "These terms are such
as will alone enable my principal, who
is unacquainted with the usual wea-
pons of duelists, to meet your friend on
equal terms" Mr.. Chisman, whom Pry-
or had left to represent him, took the
strange acceptance to several of his
principals friends, Keitt, Hindman, and
others They all agreed that the
weapon was inadmissible, and that Pot
ter, instead Of being fought, should be
denounced as q barbarian. SO Mr..
Chisman answered that, mot recogniz-
ing this vulgar, barbarous and inhuman
mode of settling difficulties" he could
not allow Pryor to engage in it.
Next day Pryor came back from hid
ing in Virginia, and seeing what mis-
take his seconds had made, straight
way repudiated them, and asked that
the matter might be reopened, an
nouncing his willingness to accept the
terms and fight with bowie-knives.
The seconds declared reopening i'm
practicable. Lander offered himself in
Potters place without restrictions"
but nobody had any quarrel with him.
Pryor sent word to Potter tina. he would
attack him at sight, and few hours
afterwards Potter was arrested by the
police, and put under bonds to keep
the peace.
Potter's pluck caused a great furore
at the North at the time when pluck
was at a premium; and Pryor suffered
from the outcome of it mainly because,
in the heat of passion, the facts were
obscured, and it was generally believed
that he had refused to fight with bowie
knives, and had rather ANONYMOUSLY
backed out. If the fght had taken
place, one or both would have been
killed, and it might have done some
thing TO abolish the savage and per-
posterous custom of dueling.
remember talk with Potter about
tho affair in 1861, II always confde
wholly in my wife," he said, "and in
this strange dilemma went to her the
first thing. / showed her how we
stood; that l had done no wrong, that
the North needed a champion and that
our cause was depressed because nc
man would fight, and then I asked her
what to do. She had good crying
spell, as the women call it, but she
said my duty was clear-I must fight
him. L got such instructions in the
use of the bowie-knife as could, and
practiced for an hour every day. an
very strong and quick. If we had
fought / should certainly have slair
Mr.. Pryor. 1t is better as it is.-W
n. Croffut, i'a Ne,C York World.