Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-12-09
AN historic DUEL

HOW OeC0e0H o0W xbokEV0 NOV A>OoO&A ",
tho Dueling-Ground Of Blsdsnsburg.
So this was the famous dueling.
ground of Bladensburg! This was the
spot where Decatur fell The cele-
brated spot is meadow now and the
cattle were grazing all about
The most famous of the many affairs
Of honor was the duel between Commo-
dores Decatur and Barron of the United
States navy in 1920. They stood at
eight PAGES. Dueling with Stephen
Decaur had been partly a pastime.
partly pleasure, if it could be that to
any man. He has written some senti-
ments to the contrary, but the story OF
his life disproves them. At school De-
catur was the physical champion. and
at the age of twenty he fought duel
at New Castle, Del, with a merchant
mans mate, badly wounding him in
the hip. In 1903 he had compelled q
duel at four yards between M;dshipman
cambridge, relative of his last Sec
ond, and an Englishman, in which the
latter was killed. Only eighteen months
prior to his last and fatal duel he had
been second to Oliver Perry in a duel
in New Jersey, and had engaged in one
or another capacity in number of
other affairs of honor. The last affair
was one that covered a number of
years. 1t was in time of peace. five
years preceding the war of 1912, that
Barron's flagship, without gun ready
for service, was suddenly boarded on
the ocean by boat from the British
ship Leopard, whose commander de-
manded three English sailors to be
given up. Barron refused to deliver
them. The Leopard opened fire upon
the helpless Chesapeake, and, after
killing and wounding number of
men, boarded her and seized the sail
Ors. The country was atame at the
insult, but the Administration was not
prepared for war They had to make
a butt of some one, however, and Bar
ron was selected as the victim. He
was tried by court-martial and sus-
pended from the Savy for five years
without pay. His conduct had been
brave, and the court-martial could only
convict him on his misfortunes.
Decatur took a leading part in the
prosecution and denounced the I'M
fortunate officer in and out of court,
and himself became the idol of the
hour. The two men separated after
the court martial. Barron went into
the merchant service to earn his bread.
Decatur was given Barron's ship,
hoisted his CommOdore's penant, and
when the war with England came on
went buoyantly up from one victory
to another and became the peoples
hero.
Barron. when he returned from
abroad, found his subordinate officer
Commissioner of the Navy, in the full
tide of his prosperity, rich, courted,
handsome and chivalrous. Barron
made application for active service.
and it was guessed that he wished the
command of the Mediterranean squad
ron. He was opposed by Decatur and
his fellow-comniiSsionerS and by their
influence he failed in his expectations.
Decatur's renewed pursuit of Barron,
which was the cause of the formers
death, is the one dark spot upon life
that was otherwise one of the most gal
liant ever spent. 1t has been proved
that he circulated gossip about his I'M
fortunate fellow-otficer and put stig-
mas upon his courage. At last it was
reported that Decatur had said that
-'he could insult him with impunity"
This was more than Barron would
stand, and he wrote Decatur asking if
it were true that he had used the ex-
preston. A dozen letters were passed,
a challenge sent and accepted, and the
two men who had been enemies for
eight years left Washington one cool,
frosty morning over sixty years ago
and took the road for fatal Bladens-
burg-the road which so many had
passed over never to return. They
took their stations according to the
code. The word was given and
simultaneous report rang out, and
both fell to the ground.
% l am MORALLY wounded" said De-
catur; at least believe l am, and l
wish that l had died for my country"
Every thing has been conducted in
the most honorable Manner an
swered Barron, looking up at them all.
IS am mortally wounded, Commodore
Decatur. l forgive you from the bot
tom of my heart
AT 1880 the following evening De-
catur was dead in his beautiful Wash
ington home. Barron suffered dread
fully for months. never entirely recov-
cred, and died in 1851. At last the
two rivals were more than equal. Be-
fore the fatal morning in March Deca-
tur was gallant and popular. Barron
was sick and disgraecd. Decatur had
the heart of the Nation, a lovely wife,
a happy home ashore and any ship he
wished at sea. All that Barron had
which Decatur had not was one degree
higher in rank. He had but this poor,
empty bauble, and the suspicious read
er can not be able to eVade the belief
that Decatur wanted it-COy: St. Louis
Globe Democrat.