Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-03-20
A DUEL IN EARLY DAYS.
s.oye Making Ia Rock island and Dav'
export HAIR Century Ago and the
ne.uIt-itacy Description by One
VINO Was There.

was u DlRlAliu'hh N'hH@ ihNh ~ DaNNh'
port and equally well known in Rock
Island nearly half century ago, has
written the Gate cay, Of Keokuk, very
racy and interesting description of
romance and real life in this community
in the days of early settlement describing
the only duel ever fought in this neigh
borhood. Mr.. Grifiith's narrative is APP
pended IN full
In the winter Of 1S41s42 | lived in
Davenport, Davenport and Rock ISL
and were both small villages at that time,
and the young people OF the two places
were in the habit of uniting when they
wished to got up nice party. Late in
the fall of 1871 two gentlemen arrived in
Rock Island by the name OF John Finch
and Mr.. Ralston, and stopped at the
Rock Island house Mr.. Finch took up
a writing school in Rock leland, and also
one iu Davenport He was the finest
penman | ever met in my travels. Mr.
Ralston was a gentleman Of leisure.
Both seemed to have plenty OF money,
and it was soon understood that Mr.
Ralstou was very handy man at game
of poker. About the LIST Of Decem
Der. 1871, two more young gentlemen
made their appearance in Rock Isl
aud and stopped at the Rock Island
house, which was the arIstOCratic house
of that day, kept by two brothers
by the name of Vancourt, who,
some wears later kept the Virginia no
tel IN St. Louis The two last arrivals
were Mr. Charles Hegner and Mr..
Sperry, both from Philadelphia. Mr.
Hegner was the son of very wealthy
liquor merchant in Philadelphia. Mr.,
Sperry was West Point cadet, had
Just graduated and was ont on three
months turlough, and spending money
for II rich father Both gay larks,
They became so attached to the two
towns and the people that they re
NAMED all winter sowing wild oats. In
March 1912 they gave the last grand
party of the season at the Rock Island
house and the young people of Daven~
port had to respond. We had a Mr..
Samuel Fisher living in Davenport, who
had very interesting daughter who
was one of the many bellies of Daven
port of that day, hence Miss Sophia
Fisher was at the party. The only
place we had to dance was in the
dining room which was adjoining the
main DulCt, anu III tue DlllCC was bdl >
an indis peusabe of those days About
l o'clock a m Mr. iIegner engaged Miss
Fisher for the next quadrile. The floor
was then full and while waiting for the
floor to be cleared he stepped out to the
bar to repenish, engaged in talking with
some one and neglected business. In the
mean time the floor was cleared and fill.
ing up for another quadrIlle. Finally
h., nn,,nln IA, HIl Mr.
Raston was asked to get partner and
fill up the set, Miss Fisher was waiting
for Mr.. Hegner, Mr.. Raston invited her
to assist him in filling up the set. She
said she was engaged to Mr.. Hegner, but
as he (EIegnerl was not present she con.
scented to ill up the set When the
quadrille was about half through Mr..
Hegner came in and walked up to Mr..
Ralston and said very emphatically you
have got my place sir" Mr. Ralstou ap>
pealed to Miss Fisher, and she decided to
continue the dance with him. Mr. Heg-
ner remarked Indignantly, II will see you
again, sir" He went Immediately to the
Office, called for paper and wrote chal-
lenge to mortal combat, handed it to
Major Wilson to hand to Mr. Ralston,
Major Wilson took it, read it and tore
it up in his presence. That very much
enraged the gentleman, He then wrote
another and handed it to Mr.. Ralston
himself In the morning Mr.. Ralston ac-
cepted the challenge and referred him to
Mr. Finch, his best friend. Mr.. Hegner
selected Mr.. Sperry for his second, and
the seconds arranged all the prelimina,
res-which was pistols Mt twenty PAGES
the fight to take place next mOTning at sun
rise on the bank of the Mi sjssippi river,
the Iowa side about d halt mile below
Davenport at that time. but the city im~
its have been extended since, hence the
battle ground is now within the city Inns
it's The evening before the conflict Mr.
Hegner and MIR. Sperry came over to the
lie Claire house, where | was stopping, to
be handy with the battle ground.
They requested me as a friend to wake
them at 5 o'clock in the morning. They
also requested me to procure key of the
bar, so they could get a nip before start
ing for the battle ground, | did as they
requested and also woke up a friend by
the name of Jack Evans who was a
boarder also. We gave them their bitters
and they started for the fray. Mr.. Evans
and myself had a curiosity to see how it
would pan out, and we followed short
distance behind When they arrived at
the designated spot they found Mr.. Raj
ston and MIR. Finch on the ground With
DR.. Gregg as surgeon, the seconds stepped
off the ground and the combatants took
their positions, the seconds loaded their
pistols and handed one to each. Mr..
Ralston spoke as follows: Charley, |
have nothing against you; can we not
settle this some way without bloodsbed?'
Charley replied with an oath: 81 came
here for blood, and | am bound to have
it," Mr. Ralston replied, 81 believe l
can kill you, Charley but will not do it,
but--yOu, | will wing you" The
word was given, and both fired simulta-
neously. Heguer was shot through the
tieshy part of the arm between the shout
der and elbow. Ralston was not hurt
Hence Ralston did just what he said be
would. DR.. Gregg dressed tue wound;
the combatants shook hands and we all
went up to the LeClaire house and took
a drink.
Then the fun commenced. The officers
of Davenport got after them for lighting
duel on Iowa soil. Through the influ-
ence of friends they managed to elude
them, and crossed the river to the town
of Rock Island, but that was jumping
out of the frying pan into the fire. as the
officers there got after them for passing
and receiving challenge. Their
friends managed to run them over
on Rock Island proper under the
protection of Col George Davenport, but
that being in Rock Island county, the of.
ticers pursued them there, and ran them
out of the county; and l haver never
heard of Mr.. Sperry or MIR. Hegner since,
hut | presume his arm cot well Mr.