The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-08
ALEX MCCLELLAN.
The Career of the Most Noted Duelist
in the Gulf States.

II IN the Guu otaIeS.
Z From Town Topics.
Mrs. Clement G. Clay, widow OF the
noted Alabama senator captured with JEFF
Davis, was concerned with the most famous
duelist the south ever produced in the
person Of Alexander Mcclellan. He was
native Of Kentucky, who for many years
was prominent in politics and society. lie
was an exquisite in dress and manners,
brilliant speaker and writer of tremen-
dous power, possessing the keenest wit
and sarcasm. His attacks upon the Van
Buren, administration gave him national
celebrity.
lie killed great many men during his
career. As an instance of his deadlincss,
for he always killed the man he fought,
NAV be mentioned his duel with Gen. Al
len OF Mississippi. lie had heard that Al
len had made some sighting remark about
him. After Allen had accepted his chal-
lenge Mcclellan declared he would shoot
out the tongue that made the remark.
The duel was fought at forty PAGES with
rifles, and he literally cut Aliens tongue
out rs he threatened.
One instance exhibits his courage. One
day he rode up 10 an inn in little Missis-
sippi town. While he was dismounting a
notorious bully and desperate Of that
county. who had killed many men and
was the terror Of the region, was on the in
side with his revolver cooked and watch
in his hand lie had ordered the room
cleared in five minutes, and every man
had gone, although all were fighting men.
When Mcclellan entered the bully faced
him and with big oath informed him Of
the facts, and that there were only three
minutes left before he should kill whoever
remained. Mcclellan, without moving a
muscle or drawing weapon, produced his
watch, glanced at il, and said:
any name is Alexander Mcclellan. !
give You ten seconds TO get out Of here or
YOU arr dead man."
The fellow yelled out
by thunder, colonel, one-half OF that
time will do" and he WIS out in two
seconds.
Later ON In his career he was haunted
by pmoHc AIan-killing had left its
pains. Ills light was never out In his
room Ut night, and men said he slept not.
When the Mexican war broke out he told
the Rev. Peter Donan, father Of the now
only Col. Pat, that he was weary with life,
that he hal never found any one who
could kill him, and he was going 10 battle
20 seek death ON the field rs lac did not
want 10 commit suicide.
lie entered the service as volunteer
and from the first placed himself In the
front SOint Of danger, commanding atten.
ton Tor his absolute bravery. lie wa,
promoted again and again until he reached
the head Of regiment, when he was shot
through the body Then he returned
home, saying he couldn't be killed, and
hazarded his fate in several duels there
after lie grew more and more eccentric
and thought his opponents abused his con
fdlncc by not killing him. Then he met
NJ A. Clay, beautiful girl Of her time.
She describes him m the most iascinat
ing man TO women she ever met, possess
ing the scrpcntinc power over women
which historians and romanccr attTibui,
90 Aaron Bnu-tho same power that Mat
tic Ould OF Virginia, had over men
Mcclellan proposed marriage a. Mn-
CLAY. but her friends objected ON accoun
Of his excessive ducling propcnsiiics an,
the fear that she would he unhappy will
him. She asked him 10 wait six month";
- -Bciop replying. and during the inierya
did not care Ia meet him ON account Oi h
power over her. In the meanwhile sh'
met Clement &. Clay, and was s'iisiic'
he WIS her destiny. Shortly after th
engagement was announced she got not
from Mcclellan asking for an interview.
Being afraid " his spell, and that IL
might kill her. she declined. II was onl
a few DAYS later when Mcclellan rode int
the then little pine town Of Columbus, Mis-
lie was shown 10 room at an inn, III
door Of which was irregular, like those q
oil such places. lie poured water on NJ
floor and observed which way the inclin
ran. Then dressing himself with the grca
est care aud exquisite neatncss, he Ia
down with his head inclined with th
floor lie placed one hand across I'll
breast, and with the other the muElc Z
his fayoriic ducling pistol al the base ,
the brain, where death il instantaneous
lie was found there dead without siai
Of blood on his scrupulourly clean, pe
fcctly auaycd person, having realized b
superstition az last-that finding no on
else Who could kill him, he became q Eel
dc sc.