The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1889-06-07
A FAMOUS ENCOUNTER.
Graphic Account of a Thrilling Histor-
ical Event.

loal hVent.
The Philadelphia Press offered g
prize for the best story Of persona
bravery. The following is one Of the
contributions:
have considered the famous due
in 1906, between General Andrew
Jackson, afterward president of the
United States, and Charles Dickin
son, of Nashville, Tenn, as an un-
parslleled exhibition of courage and
fortitude on the part of the former.
Dickinson was a dashing young
blood of Nashville, and considered
the best pistol shot in the state. He
had fought several duels and always
killed his opponent. The cause of
the duel is immaterial here, but Jack
SOD being the challenging party,
pistols were Of course named by
Dickinson, and the distance eight
PAGES.
The dueling ground lay q gooC
days journey from Nashville, and
early upon the appointed day Dick
inson set forth accompanied by 6
chosen party OF sporting friends, and
was followed a few hours later by
Jackson and his second.
All during the long days traye
the General was constantly regalet
(?) at the different inns and taverns
upon the road with evidences o
Dickinson's confidence in the result
of the duel as strings hanging fion
tree boughs with papers attached
stating that they had been cut by
Dickinson's bullet at eight PAGES
Just before reaching the ground ht
fred four balls, each at the word oi
command, into a silver dollar at the
same distance, and tossed it to the
landlord, as he road away, with the
request that it be given to General
Jackson when he arrived. The lat
ter's revenge for these cruel taunts
and contemptuous nonchalance was
even more fierce than poets dare to
fancy, as the sequel will show.
The conditions of the duel were
that the combatants should face each
other at eight PAGES, thereby making
the largest possible target of their
bodies; the pistols to be held down.
ward until the word was given to fire,
when each man was to shoot at will.
The chances of success thus lay en-
tirely with the party who combined
in the greatest degree quickness and
accuracy. Dickinson was not only a
marvellous shot in state noted for
its good marksmen, but he required
no aim, firing at sight, and 1t was in
view of this that jackson suddenly
Mortified his second With the an
nouncemen that he intended holding
his fire until Dickinson had taken
his shot and all expostulations failed
to turn him from this suicidal course.
The principals reached the ground
and took their positions without evi-
dence of trepidation on the part of
either. At this stage Of affairs bets
were brutally made by the spectators
on the result, as if they were at q
cooking main or dog fight, great
odds being placed on Dickinson, who
pointed out to his friends a certain
button on Jackson's coat, over his
heart, by the side of which he pro-
posed to place his bullet: and, like
his friends, eagerly bet in his own
favor.
"Are you ready?" was asked OF
each. "Firer and Dickinson raised
his pistol and fred. A puff OF
dust was seen to fly from Jackson's
coat and his left arm was raised
and pressed across his breast, but
otherwise not q muscle moved. His
gaunt face became as whitley set as
chiseled marble, and his eyes re-
mained fixed on his antagonist with
a supernatural glare.
"My Godp cried Dickinson, start
ing back and dropping his pistol,
shave I missed him?" ''Stand up to
the mark" shouted Jackson's second,
drawing his pistol. Jackson's pistol
arm slowly rose without a tremor,
and aiming deliberately he fired.
Dickinson fell. mortally wounded. The
general Immediately walked away, fol-
lowed by his second and his surgeon.
They had proceeded but a short
distance when they observed that one
of Jacdson's shoes was filled with
blood. Then nature gave way, but
not until he had demanded that all
knowledge OF the wound be kept from
the daring Dickinson, so deep was
his revenge. At the time Of the duel
Jackson was dressed in loose-fitting
frock coat, and being very slender
man Dickinson was deceived as to
the exact location of his heart. His
aim, however, had been perfect, the
ounce ball breaking two ribs, shatter'
ing the breast-bone and inficting G
wound from the effects of which
Jackson eventually died twenty years
later. 80
The incidents of this tragic affair
thoughtfu1ly considered, represent tc
the writer's mind the most exalted
type of physical bravery, devoid
though it may be of those higher
moral qualities which marked Jack,
sons subsequent career and which
made his entire life powerful illus
tration Of the fact that desperate
courage may make one majority"