The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1889-11-06
THE LAST DUEL
Ever Fought ut Historic Sand Bar Ferry
Charles ID. lilly Killed by George L.
RaiclifI3

Ever Fought mt Historic Sand Saf Ferr!
Charles ID. lilly Killed by George L.
RatclifTe.
IAuqnstu G,r9nicIe.
On no subject perhaps has there
been greater change Of feeling IN
Georgia and the South than the code
duello As long as the law counten-
anced meetings on the field of honor,
or did not prosecute principals and
seconds in such recontres, they con.
tinued to be the natural sequence OF
any difference between gentlemen
which one of the parties chose to
consider a reflection upon his honor.
Once this position was taken and a
challenge was sent, there was small
escape from a deadly encounter, 1t
mattered not how trivial the offence,
for in the great majority of cases
there were half a dozen hot headed
friends to say ''there's nothing to DO
but fight" or "you are ruined if you
don't fight" for one who tried to et-
feet a settlement. And even efforts
at a reconciliation were often Of the
most perfunctory characterize IN
tercessors frequently hoping that their
efforts would prove unavaillng.
In most cases for man to decline
challenge was equivalent to self
Punishment from the esteem and as
sociation of his friends-an ostracism
which few men had the force OF char
acter to defy, and the greatness to
overshadow But now the law looks
on duelling in very different light,
and public opinion endorses the en-
forcement of the law, instead of up
holding officers who were convent
emily ignorant when such things were
going on, and strangely indifferent
afterwards. People are more dis
posed now to realize the fact that the
killing of man does not disprove
bis words, nor does the better shoot
ing of the other prove his honor.
It seems incredible now that two
popular young society and business
men of Augusta should carry on
personal correspondence looking to a
deadly meeting, which correspond
ence, and its consideration by friends,
covered two or three days, and was
known to the community; that this
correspondence should end in a NOR
tai combat in broad day light within
four miles of this city; and that a
score or more of the friends OF the
parties should drive out to witness tie
meeting.
I say it seems incredible now that
such thing should happen, and yet
this very thing did happen a little
less than fourteen years ago. And it
is not improbable that the killing of
young Tilly aroused public sentiment
to an appreciation of the horror OF
duelling, and caused the lawmakers
and the people to demand Of the pub
lie officers the prosecution OF all Of
tenders against the law. Certain it
is that since the fatal meeting OF lilly
and RatcliAe no duel has been fought
on that famous field of honor-Sand
Bar ferry. Several have since been
planned, but none fought.
To show how far from being Sc
cret meeting the Tilly and Ratclife
duel was, was speaking of it to
prominent lawyer yesterday and as we
talked two others came up; all three
of them had been eye-witnesses to
the duel. As this deadly meeting was
the last which ever took place at Sand
Bar ferry, and it may be said to have
marked the end of duelling in Geor-
sia, I thought it might not be unin-
teresting to relate the details Of the
meeting as told by men who were
there.
Mr. Tilly had heard of ssrumors
detrimental to his character" repeated
by Mr.. Ratclife. He demanded of
Mr.. Ratclife his authority for them;
pronounced them "base, false, and
malicious" and declared he 'would
hold any man responsible for further
repeating the SANDER" Mr.. Ratclife
replied that the rumors came to his
ears as a common report" and as
such was repeated. He declined to
give any special authority for them.
A challenge from Mr.. lilly followed,
!, which was promptly accepted by Mr.:
, Ratcliffe.
The friends interceded and secured
stay of hostilities for one day in or
, der that a reconciliation might be at
tempted. Whatever the effort may
have been it failed. The next step in
the affair was the following agreement
, between the second for Mr.. Ratcliffe
J, and the second for Mr.. lilly: First
That meeting take place at Sand Bar
ferry, at 3 P. NJ, December Is, 1875.
, Second--Weapons used, six inch navy
, pistols. Third-Distance, ten PAGES.
, Fourth-Toss up, has the giving Of
the word, or choice of position. Fifth
, Fire between the words fire and
stop. No shooting to be done before
fire or after stop. Sixth-Four friends
only on each side, allowed to be invit-
ed on the ground.
Though the invited guests to the
recontre were so few, witnesses to it
say there were at least 20 spectators.
Efforts had been made at reconcile
alton the preceding twenty-four hours,
and these having failed, there was
nothing left to do now but stand by