The daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1889-1890, 1889-11-22
A REMINISCENCE.
INCIDENTS RELATING TO THE
"FIGHTING AI,STONS."

One Deed of Blood Leads to An
other, Until the Chapter Closes
with the Memorable Tragedy in
Atlanta Some Years Ago.
A gentleman of this city has placed in
our hands the following communication.
1t was written by him some years ago;
but, though somewhat ancient, is none
the less interesting as relating to a fam
lily distinguished largely for nobility of
character, unfortunately exaggerated
into the fantasies of chivalrv:
DR.. Dancy, of Jacksonville, Florida, a
young man OF some twenty-five years of
age with whom | came from Hender-
sonvllle on the stage last night, called
| upon me this morning. He says he is the
| grandson OF Gov. Reid, the first COVER
nor of Florida, who killed two of the
nghtlng Alstons, and was himself killed
| by third Gov. Reid had written a
political article rehecting upon friend
OF one of the four Aston brothers. AL
ston approached Reid upon the subject,
and the result of the interview was a
challenge from Alston to fight a duel.
This was accepted and Reid chose large
bored rifles at a distance of fifty PAGES.
1t being political difficulty, large crowds
ot both parties attended the duel
lists to the field. Aston was very bois-
ferrous and noisy. and made many boasts
of what he would do. When they turned
to fire AlStOn's gun went off a moment
too soon, the ball striking the earth di-
rcctly between the combatants. Before
the second could interfere, Reid fired and
Aston was instantly killed. Alston's
party claimed that Rcids fire was not
tar, and Alston's sister was so exasper-
ate that. with her own hands, she cut
the ball from her dead brothers body
and sent it to her two brothers, then
living in Texas. They came to Florida
Ior revenge. One day Reid had sat
down to dinner in the hotel, when the
name OF Aston was heard, and looking
up ne saw one of the Texas brothers ad.
yanclng with a drawn bowie-knife. Be-
fore he could prepare himself Aston
stabbed him twice, but he then fired a re-
volver at his assailant, striking him in
the face and killing him Instantly. An
attempt was then made to arrest the
other brother, who was in the neighbor-
hood, and to bind him over to the peace.
But he cludcd pursuit for some weeks,
until one morning at 10 o'clock Reid
was emerging from the capitol gate, and
Us he turned to go down the street he
received in his back a charge of buCk5
shot from dOuble-barreled shotgun in
the hands of Aston, killing him in-
stantly. Aston was thrown into Jail,
and serious apprehensions were felt that
violence would be done him by a mob,
but during the succeeding night large
crowd OF his friends stormed the Jail and
released him. He fled to Texas, but was
only there short time when an article
appeared i'll Galveston paper denounc-
ing the killing of Reid as a cold blooded
and cowardly murder. The writer's
name was, DR.. Dancy thinks, Kingsley.
They met on horseback in the street BY
accident. Aston drew his pistol, and at
that instant Kingsley dismounted. The
fire of Alston's pistol killed Kingsleys
horse Both parties then exchanged
shots several times, Kingsley being badly
wounded and Aston fatally. They were
carried to prison, where Aston died in a
short time in his boots"
The fourth brother lived in South Car
olina, and was killed, diving in his boots.
He was the father of the Aston who was
recently killed by Cox in Atlanta.