Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-04-13
WAS IT A CONSPIRACY?

on the part of Col. Webb and others. | think
that Col. Webb shared most heavily in the
blame attached to the fatal encounter, and that
probably Mr.. Graves received a larger senti-
ment Of pity and COMMUNICATION than any other
agent III the affair. 1t was known by sworn
statement submitted t. the committee of inves-
ugatlon by two persons by the name of MOrrell
and Jackson, attached 10 the cause of Col.
Webb, that Webb had threatened and was pre-
pared to so to Mr.. C.lley'S room and with
pair of dueling pistols III hand, compel him TO
either settle the matter between them on the
degrading conditions first proposed. or fight
Webb at such place as Ciley might name; and
in case of refusal to fight. he Webb was to
shatter has right arm with pistol ball. so as to
prevent him from meeting Graves. But on
finding that the parties had left for the dueling
field Webb and his friends took a carriage and
drove to Bladensburg, expecting to find Ciley
there.
COL. wEBB's PLAN.
"On the way Col. Webb proposed different
order of proceedings, to which the others
assented, viz: ON reaching the parties said
Webb, III approach Cillev and tell him this
Is my QUARREL and he must fight me; and that
II he aims his rifle at my friend III shoot him
on the spot 1t IL probable that
some one viii raise his weapon at me, when
shall instantly shoot Ciliey, and we must pro-
coed to defend ourselves in the best way we
can. The dueling parties could not be found
after desperate search, and it reported
that the place of meeting was changed for the
purpose OF avoiding Webb. whose intentions
were known or suspected by the challenging
party.
1.-The testimony of the friends of the pr:nci-
pals and eye-witnessess not concerned in the
duel as to matters showing the supposed animUs
OF the challenging party Is a sad review OF i'm
pOrtant facts, and leaves the mind still in a
puzzle concerning the origin of the motives of
the challenging party for assuming the respon-
sibility which entirely belonged TO Col Webb,
for etfecting any possible adjustment of the
misunderstanding with Mr. Cilley. A brief
statement Of important interviews between the
principals and seconds; also with the friends
OF the principals, Is necessary to give the
reader fair understanding of the case.
MR.. CIILEY's BELIEF
''Previous to the meeting Mr.. Cilley re-
marked to Col. Schaumburg: Mr.. Graves has
taken upon himself to demand of me to say.
and that in language dictated by himself, that
James Watson Webb is gentleman and man
of honor. Now that IL what am not going to
disgrace myself by saying. see into the whole
affair. Webb has come on here to challenge
me because he, and perhaps others think that.
as l am from New England. 1 am to be bluffed,
and Mr. Webb will proclaim himself brave
man, having obtained an acknowledgement on
my part that he is gentleman and a man of
honor. But they have calculated without
their host. Although 1 know that the
sentiment Of New England is opposed to
dueling, am sure that my people will be
better pleased if / stand the test than disgrace
myself by Illuminating concessions. Sir, the
name l bear Will never permit me to cover
beneath the frown of mortal man. 1t is an
attempt to brOw-beat us, and because they
think that | am from the east l will tameIy
submit. Why have these gentlemen not been
bold enough to challenge DIR. Duncan. Mr.
Bynum, Mr.. Gholson, and others? They have
said hundred times more than l. l do not
recognize the right of Mr.. Graves to interro-
gate me as to my opinion Of Mr. Webb or any
other man, and would not reply to his interro-
gatOry." When asked who bore Graves chal-
lenge he replied. That fellow Wise
Are you and Mr.. Wise not friendly? asked
Col. Schaumburg.
II expect not said Mr.. Cilley. we have
had some severe sparring in the House. Mr.
Wise and myself had, not long ago, some very
severe words i'll the debate on the Florida war;
in fact, sir, believe he is my enemy
while on the field. during the intermission
between shots, Mr.. Wise demanded that as
there was no malice between the principals,
Mr.. Cilley should offer some apology or expla-
nation that would satisfy Mr.. Graves To
which Mr.. Jones responded for Mr. Cilley that
he had refused to accept Col. Webbs note
through Mr.. Graves from no disrespect to Mr.
Graves. for whom he had the highest respect
and the kindest feelings. Mr.. Wise's reply
was: This is yielding nothing, and places the
affair upon its original ground. Will your
friend, Mr.. Cllley, not say that i'll declining to
receive the communication from Col Webb he
did not refuse because he thought Col Webb
not to be a gentleman?
"'He cannot and viii not do that replied
Gen. Jones.
The reader of the present day is bewildered
in endeavoring to conceive possible, reason
able pretext for compelling Mr. Cilley to re-
spond to the demands of his opponents, or to
imagine the subtleness of the 'unwritten rules
of cob-web fineness, known as the duellist's
code, or code of honor Not Don Quixote
nor any other hero of fiction. or the yeritable
history, which Is often far stranger, ever ex-
hibited any such alteration from principles
of truth and reason did many in our own
country in past times IN their pretenses of de-
Tending the sacred laws of honor which al
most inevitably involved the degradation of
manhoOds rights and self-respect, or the al
tentative of tight to the death Of any one or
both the parties to the quarrel
In one of the lengthy discussions in the House,
following upon the tragic event described Hon.
Amasa Parker, of New York said; With nv
constituents, the rules of honor are the rules of
law, religion and morality He also said:
The duel is a violation of the laws of God and
mani
SIR. CILLEY's LAST WORDS
"Mr. Cilleys friends commended" saws Mr..
King, las did also Mr.. Crittenden. the friend
OF MIR. Graves. that the quarrel should cease
after the first fire, and that the parties should
become reconclled. 1t was shown to be novel
and unprecedented for a challenging party.
after the acceptance of challenge and a shot
exchanged. to demand further explanation or
apology. The challenged party had put his life
IN jeopardy. and said and done all he could i'm
reason to satisfy an honorable man; that the
challenging party could not act in more mag
unanimous manner than to Withdraw the cbal-
lenge, and both parties meet as friends. Inst
before the last shot. when Mr. Bynum went IN
MIR. Cilley and told him il was impossible To
compromise the affair, Mr.. Cilley said. the last
words he was heard to speak before re-
ceiving the fatal BALD: They must thirst
nightly for my bloodr Mr.. Wise testified that
when he went to Mr.. Graves after the second
fire, Mr.. Graves remarked: i must have one
more shot
ColSchaumburg testified that when he spoks
to Mr.. Cilley before the final shot the latter
said: Il see the disposition of the opposite
party Yes replied Col s., 1T appears
to be a sine qua non for the opposite party 10
obtain for Mr.. Webb the character of a gentle
man and a man of honor WELL said Mr..
Cilley, they had better give give up the con-
sideration Of Webb Col. Schaumburg con-
cludes his statesment with the following
TOUCHING TRIBUTE To MR.. CIILEY.
"'Thus terminated the existence of a brave
and accomplished man; victim Of others
tends. a sacrific. IN vain unimportant and IN