, 1889-12-19
A Frightful Duel on Bloody
Island
in SIGHT OF THOUSANDS:
An Affair of Honor in Which Two
Eminent Missourians Kill
Each Other.


the time than the ailray at Lexington,
and was ono of the things that gave tho
name 'bloody' to an island on the Iii.
nois side Of the river that is now covered
by the city OF East st. Louis.
At the August election of 1928 a very
talented young lawyer, promising
politician, n jackson" man in politics,
was chosen as the single representative
of Missouri In the federal congress over
Edward Bates, the whip or adams"
man. In 1881 Mr.. Pettis was a'candidate
for re-eIection as Jackson democrat
against David Barton, who stood as the
exponent of the opposition, composed.o of
wings and adams" men. Mr.. Barton
had but few months previously retired
after ten years service as United States
senator, having been succeeded by
Alexander Buckner, of Cape Girardcau.
During this period President jackson
was engaged in his notable warfare
against the old United States bank, of
which Nicholas Riddle was then at the
head. lttr
A brother of the great financicr, Major
Thomas Biddle, paymaster in the
army, was stationed at Jefferson bar
racks, near this city, at the time. As q
supporter of Jackson in his controversy
with the bank, Mr.. Pettis, in his can
vass, assailed Mr.. Biddle and the bank
party. In reply to one Of Mr.. Pettis'
spoeches, delivered In St. Louis, Major
Thomas Blddle, In newspaper article
signed Missouri" made most caustic
attack upon certain of the Jackson
party. He was particularly severe upon
Mr.. Pettls alleging that he was totally
unfit to represent Missouri in congress
and ought 20 be overwhelmingly de-
feated at the ensuing election. He ridi-
ouied Mr. Pettis, going back to Ben
Johnson for epithets. He called him q
bowl Of SKINNED milk" "plate of
dried herring" and other ridiculous
comparisons, some of them odorous and
all Of them odious.
To this attack on Major Biddle the
young candidate replied with card
over his own signature in one of the pa
pers, charging the authorship of the ar
ticle signed Missouri" upon 'one
Thomas Biddle." Quoting the compari-
sons alluded to, Mr.. Pettis said;
but has Major Biddle ever given to the
world any evidence of his manhood?'
This remark gave great ofrense to
Major Biddle. He was naturally of a
pleasant disposition, but somehow the
paragraph stirred the depths of his
anger Without taking counsel of any
one or informing any one of his inten-
tions, he determined to cowhide MIR.
Pottis, for the reason that this form of
punishment was ignominious as we'll as
severe. Armed with heavy raw
hide, he sought Mr.. Pettis at the lattcrs
lodgings in the City hotel. 1t was
little after daylight on the morning OF
July 10. Only few of the guests of the
hotel had arisen. Mr.. Pettis had been
unwcll for several days, and as the night
was sultry he slept on mattress on the
piazza of the hotel adjoining his room.
Major Biddle was shown to the room of
Mr.. Pottis and found him on the piazza
in his night clothes and asleep. Strip.
ping him of his slight covering, Biddle
assaulted him furiously and inflicted
most cruel punishment The noise
awakened some of the hotel inmates,
who put stop to the disgraceful per-
forniance Major Biddle surrendered
his weapon ana calmly walked away
without Offering an explanation or say
ing word. Mr.. Petlis was severely
hurt and his person was covered with
bruises ana uDraslOns.
The savage blows given by Major
Biddle were heard by the wife of Colonel
Thomas II. Benton as she lay in bed
nearly block away. The affair caused
great excitement and among MIR. Pettis
friends great indignation. The latter
held conference and decided that Mr.
Pettis would be justified in resorting to
the most extreme measures of retaIia-
tion. He was even urged to shoot his
assailant on sight. Colenel Benton, a
friend Of MIR. Pettis, gave him different
counsel. Speaking earnestly in reply to
the expressed desire of Mr.. Pettis to
challenge Biddle and fight him to the
death, Mr.. Benton said:
you should challenge Major Bid
die Immediately, as you wish to do, and
you should chance to fall, the election is
so near at hand and the state so large
there will not be time to bring out
another candidate and to transmit the
news throughout the state before the
day of election, and therefore Mr.. Bar
ton will be elected.
Colonel Benton then advised that Mr..
Pettis have Major Biddle arrested, and
that he have all facts in the case taken
and attested, printed in the
form of circulars and distributed
throughout the state.
After the election is over" said Col
onel Benton significantly, ~ leave you
to vindicate your honor in such man
ner as you may deem consistent with
principles that govern gentlemen"
Mr.. Pettis, with some reluctance
adopted the course advised by Colonel
Benton, and the same day warrant was
issued for the arrest OF Major Biddle
While in court Major Biddle said he vas
not only willing to make reparation for
any breach of the law, but was ready to
give Mr.. Pettis any 'satisfactionn he
might demand. Mr.. Pettis replied with
somc heat: That will be attended to-
SIR" Major Biddle was placed under
bonds. Having "given evidence to the
world OF his manhood" Major Biddle
went about his business, and Mr.. Pettis
continued his canvass and was elected TO
congress by "A good majority over Barton.
Biddle left st. Louis for points on the
upper Mississippi to pay troops. Mr.
Pettis went down to Ste. Genevieve and
spent two weeks with DR.. l.. +. Linn,
United States senator. About August
16 Major Biddle returned to st. Louis.
Learning this, Mr.. Pettis, accompanied
by DR.. Linn, returned to the city and
arrived on the 18th. The next day Mr.
Pettis went to the residence of Captain
Martin Thomas, a retired officer oil the
United States army and an experienced
duelist. He placed himself in training
under the instruction of Captain Thomas
and practiced with pistol and sword. ON
August 22d challenge vas borne by
Captain Thomas from Mr.. Pettis to
Major Biddle. The challenge was some
thing Of departure from. the usual
form. The duel was to be loutrance.
As the affront and injury were mortal
IL was demanded that the weapons and
distance be deadly. Major Biddle offered