The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-09-02
TWO DUELs IN ONE DAY.
ana Killed His Antagonist in Both
The Duels in the Early DAYS.


Mideageuiue (GG.I Correspondence Atlantic
Constitution.
There is an old man that can be seen on
the streets of nilledgeyille at almost any
hour IN the day, peddling peanuts and
earning scanty support for himself and
wife by raising chickens for market, ard
selling onions. cabOagss aud such other
vegetables as he can raise in the small
patch of ground adjoining his house-all
that Is left him of once large fortune. He
IS now old and decrepit. and. though a man
OF naturally splendid physique, the sickle
Of time has carved deep burrows in his
race and the frost of ninety winters has
wnitened his hair. There was time when
ne stool high in social relations-a man of
wealth aud honor-but fortune turned
against him; his wealth vanished; he was
reduced to low position in life, and since
the war he has lived with his wife in utter
retirement. This man is the hero of two
duels In one day-only two shots fired
two men killed!
In 1882 Columbus was one of the frs.
cities Of Georgia. Its position then as
business center was even more prominent
tna1 1t is now, for it was the inlet Of all
foreign productions, whils the home prod
ucts OF nearly all of southwest Georgia
found their outlet there Mr. s., for that
IS the first letter Of his name, was a prom
lnent contractor, and one OF the foremost
men OF that city. At the same time Messrs.
Jim Lockley and Shelton Swift were in
business together-the leaders of the hard
ware trade of that city.
They were men of means and honor. and
were leaders OF society. Mr. s., being
contractor, had considerable dealings with
MeSsrs. Lockley and Swift Their b lsiness
relations, for long time, we're of the most
cordial and peaceabie nature. They we're
tas6 friends and there was a time when
either would have cheerfully died for the
other. But lit is long lane that has no
turns" and a perfect life that has no blun-
ders. In a business transaction, q thought
less word was uttered by Swift that stuug
>, to the core. A quarrel ensued, then a
4gnt IN which Swift was badly whipped.
Lockley took sides with Swift. A news
paper constroversy followed. and for
several days the battle of words waged
between Lockley and Swift on one hand,
ana s. on the other. When the contrO-
Versy reached a certain pitch, IL was car
rled on between friends Of the two partias
and resulted in a challenge being sent bv
$ to Jockey and Swift, which was
promptly accepted. Old CJl. flaming,
who lost his life in the Mexican war, was
chosen as second by S., while jim Hol-
AeNsiA was bAlb DSsb lElbutl Oh LQ9 OJ0er L 40
gentlemen. The place selected for the en-
counter was just over the river from
Columbus in an Indian settlemant-Fort
Mitchell. DR.. Broadnax, one of the promi-
nent physicians OF the city, was summoned
to attend S., while Locklev
was attended by his physician. Ten
o'clock in tide morni was the hour ap-
pointed for the conflict with Jockey. and
the engagement vita Swift was for O'Clock
a gf - A.l 3
hour, the party were upon the field There
were probably fifty friends of the belliger-
ents on the scene. A feeling of awe pre-.
vailed, as the two men-Lockley and s.
stood face TO face in a conflict of death.
At the command fire" both men raised
their weapons and two loud reports broke
the death-like stiffness.
S. remained standing with his pisto
lowered to his side, W bile ten PAGES in from
of him Lockley lay upon the ground il
struggle Of death, the first shot HAVING
done It's work. S. was uniniured anC
in few moments was ready for the seconc
act of this wonderful tragedy. The news O
the duel was unknown in the city, nor wa
it reported until honor had again beer
avenged and another duel had been fought
AT 8 O'Clock that evening both gentlemen
with their friends, were upon the battle
field in Alabama-only a short distanc,
from the scene of the first enc )unter. Tn.
tragedy OF the morhing was still fresh in
their minds; the two pistol shots were still
Il lgling IN their ears and this vision OF
Jockeys death followed then, as Banquo's
ghost; yet the wonderful nerve Of the two
men brooks down every barrier and, in mad
desire to vindicate wouuded honor. the
tragedy of only few hours
before was completely forgotten,
Promptly at 8 O'Clock s. aud
Swift were face to face, six PAGES apart
quietly awaiting the command "fre.n As
soon as this wac given another report rang
out in the stiffness. Swift bounced forward
on his toes, reeled and fell forward on his face
his pistol involuntarily discharglng without
damage. Next day the two dead men were
buried with all the pomp worthy of their
standing.
s. returned to Columbus, whers he
remained until 1858, when he moved to this
city, where he has since resided. Alabama,
at the time, was inhabited by Indians: the
duel was fought there, so the Georgia au-
thorities were powerless to prosecute the
duelists.
Mr.. s. is very reluctant to speak about
the affair, and in talking to your correspon-
dent on that subject yesterday evening
said: "Yes, I've lived in this world for
eighty-six years now and have always tried
to mind my own affairs, but when man
runs against my person or enters the sane
tlty OF my home, it arouses the lion in me-
Columbus furnished the material for two
other duels during the same year. They
was killed, and Lamar-W Gods n, in which
Woodson was killed. All occurred Just
over the state line in Alabama