The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-01-11

apparently at the same instant, and both
fell. 1t was first thought that Decatur was
killed, but after a little while he revived
somewhat.
William Writ, who was then Attorney
General of the United States, AMI VINO had
tried to prevent the meeting, writing few
days later Of the melancholy affair, says:
Decatur was apparently shot dead. He
revived, however, after awhile, and he and
Barron mad parley as they lay on the
ground. Dr. Washington, who got up just
then, says that it reminded him Of the
closing scene Of trAgedy-"Hamlet" and
" Laertes. Barron proposed that they
should make friends before they met in
heaven, for he supposed they would
both die Immediately. Decatur said he had
never been his enemy, that ne freely forgave
him his death, though he could not forgive
those who had stimulated him to seek his
life. One report says that Barron exclaimed:
Would TO God that you had said this much
yesterday! 1t Is certain that the parley
was friendly one, and that they parted in
peace. Decatur knew he was to die. and
his only sorrow was that he had not died in
the service of his country
Decatur vas placed in a carriage and
taken TO his homein Washington, where he
died that night at IL o'clock. Among those
who followed his remains TO the tomb were
the President of the United States, the
members of his cabinet, the foreign minis
tiers resident at Washington, and many
other distinguished officers and citizens.
After long and tedious illness Barron
recovered from his wound, but he was
never restored to active duty, passing the
remainder Of his service on shore duty and
waiting orders. He became senior officer
of the navy in 1889, and died In Norfolk in
1851, thirty years after the fatal duel
Many other ouels have occurred, first and
l.. - a ..NIl
them, perhaps, of later date than the two
described. but owing, perhaps, to the less
prominent position OF ths parties, scant REQ
ord has been preserved. The celebrated en-
counter between the Hon. Henry Clay and
the Hon. John Randolph, in 1926, did not
occur here but took place Just across the
Potomac on the Virginia shore, few miles
above Georgetown. This grew out of the
presidential election in 1924, in which the
candidates were Adams, Crawford, Jack
son and Clay. Jackson had received
the highest number of electoral votes,
but, not having a majority, as re-
quired by the constitution, the election
was thrown into the House of Repre-
sentahves where, by acombination between
the friends Of Clay and Adams, the latter
was chosen. The supporters of jackson
were highly indignant, aud when Clay be-
came the Secretary of State under the new
uJlOA bueH TdlbGu Tue CRY Oh a
corrupt bargain and SALE" though there
never was the smallest particle of evidence
In support of such charge. Randolph, a
senator In congress from Virginiaain de.
llver1nR a speech one day in that body, re-
ferred to the affair as a coalition between
Blifl and Black George, the Puritan and
the blackleg.h The Kentucky statesman
Immediately challenged the eccentric Vir-
gilman, the cartel was promptly accepted.
nm l.. l.
antagonists coat, Randolph fired in the air,
and the parties Immediately became recon
ciled and remained warm friends ever after
ward.
The murderous meeting in 1888 between
the Hon. Jonathan Cilley, member Of the
House of Represen tatives from Maine, and
the Hon. William j. Graves, a member OF
the same body from Kentucky, did rot occur
upon this immediate field, but at a spot two
or three miles away, near the Marlborough
road, across the eastern branch. This is
considered the third most noted duel that
ever occurred in the United States, and
there was certainly less excuse for it and for
the vindictive animus displayed by one of
the parties than for any whose particulars
have been recorded.
James Watson Webb, the editor Of the
New York Courier and Enquirer, adj
dressed note to Mr.. Cilley demanding an
explanation of certain language used bv the
latter in debate in the House, which Ian
guage was supposed to refer and reflect
upon said editor. OF this note Mr., Graves
was the bearer, with full knowledge of its
hostile tenor. Mr.. Cilley declined to receive
the communication, not from any intended
discourtesy to the bearer, but solely ON the
ground that he declined to be drawn into
any controversy by an outsider for words
spoken in debate in the discharge of his duty.
Thereupon the member from Kentucky
espoused the quarrel Of his principal and
challenged Mr.. Cilley himself They fought
with rifles at distaace of eighty yards. At
the first fire both missed. An effort was
then made to adjust the difficulty, but with
out success. A second time the parties ex-
changed shots. and again both missed The
seconds of Cilley insisted that their princi-
pal should not further imperil his life upon
a mere punctlio. Graves insisted upon
another shot. AT the third fire Mr.. Cilley
was struck down, and almost imme-
diately expired. The second in this affair
were the Hon. George w. Jones, member
of congress from Tennessee, on the port of
Mr.. Cilley, ana the Hon. Henry 4. Wise.
member of congress from Virginia on the
part of Mr.. Graves. There were also pres
erft Congressman Crittenden and Menefee of
Kentucky, Duncan of Ohio, and Bynum of
North Carolina. A committee of the
House Of Representatives was appointed to
investigate the circumstances, and the fol-
lowing extract from their voluminous re-
port is given to show something of the
spirit anjmating those who were really to
blame for the duel.
early in the day on which he fell, an
agreement was entered into between James
Watson Webb Daniel Jackson and Will
lam II. Morrell, to arm themselves, repair
to the room of Mr.. Cilley, and force him to
fight Webb with pistols on tho spot, or to
pledge his word of honor to give Webb a
meeting before Mr.. Graves; and if Mr. Gil
ley would do neither. to shatter his right
arm. They accordingly took measures to
ascertain whether Mr.. Cilley was at his
lodgings, and finding that he was
not, they proceeded, well armed.
to Bladensburg, where it was said
the duel between Mr.. Graves
and Mr.. Cilley was to take place. Before
arriving there, it was agreed between
Webb, jackson and Morrell THAI Webb
should approach Mr.. Cllley, claim the quar-
rel, insist on fighting him, and assure him
if he aimed his rifle at Mr.. Graves, he
webb would shoot him Mr.. Cilley) on the
spot. 1t was supposed by them that MIR.
Graves or Mr.. Wise, or some Of the party.
would raise weapon at Webb, whereuuon
it was agreed that Webb should instantly
shoot Mr.. Cilley, and that they should then
defend themselves in the bsst way they
could"
The historic field of honor continued to
be the resort of belligerent parties down,
perhaps, Co the time OF the time of the late