The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-01-17
LINCoLN's BRoADswoRD DUEL.
Juuge solomon's Version of the Fa-
nous Challenge.

nous Challenge.
From the Neio York World.
"The duel was between Gen. James
Shield, a prominent Illinois politician, and
Abe Llncoln," SAID Judge Sullivan. "a
number of articles had appeared in the
newspapers signed 'Rebecca,' which had
been written at Shields and had made him
the laughing-stock of the town. Shields
had suspected that these letters had been
written by Lincoln, but he had no proof
of the fact At last one night he was
at a dance, and in waltzing with one
of the sweet girls OF the town he
squeezed her hand, as she thought,
little too ardently, and she re-
him and leaving him on the floor Others
Of the party saw the act and Shields be-
oame the laughing stock Of the as emblage.
The next issue Of the paper contained
very laughable poem describing this Incl
dent aud ridiculing Shields Shields was
sure that the writer Of the poem was Lin
coin, and he swore to be revenged. He
called upon Lincoln at his office the next
morning and asked in a domineering tone
as he pointed to the lines: Did you write
thatP Lincoln was very brave man, and
he looked Shields in the eve with a smile
and finally said: L shan't tell you whether
/ wrote or not
"Thereupon Shields angrily left, saying
You shall hear from me- and that after
noon a man appeared as Shields second
bearing a challenge from Shields to Lincoln
Lincoln accepted a challenge and chose
broadswords as weapons, point near Alton
as the place, and Thursday evening at 5
O'Clock as the time. On the day set for the
duel Abraham Lincoln started out alone for
the field, but called on the way at the house
of John J. Hardin and asked if the colonel
Il,x koyA H..
upon he said, We'll, tell him l am going
over here to fight duel with Shields. and
that want him to come along and be my
second
"A few minutes later Col Hardin arr
rived and his wife told him what Lincoln
had said He took fast horse and fol-
lowed at the top of his speed, but did not
arrive at the field until after all the other
parties were there. He has described to his
| friends how he found Lincoln at this time.
He was sitting on a log at one end OF the
| field with his shoes off, and with his big
| broadsword lying on the ground before
| him. He had his stocking pulled down over
| his ankle aud was evidently searching for
something. As Col. Hardin came up he
said to him:
"'What are you doing, LincolnG"
"Old Abe replied: II am going to kill
| this flea in the first place aud in the seco id
| place | am going to fight a duel with
| Shields
"'What do you want to fight duel with
| Shields forP said he.
| &c" We'll, the fact is he has acted so mea n
about this letter that can't help it
"'But did you write the letter.
"'No.'
| "'Do you know who did write itr
| "'No.'
| "'Well. as l am your second suppose l
have a right to arrange the prelimlnaries of
the duep
"'Yes, was Lincoln's reply, but want
| you to understand that l came here to fight,
and that do not care to make any kind of
an apology
Upon this Col. Hardin went over and
talked to Shields party. and in short time
| showed them the Stiffness of fighting a man
who had done them no injury. The result
was that the duel was patched up and that
all parties rode back home together. Lin
coin, with his long arms, would have had
the advantage of Shields in this fight" con-
| tinued Judge Solomon, "but, according to
| Col. Hardin, it was Shields intention to
| have made quick thrust at Lincoln's heart
| the moment the signal was given and while
Lincolns eye was still on the signal. In this
way he would probably have killed him be-
fore Lincoln would have had time to have
raised his sword"