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

! reUlOTse WllGu the memory OF NnhL HlDEullk
cat over his remaining years.
The duel, no yever, which gave the Held
Of Bladensburg its grea est and worldwide
notoriety, was that Of James Barron and
Stephen Decatur. both officers ia the United
States navy, on March y, 1920 In the
| long and bloody record of the code inscribed
upon the history of the first half century of
our national existence, THIS melancholy aud
unfortunate affair ranks second only
TO that III which the limented Ham
ilton lost his life &C Weehawken IN
1904 At the time of his death Stephen
Decatur was the most brilliant and conspic-
uous figure IN the American navy, and few
men in anv Of the walks Of public life at
tracted larger 81 are of public attention or
had a stronger hold upon the affections of
the people His domestic relations were as
happy and charming as his public career
was brilliant. On Lafayette square. in
Washington, he built the cJmmodious and
elegant mansion which still bears his name
Here we're displayed the trophies of his
proves and glory. Here the accomplished
wife who adored him dispensed hospl-
tality as refined and elegant as it was
hearty-reigned the queen of a circle that
for brilliancy and accomplishments has
never been exceeded in Washington.
To the careful reader who follows the long
correspondence between the two the con-
clusion is almost irresistible that, although
the challenged party, Decatur was in fact
the aggressor. The elimination Of the
quarrel between the two men was the re-
suit of long series of events, extending
through several years. Singularly enough,
its origin may be found in certain events
largely instrumental in bringing on the war
Of 1872. In 1907 Barron, who had at
tanned the rank of commodore. was placed
in command of the United States frigate
Chesapeake. 1t was just when our affairs
with France had assumed their most
threatening aspect-when war with that
power seemed imminent. The vessel, after
Undergoing hasty repairs. had been hur-
riedly manned, provisioned. and ordered to
sea- Her decks we're encumbered with stores,
and her crew were undrilled in their new
quarters and duties. just out from
the port OF Norfolk it was overhauled by
the British ship Leopard, of fifty guns,
whose commander demanded certain al
legged British deserers said to be among the
crew of the American. Barron refused TO
surrender the men, and thereupon the
Leopard opened fire, killing three aud
wounding eighteen of the Chesapeake's
men. Wholly unprepared for action, the
latter vessel was forced to strike her
colors, though her crew managed to fire
one gun by coal brought from the cooks
galley. Thereupon, the British commander
boarded the American and carried off the
alleged deserters. His action was afterward
repudiated by his government, the men
were restored to the Chesapeake, and a
money indemnity was paid.
This outrage upon our flag excited uni
versal and burning indignation 10 the pop
ular mind. A court Of inquiry was ordered
to Investigate the affair, and, upon its rec
ommendation, Barron was tried by a court
martial. BY that body he was found guilty
and suspended from rank and pay for a
period Of five years There is little doubt
now that this sentence was wholly unde-
served that the fault lay not with the COM
mander whose vessel went to sea UMPIRE
pared for action, but with the superior
officer who issued the ill-timed order. As
has 50 often been the case, public oamor
demanded victim, and Barron must needs
be offered up.
Decatur was member of both the court
Of inquiry and the court-martial. Barron
believed he should not have served on the
latter after having formed and expressed an
opinion In the former. After his suspension
Barron went abroad and remained away for
number of years. When the war OF 1912
was over he returned to this country and
applied for restoration to active service in
the navy, the term Of his suspension having
expired. This application Decatur, now in
tho zenith of his power, opposed with all his
influence. The first in the long series of
communications which passed between the
parties was from Barron to Decatur, dated
Hampton, Va, June IL, 1919. He writes:
SIR: have been informed in Norfolk
that you have said that you could insult me
with impunity, or words to that effect If
you have said SO, you will, no doubt, avow
it, and shall expect to hear from YOU"
Decatur replied:
AtSTp. I haya
ton Of the 18th instant. X Whatever
may have thought or said in the very fire.
quent and free conversations have had re-
speeding you and your conduct, feel q
thorough conviction that never could have
been guilty Of so much egotism as to say
that could insult you Tor any other man
with impunity.n
From this point the correspondence con-
tinued at great length, and with ever
increasing asperity on both sides; yet
through IL all one cannot but let his sympa-
thy 60 out to Barron. He was broken by
years of ill health and bowed down by the
weight of a sentence which he felt to be I'M
just. lie was so near-sighted that to his
friends, IL not to himself, an encounter with
pistols must have seemed the sheerest mad.
ness 1t was to this infirmity he alluded
when he wrote: "All demand is to be placed
upon equal grounds with you; such as two
hOhOldblo lheu may ueCiuS upon as being
just and proper" Continuing, he says:
You have hunted me out; have perse-
cuted me with all the power and influence
OF your office, and have declared your de-
termination to drive me from the navy if |
should make any efforts to be employed
and for what purpose or from what other
motive than to obtain my rank know not
Ii my life will give it to you, you shall have
an opportunity of obtaining it. And now,
sir, have only to add that if you will make
known your determination and the name of
your friend, l will give that of mine in
order to complete the necessary arrange
ments to a final close Of this affair."
Decatur evidently did not intend to give
the other the slight advantage of heing the
challenged party, for he writes in reply. al
reiterated to you that l have not challenged,
nor do intend to challenge you.
1t is evident that you think, or your friends
for you, that fight will help you, but in
fighting you wish to incur the least possible
risk. Now, sir, not believing that fight
of this nature will raise me at all in public
estimation, but may even have a contrary
effect, do not feel at all disposed to remove
the difficulties that lie in our way. If we
fight 1t must be of your seeking; and you
must take all the risk and all the inconven-
fence which usually attend the challenger
IN such cases" 1t Is singular fact in that
this unfortunate affair no directly wordec
challenge ever passed between the parties
In reply to the foregoing Barron wrote:
"SIR: Your letter of the the Goth ultimC
have received. In it you say that you
have now to inform me that you shall pay