Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-11

Judge Solomon:
Lincoln's Famous Duel.
'The duel was between General james
| Shields, prominent Illinois poll
tician, and Abe Lincoln. A num-
Der of articles had appeared in
the newspapers, signed 'Rebecca.' which
had been written at Shields, and 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 dance, and in
waltzing with one of the sweet girls of the
| town, he squeezed her hand, she thought, a
little too ardently, and she rewarded him by
sticking pin into him and leaving him on
the floor. Others of the party saw the act,
and Shields became the laughing stock of
the assemblage.
"The next issue of the paper contained a
very laughable poem describing this Incl
dent and ridicullng Shields. Shields was
sure that the writer OF the poem was Lin
coin and he swore to be reyenged. He
called upon Lincoln, at his Office the next
morning with the paper in his hand and
asked in domineering tone as he pointed
to the lines, Did you write that?' Lincoln
was a very brave man, and he looked
Shields in the eve with a smile and finally
said: I shan't tell you whether wrote it
or not
:. Broadswords the Weapons.
'Thereupon Shields angrily left, saying:
You shall hear from me-; ; and that afternoon
a man appeared as Shields second, bearing
a challenge from Shields to Lincoln. Lin
coin accepted the challenge and chose
broadswords as weapons, point near Alton
as the place and Thursday evening at 3
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 was in. He was told he was not;
whereupon he said: We'll, tell him I am
going over here to fight 6uel with Shields
and that 1 want him to come along and be
nv second.
ga few minutes later Colonel Hardin
arrived and his wife told him what Lincoln
had said. He took fast horse and followed
at the top of his speed, but did not arrive at
the field until after all the parties were there.
He was 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 shoe
off and with his big broadsword lying on the
ground before him. He had his stocking
pulled down over his ankle and was evil
IDENTIFY searching for something. As Colonel
Hardin came up he said to him.
/ What are you doing, Lincoln7'
Tackled Flea First.
"Old Abe replied: I am going to kill
this flea in the first place and in the second
place am going to fight this duel with
Shields
What do you want to fight duel with
Shields for?' said he.
Well, the fact is, he has acted so mean
about this letter that can't help it,
But did you write the letter.
"'No.'
"'Do you know who did write ite'
"'Well. as am your second, suppose 1
have the right to arrange the prelimInaries
OF the duel?'
"'Yes, was Lincoln's reply. but want
you to understand that I am here to fight
and that do not care to make any kind of
an apology
Upon this Colonel Hardin went over
and talked to Shields party and in a short
time showed them the stiffness of fighting
with man who had done them no injury.
The result was that the duel was patched up
and that all parties rode back home together.
Lincoln with his long arms would have had
the advantage of Shields in this fight" con-
tinued Judge Solomon, "but according to
Colonel Hardin, it was Shields intention to
have made quick thrust at Lincoln's heart
the moment the signal was given and while
Lincoln's eye was still on the signal. In
this way he would probably have killed him
before Lincoln would have had time to have
raised his sword.
Lincoln and His Love.
"It has been claimed by some that this
duel arose out of rivalry existing between
James Shields and Abraham Lincoln as to
Mary Todd's hand, Judge Solomon went
an hiUl- 10 &c -htf
Todd had number of lovers, but do not
think General Shields was among them.
I have heard a number of good stories of
Lincoln's courtship. In fact, some have
questioned whether he ever wanted to marry
Mary Todd. He was In love with her
cousin, but she married someone else,
and at the last Lincoln hesitated as to the
match, and at one of his wedding engage
gagements he failed to come to time and the
wedding had to be postponed from the
absence of the groom. The night he was to
be married he blnckened his shoes at his
own office, and while making these prepara-
tions for the event, boy came in aud said:
why, Mr.. Lincoln, where are you go
ing?'
Lincoln looked up and replied: ITO the
devil as fast as the Lord will let me- and
then went on blacking his shoes. 1t is a
question as to whether the match was
happy one. He certainly treated Mary
Todd very we'll, and if he did not love her
he allowed no one to witness his trouble.
The Story of Song.
Speaking of the funny incidents of their
courtship," Judge Solomon continued, "I
heard of one which illustrates the humor-
ous element of Lincoln's character. It hap
pened at Mrs. Clay's house in Jacksonville.
Mary Todd was sitting at the piano playing
an old tune very popular III those days.
Lincoln was standing behind her and ac-
companying her in the song, which ran
something like this: I will think of thee
nightly till lies sun is set.' Lincoln sang,
I will think of thee nightly it don't for
get.' Whereupon, Mary Todd, hearing the
last part of the verse, turned around
quickly and said
"'What's that, Mr.. Lincoln?'
"Lincoln repeated the verse, and this
time rightly. 1t is u small thing, but it H.
Illustrates the humor that .afterward formed
suck part of his Presidential administra-
tion."
"Was Abraham Lincoln good lawyer"
asked. 'There is no doubt he was" re-
piled the Judge. HE had good practice
as soon as he was admitted to the bar, and
though he was an ungainly fellow, he knew
how to manage jury"
FRANK G. CARPENTER.
ECONOMY IN A CANE.