Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1892-04-05
a Duel Recalled.


S.st,-that between Page MtCstty hbi
John B. Moid. csi-Hhich was fought IL
| 1873. e.d which resulted In the death o
Mofdecai acd tie desperate wounding o
McCerty.
MlCa,t3 hsd been engaged to Mes Trip
! lett, but the engage ment had been broke
of /, February, 1878 german 1ss given
by the Rlcanond Club. one OF tbs most ex'
elusive social o-gariz ,tious io the IT, Mc.
Csrty end hs former GanOee we're placed
via s-vis in one OF tie fgures, end as the
only alternatives were fer them to make 3
scene or dance, they danced.
| There was SINE tnik about the matter
amcng their fiiends, which was Increased
| when y few days later there appeared in one
of the local papers the follt wing:
THE FIRST FIGURE IN THE GERMAN.
We have received for publication the fol.
loving poem. & loving swain, who, doubt.
lese, has been kicked by hls sweetheart,
When Ms,y's queenly form press,
In strauss's latest waltz,
woul as welt her lips cnrcss,
Although thos, lips be fe'se.
For still with fra love tips his darts,
And kindles up anew
The flame which or ce consumed my heart
When those dear liIs were tu,.
or fo,m so fair, of faith 50 f-iIt.
Ift,uth were only in her,
Though she'd be then the seett s; saint,
II sill feel like sinner.
In discussing this eGuson a. the Rich
mond Cub the suggestion was made that
McCarty was the author ard that he re-
ferrea 10 Miss Tripett Mofdecsi Hsid that
II this was Inc case toe author wss "a POI
Il al ~
L was not for several dsys that stiS Ee-
mark rsachsd McCs,t ty's ears, acd tbsn 1t
gse coupled With r. G 9ttioEs on his opnr0ge
ia coS having takea IL 10 sooner.
ia et onoe ssnt g nsta to Mord c.i. er.
nouuciog that 10 YVES the author ti the
poem, thst there was no intention in 1t 10
se1 On Miss Ttplet5 and demanding g
rai.sc !oa OF the offensive remark.
The .straction was not forthcoming and
arrangements were made for duel. Tho
pciica got wind Of the sffair. however, the
principals reTe arrested and finally q ooui t
Of hoQoe drew up "aartel OF t;uca," Wh!oa
ao'h a=Sn signed. egyeoing to let ihs matter
rest anz providing that under ~ cifcuu-
staao2a should either nao SPEAK TO or 10
aor Wsy recognize tAs otaer.
Taey dved I'D to the cartel u0t!l May
o. thet dag MoOariy was IN thu billiaEi;
room Of tbs clQb house p!aTing Billiards
w.ta fciea6. The eu'j jacs o' his trouble
0i Mordeca! cams up. and hs said there
sad b2an great deal Ct gossip about the
fff1.., taat his courage had been questioned.
and thst in futara he shau hold co strict
accountable ty eD3body Rho tfil ID with bis
good n&Us.
While be was taking Mcrdecai came iu;o
the room Hs overheard part Of McCsrty g
remark, and walking up to hi:n, asked
Are tho:e remarks meant for me. eil p
"And who are you, cir ?" asked McCait5,
5neerlngly,
81 am a gentleman, sir" came tae acsHer
in voice trembling With passion.
"Ah" returned McOarty contempt
| uoney.
Ths insulting tone was t,o much for Nor
deoai, aud he f,ored MeCarty with a
heavy blow In the fece. He was much
heavier man than his opponent. and In the
azbt which followed McCarty got much the
wors1 o. it, and was go badly used rp that
ne was coDfGed to hia bed for several days.
B ta man came OF q fighting stock, were
10 the highest class Of Virginia society, and
after such an sfalr dusl was absolutely
necessary In the then condition Of Richmond
society.
|
| pressed to his mother the fear that his friends
might not be willing to carry his challenge. do
not let that worry you, my son," said the Virginia
mation. "If they will not csIIy 1t l will"
| This was nos nsce:ssry, however, for when Colo
mel W. B. Tsbb WIS called in he resdily agreed to
undertake to arrange for the meeting on behsli
of McCar.y. John 8. Meredith was associated
with him. and Wi liam 3. Royal ani w. B. Trigg
| acted in bi Ii ,lf of Mordecai.
The ground chosen was pesr Cskw; od Gene
| tery and the mon were to fight with navy revclv.
| ers at ten PAGES. Early on the morning OF May 8,
| 1878. the parry. accompanied by DR.. Hunter
| Mcauire who had been Stonewall Jackson's medi-
cal director, and Dr.. j. s. D Cullen. who had filed
the same position on LoDgstreet's staff, appeared
on the duelling ground.
! At the first shot both missed, and Colon 81 Taob
asked McCarty il he WAS satisfied.
"No, waut smother shot," came the quick re-
1ponse. -,
| bsll in the bip and Mordecsi with bullet
Though the stomach.
Beft rs the smoke had cleared away Chief OF Po.
| lice Foe came up on q gsllop. he wss only In
ims 10 pat the seconds under srrest and s:lit IN
taking Inc wounded men home.
| While Mordecsi lay on the ground he said to
his seconds, she can have another shot II ne
wants it."
The principals were taken to theit homes and q
few days later Mordecai died from the effects Of
| MS WOQIQ. Inc eecOuuo noio III al Aot oo'SAe'
weeks, and guard was plscsd over MeCarfy un'
til he recovered sufficiently to stand trial. He wsi
found guilty OF involuntary msnslaughter and
fned $500
The affair created intense excitement in Vir.
| ginia and the rosiion of Miss Triplett WAS ex-
tremely uncomfortable.
Some time after the duel the married Mr.. Philip
Hsxall and lived happily with him.
Mis-. Haxall was ths daughter Of the late VIM.
6. Triplett Her mother survivor her. The de.
cssssd was about 40 years OF age and WAS noted
for her besuty, intellect, kindness of hesrt ard