, 1892-09-24
AN HISTORIC DUEL.
A Graphic story of the Days when
Cnnrraasmen HOnnred the Cnne.

A Graphic story of the Days when
Congressman HOnOred the Code.
Pre-eminent among the wonderful old
men in this country stands ex-United
States Senator George w. Jones, of Du-
buque, Ia, who today, at the advanced age
of eighty-eight, is sound in mind and body,
and who, to all appearances will live to
cross the threshold of another century.
General Jones (Who, by the bye, was a
drummer boy in the war of 1872, and a
participant, likewise, in the Black Hawk
war; gave an account to a Post interviewer,
at the national capital few days ago, of
the famous duel between William ] Graves,
of Kentucky, and Jonathan Oilley, of
Maine, both representatives in congress-
The duel grew out of a political alteration
in the house. Graves was the challenger
General Jones was asked by Franklin Pierce
then a senator, to become Cilley's second.
"CilleY," continued General Jones, twas
a man of magnetic manners, polished
chiYalric and a splendid debaIer,
when do you want TO tght2" asked.
"'This very afternoon, said Cilley, and
with rifles, which 1 have the right to
choose as the challenged party 1 will
take rifles, for l know that Graves will nat
urally expect me to choose pistois and
like all Kentuokians, he is an expert with
that weapon
was Henry A. Wise, Graves second, wheu
l reported to him that we had chosen
rifles. He swore round of Tremendous
profanity, and declared it was murder.
The distance-eighty yards-at last recon-
ciled him to the hope that it might not
turn out so bad. But the night was grow
ing late and the duel was put over TIL the
next morning.
"At an early hour we drove out the old
Marlboro road to a point Two miles from
the Capitol, Graves and his second going
in their private carriage.
"On the way out, Gilley was quite gay,
and chatted in lively fashion, Poor fell
low he had no idea how near his end was.
He said to me that the people of his sec
ton disapproVed so strongly of dueling
that he would never more be honored by
them with Office and that he would have TO
move out to my country.
1--WE got to the ground, and Mr.. Wise
and 1 placed them exactly eighty steps
apart. The giving of The command to fire
fell TO our side. The men faced each other
with presented weapons, and 1 said: "Oue,
two, three, fireP Cilley's rife had hair
trigger, and it exploded prematurely, the
bullet going into the earth but few feet
away. Graves aimed and fired deliberately.
His ball missed.
Before the second round I went to Mr..
Wise aud asked him if the honor of both
men had not been vindicated, and sug-
B6SO6Q Judb Gu6 mdIG6r OuBuJ TO SOOp fl5nb
there. He agreed with me but his princi-
pal still insisted on an apology, for Mr..
Clay said that he would make that ID
Yankee tender an apology. Ciley would
not agree to this, and again they faced each
other. l had previously cautioned my man
about that trigger, and he said he would be
more careful next time.
They fired so nearly together the second
time that it sounded like one report.
Graves moved out of his place, but Cilley
never stirred. 4 think you have hit him.
l said, and Cilley replied that he believed
he had. Graves told Mr.. Wise that he
thought himself struck. 1 hoped this
would end it, and again essayed to have
the fight terminated. My efforts were in
vain.
"a third time the crack of the rifles rang
out, and Immediately my poor friend sank
to the ground. The Kentuckian's bullet
had pierced the femoral artery, and he
gasped his last breath while I raised him
in my arms. s."-Washington Post.