Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1892-06-11
A FAMOUS AFFAIR OF HONOR.
virginIans stiII Talk Of the Duel that Cost
John X. Mordecsi Ills Life.


her marriage Miss Mary Triplett
reigning belle in Virginia in the early
seventies and was innocently the cause
of the bloodiest duel Of modern times
in the State Of Virginia that between
Page McCarty and John b. Mordecai
which was fought in MAY, 1878, and
which resulted in the death Of Morde-
cal and the desperate wounding of Mo
Carly.
McCarty had been engaged 10 Miss
Triplett, but the engagement had been
broken of. In February, 1873, a ger
man was given by the Richmond Club,
one OF the most exclusive social organ
izations in the city. McCarty and his
former fiance were placed Yis-a-yis in
one Of the figures, and as the only al
ternatiycs were for them to make
scene or dance, they danced.
There was some talk about the mat
ter among their friends, which was in
creased when a few days later
there appeared in one Of the local pa
pers a little poem.
In discussing this effusion at the
Richmond Club the suggestion was
made that McCarty was the author and
that he referred to Miss Iriplett. Nor
dccai said that ii this was the case the
suthOr was "a poltrOon, a coward, and
scoundrel." II was not for severaIdays
that this remark reached McCarty's
ears, and then it was coupled with re-
Elections ON his courage IN not having
taken 10 up sooner He az once sent
a note to Mordccai announcing that
be was the author OF the poem, that
there was no intention in it to reflect
on MISS Iripleit ana demanding re-
traction Of the offensive remark.
The retractou was not forthcoming
ana arrangements were MADE Tor
duel. The police got wind of the af-
far, however me principals were ar
rested and finally a court Of honor
drew zap cartel OF truce, winch both
men signed. agreeing To let the mat
ter rest ana providing that under no
circumstances should elJhef man speak
20 on 30 amy way recognize the other.
they u'rd up 20 the cartel untl May
.. On That day McCarty was IN the
billiard room ol the clubhouse play
ing billiards with a Trend The SUBJ
Ject oil his trouble WIN Mordecal came
up ana me- sald lhat lhefe hau oeen
good zeal oi gossip about lhe aliair,
and That in future ne should hold TO
strict accountability anybody who
THRILLED with his good name. While he
was talEllg Mordeeal came into the
room lie overheard part OF Nc
Carly remarks, and, va ing up to
Aim asked.
Are these remarks meant for me,
sir
Ard who are You, sir2' asked Nc
Carly u""riny.r
'lm "a gentleman sir' came the
answer. ln voice trembling with pas
sion
All, returned McCarty, contempt
uou-.y
Tine insulting tone was too much for
M3rIyali. and he lI3ouI MaCarty
with q heavy blow iU lAa face He
wa. much heavier man DbaD his op-
pouaut and iu the fight which i3.low-
ed N.,.vty got much Jbe worst OF H.
and Ha4 badly used Up That no was
confined Jo bis bed for several days.
Both men came of lighting stock, were
ia tae highest class OF Nlrgiuia.ociely,
and after such au affair due. was abe
soIWolE necessary in tine chen condi-
tl"i| .'I IhifNNlblN H''I'lN
While be was confined to his room
Mrlurty expressed Co his mother the
fear that his friends might not 1p will
ug o. carry no, challenge "Do not
let ,hat worry You, my son." said the
Virginia moWou. III they win not
carry 10 will" This was NOT neees-
sary however for when Col w. Il.
Iauh was called I'M he readily agreed
60 take 10 arrange for the meeting ON
behalf of MclmH John s Meredith
wa, associated with him, and William
r. Eo}aj and W. II. Irigg acted i'm be-
baI o0 Moulr.aj
iro ground chosen was near Oak
wood Cemetery and the men were to
hght with navy rerolyers at ten PAGES,
Early ON the morning of May 9, 1873,
the party, accompanied by Drs, Huu-
ter Mcclure, wh2 had been Stouewall
JacNson's medical director. and >. ).
d. Cullen, who had filed the same po-