Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-10-12

hANNEAh NsT AAAaNNhb
People who. in the heat Of the campaign. in
dulge IN personal comments President Har
risOn and the political principles he represents
might do veil 20 remember that Gen. benjamin
Harrison comes % fighting stock and that one
Of his ancestors 4 principal in the first due
ever fought in the state Of Kentucky. John
Harrison, who enlisted in the revolutionary
army A. private and left the service a. n major
was the challenged party. His antagonist WA
John Thurston, q son of the celebrated fighting
par-on % Virginia. who. at the beginning OF
the Of independence, ceased TO preach the
gospel o. peace. raised q company and led il
against the British
Robert Breckinridge, a member Of the con-
vention which framed the first Constitution.
and who sat a. the first Speaker Of the House Of
Representative. WAS Thurston's second, and
JacObu- sullivan, fearless pioneer. whose
preference was for a good hght rather than for
. good dinner, was Mr.. Hsrrison's friend The
story OF the so-called eombat-whieh Is q part
Of the history Of KeBtucky-seems TO have been
lo-t for many years.
THE CAUSE OF THE TROUBLE.
In those early DAYS the duel was fought at
Louisville in I792) the best citizens Of each
county we're commissioned by the governors as
justices % the peace. Thurston and Harrison
had both held this Office under Gov. Randolph
Of Virginia. and ~ soon as Gov. Shelby was
seated IN the gubernatorial chair OF Kentucky
he recommis-ioned them for Jefferson county.
IL was not long after Squire Thurston opened
his ONCE In the new state before he was called
upon "a try an issue between two Of his neigh
bOrs. II was Thurston's first case under his
new commission and he saw in 10 the elements
Of family quarrel. which Indicated that no
matter what Judgment he might render one
Of his neighbors would be dissatisfied.
He therefore issued the warrant and made
10 roturnable before squire Harrison for
trial Harrison, In trying the case. dis
covered that IL was based on family differences
that ought 10 be adjusted. and Us II was his
FIRST case also in the new state he took par
tcular pains Ia reconcile the parties. He sue
cesded In bringing the parties to better IN
dsrstanding. rendered Judgment satisfactory
10 both. and. being pleased with his own work.
charged no fees. Soon after the trial was over
Thur-ton called on Harrison for the 49, cents
allowed him by law for issuing the original
warrant IN the case. Harrison told him he had
charged no fees in the case and had not col
lected the I2i, cents Ihurston replied that
while IL was Harrison's unquestioned right to
charge nothing for his own services. vet that
right did not extend 10 the remission OF the
fees Of another for services rendered. Harrison
admitted that this was true. but said that If he
were % paw the l2's cents 1t would have TO
come ont Of his own pocket and this he did
not intend should be done. One word
brought on another until - quarrel ensuod and
spithets were exchanged that we're easier
spoken than borne. They separated full of
wrath. with mutual assurances that each might
expect 20 hear further from the other. Thurs
ton hurried from the scene, sent for his friend
Breckinridge. detailed the occurrence at Har-
ri-on'- Office, and. without asking the advice Of
his friend as to what should be done, handed
him peremptory challenge with the request
that he bear il Immediately 20 Harrison. Breck-
H.. .fsfN
which things were starting Of. but In a kind Of
mechanical mode bore away the hostile note,
and before the sun Of the same day set
handed 10 tn Harrison. What Harrison might
have done n little more time had been allowed
does not appear. but IL Il possible IL he had not
received challenge he would have sent one.
The CHALLENGE ACCEPTED.
AZ soon Harrison received Thurston's note
he accepted it, terms and named rifles at sixty
yards the weapons and distance Then
uummouiug his friend sullivan to his aid he di-
rccted him without delay To arrange with
Breckenridge the time AMI place Of meeting
Her. sullivan. like Breckinritge. hurried
along with rapidity he did not fancy. but
knew not how % avoid The seconds got to-
gether the night Of the same day Of the diff
Guilty and arranged for the hostile meeting the
neat afternoon at a small opening in the woods
back Of the preser. Broadway. When the place
% meeting reached At the appointed time
-ixty wards we're stepped of by the seconds and
the positions Of the principals designated. The
rifles we're then loaded by the secOnds-Breck-
inridge loading one and handing 1t To- Sullivan
for Harrison and sullivan loading the other
and handing 10 90 Breckinridge for 1hurstOn.
Every thing conducted with the scrupu-
lou- courtesy indicative Of the ball room
rather than the dueling hcld and no one would
have inferred from the counteuanees that any
thing involving life was in contemplation. The
principals having been placed in position and
their rides handed them the seconds tossed
dollar for the word. Breckinridge won. but
instead Of turning AT once TO the principals and
giving the word he asked sullivan what he
thought - the matter anyhow. sullivan an
swered that the movements had been rapid
that he had had no time 20 think a: all. and in
turn asked Breckinridge what he thought
Breckinrislge replied that he did not like the
appearance q things. and feared that the world
might misint.rpret the fact- and assume that
two prominent citizens had been hurried into a
duel about l2is cents. sullivan admitted that
such might be public opinion and added that
n the duel should prove fatal IL would be too
bad for the world g. saw two such citizens had
slAin one another for ninepence. The sec
onsls. therefore. agreed to call the principals
together anil try to reconcile them.
When thew got together Breckinridge. in an
earnest aud feeling manner, stated that he and
sullivan had Just talked the matter over and
were agreed that the meeting had been IN
wisely hurried too far without the alyice OF
friends. chosen tor the purpose. having been
either a-ked or given that the facts II the din
Guilty having arisen out 81 the 1917 cents al
loved a magistrate for issuing warrant would
lead many 10 say. no matter how unjustly. that
the duel was fought for tina, paltry sum. aud
that such q reputation would be intolerable to
men Ia their Positions He reminded them that
they we're both heads Of families and civil OIL
GERS. with other claims than their own upon
their lives and regulations; that although the
Affair had been too rapidly conducted 10 allow
hot blood 10 cool there vet time for reason
% resume her sway over passion. aud then be-
sought them "a old friends. with but a single
Jar In life Of unusual smoothnes- to forget
and forgive . single oiense and act toward one
another a. n nothing TO rufiie their former feel
ing- had occurred IL there was any hesitation
IN the minds Of the principals 90 the propriety
Of q reconciliation after these manly words OF
breckinridge 10 was not increased by the unex-
pected -p~cch and queer proposition OF sullivan
which followed.
An KTyEcrIvE SPEECH.
A. soon n Breckinridge had ceased Sullivan.
without waiting 30 hear what Harrison or
IhgrstOn might saw. spoke a. follows:
"Fellow citizens. them's my sentiments. II
wont do for this tight % 90 on, The Bargrass
people ~har squire IhGrstoa lives will -var he
d for twelve an half cents; and them bad
town boys whAr squire Harrison lives when
h. runs them outen his waternillion patch will
call him an odd hghtIn' ninepence.' l like a