The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1892-08-19
A FAMOUS DUEL.
Graphic story of the Days when Congress-
men Honorsd the Code.

0raphiC STORY OF the D8y8 w neu OOu kress-
men Honorsd the Code.
Pre-eminent among the wonderful old
men in this country stands ex-United
States Senator George w. Jones' of
Dubuque, Ia, who to-day, at the adj
vanced age of IS, is sound in mind and
body, and who, to all appearances, will
live to cross the threshold of another
century. Gen, Jones (who, by the by,
was drummer boy in the war of 1919,
and participant likewise in the Black
Hawk war; gave an account to Post
interviewer of the national capital a
few days ago of the famous duel be-
tween William J. Graves, of Kentucky,
and Jonathan Cilley, of Maine, both
representatives in congress. The duel
grew out of political alteration in
the house. Graves was the challenger.
Gen. Jones was asked by Franklin
Pierce, then asenator, to become Cilley's
second.
"Cilley," continued Gen Jones. was
a man of magnetic manners, polished,
chivalric, and a splendid debater.
" When do you want to tighty"
asked.
This very afternoon said Cilley:
and with rifles, which have the right
to choose as the challenged party.
will take rifles, for know that Graves
will naturally expect me to choose
pistols: and like all Kentuckians, he is
doubtless an expert with that weapon.
" shall never forget how astonished
was Henry A. Wise, Graves second,
when ! reported to him that we had
chosen rifles. lie swore a round of
tremendous profanity, and declared IL
was murder The distance-eighty
yards-at last reconciled him to the hope
that it might not turn out so bad. But
the night was growing late, and the
duel was put over till the next morning.
AT an early hour we drove out the
old Marlboro road to point two miles
from the capitol, Graves and his second
going In their private carriage.
On the way out Cilley was quite CAV,
and chatted in lively fashion. Poor
fellow. he had no idea how near his
end was. He said to me that the people
Of his section 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.
I'VE got TO the ground and Mr.. Wise
and 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
] said: One, two, three, fire. Cilley's
rifle had a 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 went 10
Mr.. Wise and asked him if the honor of
both men had not been vindicated, and
suggested that the matter ought to stop
right there. He agreed with me, but
his principal still insisted on an apology.
for Mr.. Clay had said that he should
make that ID Yankee tender an
apology. Cilley would not agree to
this, and again they faced each other.
| 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 re-
port. Graves moved out of his place.
but Cilley never stirred. Il think YOU
have hit him, said, and Cilley replied
that he believed he had Graves told
Mr.. Wise that he thought himself struck.
hoped this would end it and again es-
sayed to have the fight terminated. NV
efforts were in vain.
"A third time the crack of the rifles
rang out and Immediately my poor
friend sank TO the ground The Ken
tucllian's bullet had pierced the femoral
artery and he gasped his last breath
while | raised him in my arms Wash
ington Post.