The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-05-04
FAMOUS DUEL RECALLED
JOHN G. HECKSRER Welded MRS.
H. WINTHROP GRAY.

n. W4NIAhOP GRAY,
The Ceremony Took Place In Phila-
de!phia - Nineteen Years Ago the
Groom was Called Out for Attentions
to the Bride.
very quiet wedding took place at the
Hotel Stratford in Philadelphia on Saturday
morning between John q. Hecksher aud
Mrs. H. Winthrop Gray, both OF New
York.
The bride is the daughter of the late
William r. Tra7ers. the millionaire stock
broker.
The ceremony was performed by the Rev.
Thomas Il. Hoyt, pastor Of the Chambers
Presbyterian church, which stands Just
across Broad street from the Stratford. The
| only witness of the cerem ony was Mrs.
Travers, the brides mother Mr.. Hecksher
gave instructions that the matter should be
kept secret until after himself and bride
had left the city.
THE STORY OF THE CoURTsHIP.
Mrs. Gray was the subject of duel in
which Mr. Hecksher figured as principal,
nearly nineteen years ago. II. Winthrop
| Gray and John @. Hecksher had been fast
| friends, and their families were intimate.
The attentions of Mr.. Hecksher TO Mrs
| Gray offended Mr.. Gray, who took occasion
! to call Mr. Heoksher to account for them
| in the street, in front of the Union Club
| New York. Mr. Hecksher's vehement de-
NAL Of wrong-doing provoked a blow. A
street encounter resulted, which gave
| olubdom something to talk about not far re.
| moved from scandal
The street meeting soon had a sequel,
when the two men met with pistols and sec
1 nnda h. IL li,a ID
| Point. All New York became intensely in-
terested at this stage of the proceedings.
| The laws of the state being stringent
against dueling, the belligerents instructed
their seconds to find a spot In Canade
where shooting at each other might be done
without interference. 1t was to be due
in earnest, so far as a single exchange OIL
| shots make Ii so.
| The principals and their seconds took @
train for Rouses Point. They remained
one day, when the party crossed the Canada
line at very early hour. A place suitable
for the encounter was found near the
boundary, at the edge of wood, secluded
| from observation. A surgeon was with the
party.
Pistols having been chosen as the weapons
! the seconds provided ''hair triggers" The
seconds had had also made other arrange
ments strictly according to the code dusllo
Ten PAGES was the distance agreed upon, q
single exchange of shots, as stated, TO ter
inmate the affairs. A handkerchief was &c
be dropped In full view Of the combatantI
as signal to fire.
AS soon as the signal was given Gray dis
charged his weapon. The bullet passed
close to the body of his opponent, but die
no harm. Hecksher had reserved his fire
He waited until the smoke from Gray's pis-
toll had cleared away. For a few seconds he
kept the muzzle of his pistol pointed toward
Gray. Then slowly raising his arm he dis
charged the bullet in the air.
This ended the meeting, both sides profes.
sing themselves satisfied. There was moth
ing, however, like a reconciliation. On tht
contrary, upon his return to New York
Mr.. Gray brought divorce proceedings auC
| won bis suit
All through this affair Mrs. Hecksher haC
entire faith in her husband. The divorces
proceedings led him to show the utmost
frieudliness toward Mrs. Gray. Mrs. Heck
sher fully approved Of this course anC
cheerfuly seconded it.
Mrs. Hscksher died about year ago, anC
Mr.. Hecksher, leaving his Madison Avenu,
home, took quarters at the Veterans Clut
of the Seventh regiment. His attentions &
Mrs. Gray naturally attracted more notice
afterMrs. Hecksher's death than before
and ii was commonly expected that the up
shot would be wedding The subject wal
Regarded as TOO QellcRCe, however, LOT ever
| Mr.. Hecksher's intimateS to discuss it with
him, and as he volunteered no information
their belief was based on surmise.
Early IN February MIR. Hecksher went Il
Florida. He returned a few days ago, bui
left his quarters Wednesday, saying that ht
would be away for a few days. In thiI
city only his family, consisting of the
wives of Col George B. Mcclellan auC
Egerton Winthrop, knew the real purpose
Of his departure from the city.
Mr. Hecksher comes of Philadelphia stock
whore the family is an old and honoreC
one. His father was for many years a Goa
merchant at Ill Broadway. Except as as
ISOLATED with his father, Mr.. Heckshel
was always man of leisure, with abundant
means to lead an elegant life. He was once
treasurer of the Coney Island Jockey Clut
and was a prominent member of the
Seventh regiment. His age his close to 81
years. His first wife was the granddaughter
of Stephen Whitney, a very wealthy mer
chant Of this city in the early part of the
century. The granddaughter received &
goodly inheritance. and the Heckshers were
lavish entertainers. Mrs. Gray, the present
bride, is daughter of the late William K
Travers. Her former husband was senior
partner in the firm of Gray & Avery, stool
| hrOlyare