The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-04-30
only about four miles northwest of Lees

only about four miles northwest of Lees
burg.
Gen. Mason served in the war of 1912 as
a colonel of a regiment of horse, and was
in command of the Virginian forces in
Baltimore at that time He was suisse
quently made brigadier-general of the
Virginia military, and in 1915 sent to the
United States Senate. He was a member
of that distinguished family whose pro-
genitor was Col. George Mason, d mem
Der of the English parliament during the
reign OF Charles l., and to which belonged
James Mason, the senator and James Y.
Mason, minister to France, who was
taken from an English ship by Com
mOdOre Wilkes during the first year of
the civil war.
Col. John Mason McCarty took sides
with Col. Mercer in politics. Col. Mason
belonging to an opposite party, his ac-
lions in offering an amendment to a mill
tary bill in the Senate were severely Criti-
Cised. The criticism resulted in a
long newspaper Contro- VCrsv,
notable for verbosity and bitter
ness. The Genius of Liberty, a paper
long since defunet, was the organ of Gen
Mason, while the Washingtonian, paper
now owned and conducted by Capt w H.
Lynch, n brother to Judge Lynch of
Frederick, md, was the champion of
Coils. Mercer and McCarty.
Col. McCarty was considered to be of
Fairfax county, and at the polls in Lou
doun county he claimed that he was en-
titled to vote against the challenge of
Col. Mason. After voting Gen. Mason
branded him as a ''perjred villain"
McCarty was, according to the usage
of the day, compelled to challenge Gen
Mason to mortal combat, and in doing so,
superseded his rights by STIMULATING his
terms, conditions and methods OF the
meeting.
One of his methods was for them to
jump together from the dome of the CAPT
tol. This, Gen. Mason refused, with an
intimation that he would accept chal-
lenge sent in a proper form Col Nc
Carly, on the strength of the declension,
posted Gen. Mason as a coward and was
quickly challenged for doing so He de
clined the honor on the ground that that
Gen Mason was wanting in courage. The
matter rested until Gen. Jackson APP
peared on the scene. II was then re-
opened by Gen. Mason, who sent a chal-
lenge, an extract of which is as follows:
Sir-I have resigned my commission for the
special purpose of fighting you; and am now
free to fight duel The public mind has be-
come tranquil and all suspicious of the further
prosecution of our quarrel being subdued we
we can terminate 1t without being arrested by
civil authorities, and without exciting alarm
layed ny an anxiety to effect such arrange
ments of my affairs as my duty to my family
required. That arrangement is just effected
l am extremely anxious to terminate at once
and forever the quarrel. My friends - and
are fully authorized to act for me in every
particular. Upon receiving from you pledge
to fight, they are authorized and instructed
at once to give the challenge for me and to
make Immediately every necessary arrange
ment for the duel on any terms which you may
prescribe. ARMsTEAD T. MASON
Richmond Va, Jan. 8, 1919.
The following is an extract of the letter
of instructions of the same date:
Gentlemen-You will present the inclosed
communication TO Mr. John mccarthy and tell
challenge him in the event of his pledging
himself to tight. If he viii give his pledge
then desire that you will challenge him In
my name to fight a duel with me. You are not
authorized to give him verbal challenges it
must be reduced to writing. Agree to any
terms that he may propose, and to any dis.
tance from three feet, his pretended favorite
distance, or to three inches should his i'm.
petous and rash courage prefer 1t.
To any species of firearms, pistols. muskets
or rifles, agree at once,
ARMsTEAD T. MASON.
On presenting this challenge two modes
of terminating the affair were proposed by
Col. McCarty, First TO fight on a barrel
of powder, and secondly to fight with
dirks, both ofwhich were objected 10. as
not according to established usages, or be-
ing without example and as calculated to
establish dangerous precedent. A third