The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-04-30
mode was proposed in the following writ
ten acceptance of the challange:

mode was proposed in the following writ
ten acceptance of the challange:
Gentlemen agree to meet and fight your
friend Gen. A. 7 Mason tomorrow evening at
clock, at Montgomery Court House. AS |
am at liberty to select the weapons with
which l am to fight Eeg leave to propose a
musket charged with buckshOt and at dis
lance of ten feet. j. M MCCARTHY
Feb 4 1919
Gen. Mason's seconds were bound to
accept this, both from positive instruc-
tions and from laws which governed the
settlement of disputes in the field of
honor The seconds of both parties subse-
quently agreed to a postponement until
Saturday morning, Feb 6. at 10 O'Clock
to substitute a single ball for buckshot,
and that on the ground the distance meas
ured. exceed feet y. Bladensburg was also
agreed upon as the place of meeting.
Everything was very deCorous, When in
position the muzzles of the muskets
of Gen. Mason and Col. mccarthy nearly
touched At the word they both fred !;
Gen. Mason fell dead. His remains were
conveyed 10 Georgetown and lodged at
Gen. John y. Mason's.
1t was alleged that he received three
balls, but it was ascertained after a few
moments dissection that only one entered
his body
On the following Monday Mr. Merrill
SuUlulbbGu " bIle SENATE blle 1GSOluIlOn
requiring the President to dismiss from
the Service of the United States army
any of the officers concerned in the affair
1t was conceded that three officers Of
high rank in the public estimation had
something to do with it The names of
the seconds were never disclosed by pub
licatiOn. Gen. Mason has his last resting
place in an old grave yard in Leesburg.
He left charming wife. an only son,
ton
tates. The son, with the fire of his father
in him, upon the death of much loved
and beautiful wife, wanted to get away
from familiar scenes. He volunteered in
the Mexican war, and became a captain
of mounted rifles. He was mortally
wounded at Cerra Gordo, and his re-
mains were sent home to rest beside those
of his wife.
The duel gave Col. mccarthy the rep
utation of being a regular tire-eater, while
he was known by his friends as most
genial and best hearted of men He also
was the father of an only child a son,
who, at the age of 20, accidentally killed
himself. He was great lover of the gun
and dogs and was accustomed to hunt on
the old Mason estate.
While sitting on a fence on one of his
cunning expeditions, playing with his
fowling piece, it was accidentally dis
charged. Inc load entered under his
chin and passed through the top of his
head. A singular part of the accident was
his gastly remains were taken into the
same room in which sat Mrs Mason
when she heard of her husbands death.
Col. mccarthy, who had been suffering
great remorse on account of the duel with
his cousin, became nearly heartbroken.
lie caused his sons personal effects to be
distributed amoung his companions. Mr.
Thomas p. Edwards, an elderly and pro-
minent gentleman residing near Leesburg,
was sent the favorite steed, and the old
man spoken of was not forgotten.
B Col. McCarty was sututed as a second
in the place OF the Hon. ReVerdy Johnson
of Baltimore for Mr.. Edward Stanley of
North Carolina in the proposed duel be-
tween Hon. Henry A. Wise, a member of
congress from Virginia, and Mr. Stanley.
In the affair, which Col mccarthy sue
ceeded in settling amicably, Reverdy
johnson was a principal factor. The
challenge was taken by Mr. johnson, and
while trying pistols in preparing his man
for the fight he fired at a tree. The ball
struck a dead and seasoned spot, and re-
bounding, struck him directly in the eve,
knocking him down. The ball was after
ward found, upon a surgical operation,
under the eyelid, perfectly fiattened II
destroyed the sight of the eye, and caused,
In later day, his death by false step.
After considerable suffering, Col. Nc
Carly died in Chicago on Sept. /, 1852