St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-05-19
A DUEL TO THE DEATH.
Boston Globe.

Boston Globe.
1t is we'll known that during the rev0-
luton there frequently ext sted great
bitterness between the families Of
Wings and Tories, and that, when the
state of the country was such as to give
neither party more than a temporary
ascendancy, these antagOniStlc feelings
sometimes vented themselves into open
hostilities.
In one Of the upper counties of Vir
ginia there lived two families, named
BeIcher and Mason, who, during the
progress of war, became deadly enc
mies-the former being stanch Wings
and the latter Tories.
The family Of Belcher consisted of
five persons father. mother, two sons
and daughter. The senior Belcher
was a gray-headed man, verging on
fifty, very lame in one leg; his two sons
were stout young men, in the prime and
vigor OF life, and his daughter was a
comely lass of twenty.
AT the breaking. out of the war the
sons enlisted in the American army and
were offered commissions, which they
I accepted--the elder captaincy and the
younger lieutenancy-after which, for
| three long years, they only came home
once OH short fUrlough
Eleven months had passed since their
last visit, which brings us to the date
we wish to present to notice.
The family of Mason also consisted of
| five persons, the father, mother and
three sons, the younge st an invalid.
| The father was hale, stout man OF
forty-five, and his first and second sons
were like him, and the three were much
given to dissipation.
The distance between the two families
| was a little over two miles; but their
respective houses being on two different
roads. the heads OF them seldom met,
! except in the village, where both went
| to transact business.
At the beginning of the events we are
about to relate. MI Belcher, being at
| the village referred to. was accosted by
| Mason, who had been drinking freely,
and was in a quarrelsome mood.
Some harsh words passed between
! them and Mason struck Beicher VIC
lent blow, knocking him down.
You know l ain no match for you
physically, and therefore your act is
coWardlyw said Belcher, as he slowly
pregalned his feet.
Il know you are coward and that
nothing can make you fight, not even
bloW?" sneered Mason.
Richard Mason," returned the other,
solemnly, ~ have never wanted your
blood upon my head; but after what has
this day occurred, | feel myself COM
PEELED to demand satisfaction"
You can have it as soon as you
like"
In less than quarter of an hour
each man had selected his friend, and
the p1eliminaries of the duel were set
tied. The principals were to fight in a
little hollow just back OF the village,
! wifi ri nt tn
time after the signal and to continue
an exchange of shots till either one or
both should be killed or satisfied.
Either you or l have got to die this
timeH' said Mason to Belcher with
| savage growl.
perhaps both?" returned the other
solemnly.
A duel in those days and that section
was more peculiar affair than in later
times, and large crowd Immediately
repaired TO the ground to witness the
bloody contest.
In less than an hour the principals
stood face to face, rifles in hand. The
signal was given and both fired to-
gether.
Belcher remained firm, the ball of his
adversary barely grazing his cheek, but
Mason fell, shot directly through the
brain. The Tories were for killing
Belcher on the spot, but few de-
termined friends quickly closed in
around him, and succeeded in eScorting
him away in safety.
The corpse Of Mason was borne home
to his family, and no sooner diu his two
sons learn the particulars of his death
than they sWore to have a dark and
bloody revenge.
Belcher knew what he had to expect,
| inf 0f fha
threats of the young men, and lost no
time in putting his house in the best
state of defense possible under the
circumstances.
He had two rifles of his own, and he
borrowed two more and had heavy fast
eningS added to all his doors and win
J dOWs, besides which two young men
|. volunteered to come secretly to his
, dwelling every night after dark and
remain till morning, and all the male
negroes on the place were required to
sleep under their masters roof.
One dark, rainy night, little before
} II O'Clock, MIR. Belcher heard two horses
stop before his door, and Immediately
there followed some quick. loud raps.
"Now foT itp' he muttered, as he
sprang from his bed, took down his rifle
and proceeded to rouse the two young
| men sleeping in the adjoining room,
| while his wife and daughter, clinging to
each other, were ready to faint with
terror.
; WHO is there, and what is wantlng?"
at length demanded Mr. Belcher when
all was ready-the knocking having
continued at intervals and each success
: SiYe time growing louder.
1--WE are your sons. father-George
, and Frederick" replied voice which
ali recognized.
. How am 1 to know you are my
sons?''
"Why, father, don't you know my
} voice?" said the son who had spoken
[ before, in tone of surprise.
perhaps l do-perhaps don't" re-
, turned Belcher LET me hear Frederick
: speak"
"Well, father. how do you do-and
why do you use these precautions" i'm
mediately. said another voice that GER
tainly sounded very much like the
younger sons.
Only one proof more. for which 1
will Immediately give you good rea-
son. Just tell me how you both are,
5 and both of you just name your birth
i days"
For a few moments there was no