The Irish standard., 1895-06-22

Commodores Barron and Decatur
Fight at Eight PAGES and Fall
simultaneously.

Henry Clay and John Randolph, |,
the Eminent Orators and
Statesman, in Conflict.
Dueling. has ceased to be the last re-
sort of men who differ In their views OF
politics or feel that a personal insult Of
ferred to them requires the satisfaction
that a gentleman of honor has the right
to demand from a social equal, says the
Atlanta Constitution. The stories OF the
dueling ground need replenishing, but IN
all likelihood they never will be replen-'
ished, as the world in reaching out for
new ideas, is disposed to brush aside old
customs Other methods of settling con-
troversies have come to the front. These
will have their day and in turn will take
the place of back mum bers with the pis~
tol and the bowie knives that have gath
cred about them somuch Of the magnif1-
Ing mist or LraGlClOn. Pr tS&
Men are not disposed TO fight nova
days, except ON the spur Of the moment,
| when a man springs at his victim with
| the leap of a mad tiger or throws an ink
| stand at him across the court room. 1t
| is not by any means a rare occurrence
to see the floors of congress converted
into 4 prize ring aud dignified represen-
tatives Of sovereign states fighting each
other like school boys over a button. The
fighting that gets into the public news
papers Of the tlay-and these are only the
mirrors held up before the heart OF the
age-indicate a decided change In the
characteristics of dueling. In the first
place, it lacks cool generalization, the
| fearless foresight that looks to the tragic
consequences beyond the rash act, and,
| in spite Of this, marches to the field
! without a treacherous tone in the voice
! or the culver Of single muscle in the
| body This is courage, but American
chivalry seems to have little of it left in
stock. Without passing any opinion on
the religious or moral ethics Of dueling,
the contrast is decidedly in favor of the
pistol as opposed to the ugly and un-
see1nly scrambles that have taken place
| In the Legislative forum of this nation.
| Two states .haye' figured with courage
Gus prominence In appealing for satisfac-
\ ton to the code duello. These are Ken
lucky and South Carolina. The former
state derived it's somber title Of the
| dark and bloody ground from the num-
! ber of feuds that were settled by the pis-
[ tolSor the drawn sword. The same is
true, though perhaps in a smaller degree,
Of South Carolina. In both of THESE
states for number Of years before the
! war ali family feuds, all personal ansag-
onisms, and all grievances were settled
! IN this way. Deuling has robbed the re-
public OF more than one shining star in
! the political armament, and the tragic
death os Alexander Hamilton is directly
in point He was not only one of the
brightest men in the federal party, but
one Of the most gifted men this country
has ever produced. He lies in the soil
Burr's deadly aim.
1 A story ON dueling must necessarily be
Egin with the deadly meeting between
! Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr. II
/ is the "faci!e princeps" Of American
duels Mr.. Hamilton was the brightest
young statesman of the day, and Colonel
Burr had missed the presidency by only
one vote, his successful opponent being
! Mr.J efferson. The duel between these two
distinguished Americans occurred in
| July, 1904. 1t grew out of a brief CORES
pondence, iii which Colonel Burr request
ed Mr. Hamilton to deny or affirm certain
/ language charged to have been used by
| him. The. language was to the effect
Ithat Mr.. Burr was a Dangerous man,
and one who ought not to be intrustedl
/ with the rei1s of government" Mr..
| Hamilton refused 10 make either the de-
NAL or affirmative that Colonel Burr
wished. An account of the fatal meeting
| is given by one of his seconds: IA
ssColonel Burr arrived first on the
! ground. AS soon as General Hamilton
arrived the parties exchanged saluta-
tions and the seconds proceeded to make
! theiy arrangements They measured the
! distance--ten full PAGES land cast lots
4 for the choice of position. The pistols
were loaded in each others presence,
after which the parties took their sta
4 tions. The fire Of Colonel Burr took ef-
feet and General Hamilton almost in
stantly fell Colonel Burr then advanc-
| ed toward General Hamilton with man
liner and gesture that appeared to General
Hami!ton'ss S friend to be expressive of re-
! gret, but without speaking he turned
ABOUT and Withdrew, being urged from
I the sIelQ OI his iIlciiG, WILL u view w pre-
! vent his being recognized by the surgeon,
who was then approaching. No further
/ communication took place between the
IprincipaIs, and the barge that carried
\ Colonel Burr Immediately returned to
] the CITY,. III 54!sS
1 1 DT. David Hosacl, the surgeon who
waited upon Gen. Hamilton, has written
lengthy account of mis- last moments,
ifrom which the following is extracted:
.aI found Hamilton half sitting on the
| ground, supported by the arms Of Mr.
IPendlefon. His countenance Of death /
5Ishail never forget. He had just enough
strength to say. This is mortal wound
doctor. He Immediately sank away and
4 became to ali appearances ldeless. inn
Emediately stripped off his clothes and as
Icertained that the direction Of the bail
4 must; have gone througha a vital past. His
i pulses were not to be felt his respiration
WAS entirely suspended, and upon laying
3 INV head Oh his heart, observed to Mr.
SiPendleton that the only chance for his
t!reriying was 70 get him upon the water
I'VE therefore. ted him UP and carried
q lifIn out ef The wood. e
y1neS Of III hes most re6nar kables duelgE ever
toaauht on Amer can sol 8 De moi
lonl because nc csi the men
II ha slps before each her' dead
81 hn account sryl ta1s
llI 4 q !sl|l gl(l| b = ~ s 9|s' 3