The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-12-29


From the New York Sun.
Some Of the southern colony were talk
ing the other evening at an uptown ho-
tel over the recent clash between Con-
gresham Charles J. Boatner of LOuisl-
ana and Editor J. H. Shearsey Of New
orleans, which so nearly resulted in a
duel, and one Of them said:
did you ever hear Col. Rube Dumetts
account of the first duel in Kentucky?
Well, the first duel in the state of Ken
lucky was arranged at Louisville in 1882
The principals and seconds were among
the best-known men of that time. John
Thurston, the son of a celebrated fight
ing parson of Virginia, who, at the be-
ginning of the war of independence, raised
a company and led it against the British,
was the challenging party. John Harri-
son, a member of that distinguished fam
lily which gave a governor to Virginia
and two Presidents to the United States,
who went into the revolutionary army
and by deeds of bravery came out a
major, was the challenged party. Rob
ert Breckenridge, a member of the con-
vention which formed Kentucky's first
constitution and sat as the first speaker
of the House of Representatives was
the second of Thurston, and Jacobus Sui
uvan. a fearless pioneer, who would at
any time abaudon a good dinner for
what he called a good fight, was the
second of Harrison.
s'In those early days the best-known cit
liens of each county were commissioned
by the governor as justices OF the peace.
Harrison and Thurston had both nelu llls
Office under Gov. Randolph OF virginia,
and as soon as Gov. Shelby was seated
he recommissioned them. 1t was not long
after Squire Thurston opened MS once
in the new state before he was calieo
uDon TO try an issue between Two OF MS
neighbors. 1t was Thurstons nrSl case
under the new commission, anu ne saw
in IN the elements of a family quarrel
which indicated that, no matter what
Judgment he might render, one OF ms
neighbors would be dfsastished. lie there
fore issued the warrant anu IudHe II ~
turnable before Squire Harrison Tor trlal;
harrison in trying the case dlscoVefeo
that it was based ~ fanny ull . mes I,.es
his first case also in the new state ne
took particular pains TO recohcne l me
parties. He succeeded IN prI1gIlls az az
concerned to a better UNDERSTANDINGS, Iti-
dered a Judgment satisfactory TO Doth'
and. being pleased with his own WORK.
eng nSeor after the trial Thurston called on
Harrison for the 12h cents allowed MIN
e. BY law for issuing the original warrant;
Harrison told him that ne had charged
NO fees i'm the case and, therefore, had
not collected the 1914 cents. Thurston re-
piled that it was the unquestloneu tight
of Harrison to charge nothing tof ms OWL
Services vet that right did not permit
him to remit the fees of brother nlagls-
trate for services rendered. Harrison az
mitted the truth of this, but said that II
the 1919 cents was paid, II would come OUT
of his own pocket, and this, he SAID would
never be done. One WORD pfouglt on an
other, until quarrel ensued ana epithelS
were exchanged, and they separated Iull
of wrath. each declaring the other would
soon hear from him. -.
for his friend Breckenridge detailed the
occurrence at HarrisOn's Office, ana, with
out asking his friend what should De
done, handed him peremptory chaiehge
with a request that he bear 1t Immediately
to Harrison. Breckenridge before the sun
set that day delivered II TO squire EaIIl-
SON 1t is quite possible that Harrison
was about to send challenge mmse1,
for he at once signihed MS acceptance,
Yards as the distance. Then summoning
his friend Sullivan to his aid, he directed
him, without delay, to, arrange with
Breckenridge the time and place OF meet
ing Here Sullivan was rushed along with
a Tapidity he did not relish, but knew not
how to avoid.
the same day the quarrel took place, ana
arranged for the hostile meeting to take
place in neck of the woods where Broad
way in Louisville now runs. Wheh the
place of meeting was reached, at the APP
pointed time, sixty PAGES were marked
off and the positions of the principals
designated. The rifles were then loaded
by the seconds-Breckinridge loaded one
and handing it to Sullivan for Harrison
and Sullivan loading the other ana passing
it to Breckenridge for Thurston. Every
thing was conducted with scrupulous
courtesy. No one would have inferred
from the countenances of Thurston and
Harrison that any action involving life
was in contemplation. The principals
having been placed in position and their
rifles handed them, the seconds tossed a
coin for the word Breckinridge won;
but instead of at once turning to the prin-
eipals and giving the word he asked Sui
Ivan what he thought of the affair any
way? Sullivan answered that the move
ments had been SO rapid he really had
not had time to think at ALL and in turn
asked Breckenridge what he thought of
Y? Breckenridge said he did not like
the looks of things, and feared the world
might misinterpret matters, ana assume
mat two good citizens had been hurried
TO death about 1912 cents. sullivan said
this was true, and added that If the duel
should prove fatal it would be too bad
Tor the world to say that two such excel
lent citizens had slain each other for
nlnepence. The seconds agreed, there
fore, to call the principals together and
try to reconcile them.
when they got together, Brecknridge
IN an earnest and feeling manner, said
mat he and Sullivan had just talked the
matter over, and agreed that the meeting
mad been unwisely hurried; that the fact
mat the difficulty having arisen out of
me l212 cents allowed a magistrate for is
SUING warrant would lead many to say
mat the duel was fought for that paltry
sum, ana that such would be lntOlerable
tie reminded them that they were both
heads of families and civil officers, with
3lher claims than their own upon their
HNes and regulations; that. although the
lair had been too rapidly conducted to
allow hot blood TO cool, there was yet
ttIne TO allow reason to resume her sway
over passion; and that, old friends
WIN only a single jar in a life of unusual
smoothness, he besOught them TO forget
ana forgive and act toward one another
Ss though nothing had occurred TO ruff
ne their friendship.
" there was any hesitation I'm the
"ihqs Of the principals after the words
p" breckinridgc, IL was not increased by
Ag unexpected speech Of Sullivan, which
lYlloWed Sullivan did not wait 20 hear
"ofl from either Thurston or Harrison
'.t mus delivered his sentiments:
feller Citizens; Them's my senu-
.'his, u won't do for this night 10 90
,, he 5ar-graas people where Squire
t.liaion lives viii swear ~ nt for 1874
and them bad town boys where
i'lic Harrison lives. when ho runs them
"i fif watermelon patch, VIII call him
flthiins Ainepcnce." 4 like good
h.ifer than bot fcldy pn "a cold
nuf hate q bad hFhl worse fhan
~ waller lankefs. Thar au't n0 good