The Hazel Green herald. [volume] (Hazel Green, Wolfe County, Ky.) 1885-19??, 1895-05-23

on. In the latter part OF 1873 or 70,
this woman, now bowed with age, and
her hair streaked with threads of silver,
left her New Jersey home TO pay the
first, the only, the farewell visit to the
grave of the man who was the hope of
her new life. She remained in the vi.
cinity of Shannon for several days, and
each day, visited, with flowers. the little
brick vault upon which rests sombre
slab as If to shield and protect from
further harm the mortal clay that rests
beneath it.
Joseph Desha, elected in 1924, was the
ninth governor of Kentucky. Thomas
Metcalfe, elected in 1928, was the tenth
chief executive. AS there seems to be
no record of any one else between, | am
confirmed in the belief that Gov. Desha
continued to serve out his term, notwith.
standing the popular impression to the
contrary. 1t is coincidence, however,
that Gov. Metcalfe, the successor of
Desha, should have also had a son who
became noted as the slayer Of his man.
But this occurred many years later, and
was regarded as an honorable affair
Gov. Thomas Metcalfe was known as
"Old Stone Hammer" as in his Younger
days he had been a stone-mason, and
had built many houses in KentU ky and
Ohio. He came up from the ranks, serv-
ing in the Legislature, in congress and as
chief executive of his state, elected on
the National Republican ticket repre-
senting the Old Court party. Leonidas
Metcalfe, son or the old governor, be-
came strong Union man during the
troublesome period leading up to the war
of l86l-'65. In this section of the state
avowed Union men were not particularly
loved by their fellow.men, while avowed
Aboitionists were hated At the break.
ing out of the war Lon Metcalfe entered
the Union army and became a colonel.
There lived in Maysville, Kentucky,
at that time a lawyer and politician of
considerable ability named William r.
Casio. He was as strong rebel svmpa-
thizer as Metcalfe was Union. Although
the men were barely acquainted, they
became involved through the intrigue of
others in political quarrels, and were
forced into a duel,
MetcaIfe was a crack shot, and it is
said could strike the heart on a small
photograph every time at a hundred
yards. Many times previous to the duel,
which was fought thirty.three years ago
to-day-May 8, 1862, near Dover, Ken.
lucky, on the Ohio river-he said that
the fight was forced upon him by Casto's
rebel friends, who wanted to see him
(Metcalfe) killed. At that part of it he
smiled grimly and remarked that he fear.
ed more for the life of his antagonist.
About two hundred people assembled
near the little town of Dover, below
Maysville, to see the duel, which was to
be fought with rifles. While waiting
for the fatal hour Metcalfe lounged in
differently in the shade, while Caste was
a short distance away practicing for the
fight. AS the men took their positions
for the death-dealing combat, the Union
man remarked to his second: II shall
shoot him in the heart. The ball will
pass through his left vest pocket" While
Casio was not a coward, he was charged
with dishonorable conduct in this affair.
The rule was that each should fire on
count "three," but Metcalfe's friends as
sert that Casio fired at count two" and
missed his man. Metcalfe waited until
the last count was made, shot his enemy
IN the exact spot he had designated,
turned on his heel and walked away.
This wartime trouble has been recall
ed recently by the fact that Casio had
just previous to his death invested ia
some Wisconsin land which grew to be
worth several hundred thousand dollars
and over which a lawsuit has been pend
ing in the United States circuit court
between his heirs % Aberdeen, Ohio
and Maysyille, Kentucky I. ~
\ Another circumstance worth recalling
3is the fact that Metcalfe's second, Capt
IFS. q Rogers, Of Carlisle, Kentucky, q
few years ago, together with his son Sam,
Iir. killed Two of Capt. Rogers own
brother. ii Robertson county during the
takingo dispositions over the estate in
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