The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1896-04-18


tapped him across the shoulders light
ly with riding whip, Aston wheeled
as quick as lightning. The gentleman
apologized in the most ample terms
Aston took the whip from his hands,
dashed him across the shoulders, and
said: Now, sir, your apology is ac-
cepted." OF course, a meeting fol-
lowed. 1t is said that Aston once
fought gentleman who disputed the
age of some wine of which Aston had
been boasting, throwing some in his
face that he might get the full flavor.
The Halifax Alstons' estates lay
about Halifax, N. c., and they DONNA
ted that whole section for years. They
were enormously wealthy, and travelled
from one of their estates to another in
almost regal style. They had hum
dreds of slaves, and always travelled
with a coach and four and small
army of retainers. The men were
princely in their habits of expense, and
put the code above the Bible. The wo-
men We're high-strung and spirited.
Colonel William Aston, known as
Honest Willie Alston," fought dozen
duels in one winter, numberless quar-
rels having sprung up from his attack
on the state treasurer. He killed two
men and was himself frequently
wounded. His favorite weapon was an
old-fashioned Wager" which was a
sort of blunderbuss, carrying double
handful of buckshot, and of fearful ex-
ecution. A volume might be filled with
the bloody exploitsof these two sons of
Colonel Bob Aston.
Old Colonel Aston, who was himself
killed in duel, had three sons, Willis,
Gideon and Augustus. Willis Aston
was the father of Colonel R. A. Aston,
late of Atlanta. Each of these broth
ers came to his death by violence, or
died, as the family tradition runs,
with his boots on. Gideon Aston,
the first of the three to die, came to his
death in a peculiar manner. His
brother Willis was in Nashville on a
lordly frolic, when he became very
much enamored Of a lady who after
ward married Sam Houston-a Miss
Trimble. He paid her assiduous suit
for several months, and while engaged
in the dalliance formed an attachment
for young Spanish boy named Pelat.
This boy was friendless and poor and
Aston adopted him, taking him home
with him when he left Nashville. 1t
appears that there was some feeling
between Gideon and Pelat At any
rate they left the house at night and
went into the yard for the purpose of
practising with their pistols Gideon
was then college boy, having just
turned sophomore in the State univer-
sity. A few minutes after he left the
house with Pelat he was found with a
pistol bullet through his brain. Pelat
said he had shot himself accidentally,
and this was all that was ever known
of the matter.
And now comes one of the most re-
markable tragedies in this section so
full of tragedies. There was living in
Florida, then primitive region, young
Leigh Reed, a young man of great abil-
ity, gentleness and courage. He was
almost idolized by 1.-THE people of his
state for his gallant service in the
fierce Indian wars, having by his skill
and fearlessness several times saved
the colony from destruction by the
Seminoles and their allies.
A story is told of him which will IL
lustrate his character and at the same
time show how delicate was the sense
of personal honor at that time. Gene
raj Reed was political opponent of
Governor Calls son, and at the same
time his personal friend. Political
feeling ran very high, and on election
day a Mr.. White made some reflection
upon the personal integrity of Cover
Ne at nh III
for a duel. The men went, were both
desperately wounded, fighting with
bowie knives, their left hands being
strapped together.
Some time afterward Reed became
involved in a difficulty with the Alstons.
An article appeared in newspaper re-
fiecting ON Governor Call. Colonel Au-
gustus Aston, who was leader of the
Call faction, demanded the name of the
author. He was furnished with the
name of General Reed who was the
leader of the opposite faction. He at
once challenged General Reed, and a
| duel meeting was arranged The
weapons selected were "Yagers," IA
vorite with the Alstons. Colonel Ais
ton was attended by Mr. Kenon, his
Colonel Alston's gun exploded, being
ir-triggered; the contents were dis
| charged into the air General Reed,
aiming with elaboration, fired, and
Colonel Aston dropped dead.
His sister, most spirited woman,
was almost crazed with the news of his
death. She secured the lead that had
killed him, and with her own hands
moulded it into bullets and sent them
to her brother, Willis Aston, and i'm
plored him to come and avenge the
death of his brother. She wrote that
he had been murdered and the Alstons
adhered to this belief, although the
general statement is that the meeting
was fair one, General Reed using
| only his just right in firing after the
explosion of Alstons Wager.
At any rate, it was very well under
! stood that Willis Aston would seek re-
venge for his brothers death, as the
| family had for generations made one of
all their quarrels. The first meeting
between Aston and Reed was drama
tic. The legislature had met, and Reed
| was elected speaker. He was a young
man of exceptional power and popular
| ity, and his life promised to be brilliant
and illustrious. He had invited his
friends to the usual legislative supper
and the banquet was in progress, and
everything going merrily and we'll
Suddenly tall figure, muffied in a
swinging cloak and with a SLOUGH hat
~, e.