The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-05-12
Light on the Meeting Of
Lincoln and Shields.
Effect of DR.. Hopes Threat to
Spank Abe'S Opponent.
Explanations Followed Which Pre-
vented an Encounter.

| KANSAS Cry, Mo-. May william @.
| southor claims TO have hecn an oyewifnoss
Of the duel between Abraham Lincoln and
| General James Shields. and roistes what
| purports To bo tho missing data ofsthat event.
Heretofore but mosgre details OF what really
took place when tho duolling party crossed
the Mississippi River have been published and
souther now fills in that most important part
or the days proceedings.
Souther. who is 20 years old. has for tho
past Is years been clerk in the Office of tho
auditor Of the Santa Fs Railroad system in
this city. though the greater part Of his iifo
has been spent ss a printer and newspaper
man. Up TO the time Of the arrival OF tho
| dusIiing party at the Alton ferry. the story
be tells is very similar to the ones heretofore
printed, but from there il differs widely.
ARRIVING on the Opposite shore" says
Souther, (which was a wilderness OF timber,
a SPOT Partly cleared was selected rs the
battle-ground. Shields took seat on n fallen
log on one sido OF the clearing. and Lincoln
seated himself on another at ths opposite side.
The seconds then proceeded to cut pole
about l2 feet long and two stakes were
crotohed in the end. The stakes were driven
in tho ground and the pole laid across the
crotches, so that 10 rested about thrso feet
above tho ground. The men were 10 stand on
either side Of this pole and fight across IL. A
line was drawn On the ground on both SIDES
three feet from tho pole. with the under
standing that IL eitber combatGnt stepped
back across his own line it.was to DO consid-
| srcd giving mp of tho fight.
"Aftsr all these arrangements had been
completed the seconds ioinsd their principals
at the different sides OF the clearing and com
menced TO talk in low tones. Along with the
Shields party was Dr. 4. M. Hope OF Alton.
He was very much opposed to the duel and
rsnsons cd with Shields FOR q long time AS
result Of this talk, several notes were passed
between the seconds. Lincoln remained firm
and said Shields must withdraw his first note,
| and ask him whether or not he was author of
| the poem In the Kansas journal. When that
| was done, he said. no was ready to treat with
the other side. Shields was fnffexib1e and
finally Dr. Hope got mad at him. He said
| Shields was bringingsthe Democratic party Of
| Illinois and himself into ridioule and con-
tempt by his folly. Finally he sprang to his
| feet and blurted out: Jimmie. you d---n
| little whippsrsnapper, II you don't settle this
I'll take you across my knee snd spank you.'
This vas too much for Shields. and he
| yielded. A note was solemnly prepared and
| sent across to Lincoln, which inquired IL he
was the author of tho poem in question.
| Lincoln wrote o formal reply in which hs
| said that he was not. and then mutual ex-
plantations and apologies followed. / watched
Lincoln closely while he sat on his log await
ing tho signal to fight. His face was grave
| and serious. / could discern nothing sus-
gestive Of 'Old Abe we knew him.
never know him to 20 SO long before without
making joke and began to believe he was
| getting friahtened. But presently he reached
over and picked up ons Of the swords. which
he drew from its scabbard. Then he felt
along tho edge OF the weapon with his thumb,
like barber feels of the edge OF his razor,
stretched himself TO his full height stretched
out his long arm and clipped off a twig from
a tree above his head with the sword. There
was not another man OF US who could havs
reached anywhere near that twig. and the
absurdity of that long reaching fellow fight.
ing with cavalry sabers with Shields. who
could walk under his arm. came pretty near
making mo howl with laughter. After Lin
colin had cut of the twig. be returned the
down, but / detected the CLEAN In his eye
which was always the forerunner Of his in.
imitabie yarns. and fully expected HIM TO tell
q side splitter there in the shadow OF tho
grave.
after things had been adjusted st tho
duelling ground. we returned to the ferry
boat, everybody chatting in tho most friendly