Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1896-07-01
LiNcOLN-shIELoS DUEL.
Kissing Data of the Event eupplies
by " illiam @. eouther of kansas.

bv " illiam @. eOuther OF kansao.
william G.. Souther, of Topeka, Kan.
who claims to have been an eye-wit
less of the historic duel between AbrA
lam Lincoln and Gen. James Shields
now relates what Is purported to be the
missing data Of that event.
Up to the time of the arrival Of thu
iueling party at the Alton ferry, thu
story he tells is very similar to the
,nes heretofore printed, but from there
L differs widely. Souther relates that
in order to witness the duel he agreed
10 drive the horses which propelled the
ferryboat carrying the distinguished
party.
ARRIVING on the opposite shore"
says Souther, (which was wilderness
,f timber, a spot partly cleared was
selected as the battle ground. Shields
took a seat on a fallen log on one side
,f the clearing, and Lincoln seated HIM
self on another at the opposite side.
The seconds then proceeded to cut a
pole about twelve feet long and two
stakes were crotched Mt the end. The
stakes were driven in the ground and
the pole laid across the crotches, so that
It rested about three feet above the
ground. The men were to stand on
either side Of this pole and fight across
It. A line was drawn on the ground
on both sides three feet from the pole,
with the understanding that II either
combatant stepped back across his own
line it was to be considered as giving
up Of the fight.
after oil Of these arrangements had
been completed the seconds rejOined
their principals Mt the different sides OF
the clearing and commenced to talk
In low tones. Along with the Shields
party was DR.. T. NJ. Hope, Of Alton.
He was much opposed to the duel and
reasoned with Shields for a long time.
AS q result of his talk several notes
were passed between the seconds. Lin
coin remained firm and said Shields
must withdraw his first note and ask
him whether or not he was the author
of the poem In the Journal. When that
was done, he said, he was ready to
treat with the other side. Shields was
inflexible, and finally DR.. Hope got
mad at him. He said Shields was
bringing the Democratic party Of I'LL.
nois and himself into ridicule and con.
tempt by his folly. Finally he sprane
to his feet. faced the stubborn little
Irishman and blurted out: Jimmy,
you little whiper-snapper, II you don't
settle this I'll take you across my knee
and spank you! This was too much
for Shields, and he yielded. A note
was solemnly prepared and sent across
to Lincoln, which inquired IL he waa
the author Of the poem in question
Lincoln wrote a formal reply In which
he said that he was not, and then mu.
tual explanations and apologies fol
lowed.
Il watched Lincoln closely while he
sat on his log awaiting the signal to
fight. His face was grave and serious
I could discern nothing suggestive OF
Old Abe as we knew him. I never
knew him to so SO long before withou,
making a joke, and 1 began to believe
he was getting frightened. But pres
emily he reached over and picked ur
one OF the swords, which he drew from
its scabbard. Then he felt along the
edge Of the weapon with his thumb
like a barber feels Of the edge Of his
razor, raised himself to his full height
stretched out his long arms and clipped
off a twig from above his head with the
sword. There wasn't another man OF
us who could have reached anywhere
near that twig, and the absurdity OF
that long-reaching fellow fighting with
cavalry sabers with Shields, who could
walk under his arm, came pretty neal
making me howl with laughter. Aftel
Lincoln had cut of the twig he return
ed the sword to the ssabbard with a
sign and sat down. but detected the
gleam in his eye, which was always the
fOrerunner of one Of his inimitable
yarns, and fully expected him to tell q
side-splitter there In the shadow Of the
graveShields' grave.
"After things had been adjusted al
the dueling ground we returned to the
ferryboat, everybody chatting in the
most friendly manner possible"