The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1896-05-12
LINC0LN'S DUEL
New Light on a Memorable Af-
fair by a Member of the
Party.
Meeting on the Field Between
the Martyred President and
General Fields
Prevented by Threats Of
Spanking--A New Method
of Peacemaking,

KANSAS CITY May - The Journal
prints the following from Its Topeka
correspondent William G. Souther.
who claims to have been witness OF
the historic duel between Abraham Lin.
coin and Gen James Shields has relat.
ted to Journal correspondent what
purports TO be the missing data of that
event Heretofore but meagre details
of what actually took place when the
dueiline party crossed the Mississippi
river have been published and Souther
now fills In that most important part of
the days proceedings. Souther, who is
73 years old has for the past lS yea,-
been clerk III the Office of the auditor
of the Santa Fe railway system in this
city, though the greater portion of his
life has been spent as printer and
newspaperman Up to the time of the
arrival of the duelling party at the Al.
ton ferry, the story he tells is very sim.
liar to the ones heretofore printed. but
from there it differs widely Souther
relates that in order to witness the duel
he agreed to drive the horses which pro-
PEELED the ferry boat carrying the dis
tinguished party.
Arriving or the opposite shore, says
Souther, which was a wilderness of tim
Der, spot partially cleared was selected
as the battle ground Shields took a
seat on fallen log on one side of the
clearing and Lincoln seated himself on
another at the opposite side. The sec.
onds then proceeded to cut a pole about
l2 feet long and the stakes were crotched
at the ends. The stakes were driven into
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 if either combatant stepped back
across his own line it was to be consid-
cred a giving up Of the fight.
Hope Laborer Hard.
After all these arrangements had
been completed the seconds rejoined
their principals at the different sidef Of
the clearing and commenced to: talk in
low tones Along with the Shields
party was DR.. T. NJ. Hope Of Alton.
He was very much opposed to the duel
and reasoned with Shields for long
time. As result of his talk several
notes were passed between the seconds
Lincoln remained firm and said Shields
,~ors< 1r,;<b <aro~v HE R,c< no<n orl b
him whether he was or not author Of
the poem in The journal. When that
was done he said he was ready to treat
with the ether side Shields was in.
flexible and sEally DR. Hope got mad
at him. He sa,d Shields was bringing
the Democratic party Of Illinois and
himself into ridicule anG contempt by
his folly Finally he sprang to his feet.
faced the stubborn little Irishman and
blurted out
Was Too Much for Shields.
Jimmie. you Cd d-n little whip
persnapper. if 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 if he were the author of
the poem in question. Lincoln wrote a
formal reply in which he said he was
not, and then mutual explanations and
apologies followed watched Lincoln
closely while he sat on his log, awaiting
the signal to fight. His face was grave
and serious. I could discern nothing of
"Old Abe as we knew him. I never
knew him to go SO long before without
making joke, and believed he was
getting frightened. But presently he
reached over and picked up one Of the
swords, which he drew from its scab.