The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1896-05-16
THE MISSING LINK FOUND
AN EYE WITNESS TO THE LINCOLN
SHIELDS DUEL TELLS ALL.
The Spectacle of Old Abe and the
Little Irishmnn Fighting Was
Very LudicrOus.
Kansas city, May MA special to the

William l.. Snuther. who claims to have
been an eye witness OIL the historical duel
between Abraham Lincoln and General
James Shields, has related to the Journal
correspondent what he purports to be
the missing historical data" of the histor-
zeal event. He tells an interesting story
which differs materially from the pupllsh-
ed accounts. Peculiar interest has OF late
been aroused in this affair through a
history of Lincoln running in one OF the
periodicals, in which the author frankly
admits that but meager details can be
procured of what actually took place when !
the duellng party crossed the Missouri
river and staked out the fighting grounds.
Now comes the Topeka man with detail |
ed story of the whole transaction, in which |
he supplies the missing historical data.
Souther, who is 73 years old, has for the
past Is years been a clerk In the office OF
the auditor of the Santa Fe railroad
though the greater portion of his life has
been as a printer. UP to the time of the
arrival of the dueling party at the Alton
ferry the story he tells is very similar to
the other heretofore printed, but from
there it differs widely.
ut was on the morning of September
q, 1S43," says Mr.. Souther, that Shields
and Lincoln arrived at Alton. was then
a printer and reporter on the Alton Tele-
graph and had received an intimation OF
the coming duel, which made me anxious
to see it if possible. The dueling party
took breakfast at the Franklin house and
about 1890 a. N. proceeded to the ferry
boat, which was owned and run by man
by the name of Chapman. The boat was
propelled by two horses which worked
around windlass at one end of the boat
deck, and 1 made arrangements with
Chapman to drive these horses. Arriving
on the opposite shore, which was wilder
ness of timber. spot partly cleared was
selected as the battle ground. Shields
took a seat on a fallen log on one side OF
the clearing and Lincoln seated himself
on the other at the opposite side. The
seconds then proceeded to cut pole about
y feet long and two stakes were crotched
in the end. The stakes were driven into
the ground and the pole laid across the
crotches so that it rested about three
feet above the ground.
1.-THE men were to stand one on either
side of the 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 considered a giving up of the fight.
after all these arrangements had been
completed the seconds rejoined their prin-
cipals at the different sides of the clear
ing and commenced to talk In low tones.
Along with the Shields party was DR.. 7.
M Hope of Alton. He was very much
opposed to the duel and reasoned with
Shields for a long time. AS a result of his
talk several notes were passed between
the seconds.
Lincoln remained firm and said Shields
must withdraw his first notes, and asked
him if he was the author of the poem in
the Journal. When that was done he was
ready TO treat on the other side. Shields
was inhexible and finally DR.. Hope got
mad at him. He said that Shields was
bringing the democratic party of Illinois
and himself into ridcule and contempt
for his folly. Finally he sprang to his
feet. and faced the stubborn little irish
man and blurted out: Jimmie. you G.
d little whippersnapper, if you don't set
tie this l will 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 was the author of the poem in ques-
ton. Lincoln wrote a formal note in
which he said he was not, and then mu-
tual explanations and apologies followed.
Il watched Lincoln closely while he sat
or his los waiting the signal to fight.
His face was grave and serious. l could
discern nothing suggestive of Old Abe as
we knew him. / never knew him to go
so long before without making some sort
of Joke, and / began to believe he was
greatly frightened But presently he
reached over and picked up one of the
swords, which he drew from its scab-
bard. Then he felt along the edge of the
weapon with his thumb like a 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 have reached anywhere near that
twig, and the absurdity of that long
reaching fellow lighting with cavalry sa-
bers with Shields who could walk under
his arm, came pretty Lear making me
howl with laughter.
after Lincoln had cut Off the twg he
returned the sword to its scabbard with
a sigh and sat down. which was always
the fororunner Of one of his inimitable
yarns. and I fully expected him to tel
a side-splitter right there in the shadow
OF the grave-Shield's grave. After thing:
had been adjusted at the duellng ground
we returned to the ferry boat. everybody
chatting in the most friendly manner pos
sible."