The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1896-05-12
ThE LINcoLN.snIElps nuEL.
sestheF Tells . Missing Link Never
Before Published.

KANSAS Cry, May 1.-THE Journal
prints the following from Is Topeka
correspondent, William G. souther. who
claims TO have been an eye witness Of
the historic duel between Abraham IAN.
coin and General james Shields. He
related 20 journal correspondent what
Is purported 10 be the missing data Of
that event. Heretofore but meager de-
tails Of what took place when the duel.
ling party crossed the Mississippi riyer
have been pnblished and souther now
fills that most important part Of the
days proceedings.
souther, who Is % yean old, has for
the past IS years been a clerk in the Of.
fee Of the auditor Of the Santa Fe rail.
way system in this city, though the
greater part Of his life has been spent a.
a printer and newspaper man. Up 20
the time Of the arrival Of the dueling
party At the Alton ferry the story he
tells Is very similar 70 the ones hereto
] fore printed, but from there Il differs
widely. sOuther relates that in order
TO witness the duel be agreed to drive
the horses which propelled the fcrTyboat
carrying the distinguished party.
Arriving on tho opposite shore"
I says Souther, (which was wilderness
Of timber, spot partly cleared was 50
lected as the battle-ground. Shields took
a seat on one side Of the clearing and
Lincoln seated himself on another af
the other side. The seconds then pro-
ccedod TO cut a pole about ~ feet long
and two stakes were crotched In the
end. The stakes were driven in the
ground and the poles laid across the
crotches, 20 that it rested about three
feet above the ground. Tho 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
the pole. with the understanding that
II eithor combatant stepped hack across
his own line IL was to b considered a
giving up Of the fight.
"Aftor all Of these arrangements had
been completed the seconds rejoined
their principal at the different sides Of
the clearing and commenced to talk in
low tones. Along with the Shields
party was DR.. 7. H. Hope Of Alton. He
was very much opposed to the duel and
reasoned with Shields for q long time.
As a result Of his talk several notes
were passed between the seconds. Lin
coin remained firm and said shields
must withdraw his irst note aud asked
him whether or not he was the author
Of the poem in The Journal. When
that was done. he said. he was ready 70
treat with the other side.
shields was inflexible and finally DR..
Hope got mad at him He said shields
was dragging the Democrats Of nlinoif
into ruin by mis- folly. Finally he sprang
10 his feet, faced tho stubborn little
Irishman aud blurtcd out; Jimmie,
you d. little whippcr snapper. If you
don't settle this III take you across my
knee and spank you. This was TOO
much for Shields, and he yielded. A
note was solennly prepared and sent
across to Lincoln, which inquired II he
was the author Of the poem In question. /
Lincoln wrote a formal reply In which |
he said be was not, and then mutual ex-
plantations and apologies followed.
watched Lincoln closely while he sat on
his log awaiting the signal 20 fight. His
face was grave and serious. Icould dis.
cem nothing suggestive Of old Abe as
we knew him. never knew him 10 70
50 long before without making a joke,
and I began TO believe he was getting
frightened. But presently he reached
over aad picked up one OF the swords,
which he drew from is scabhard. Then
he felt along the edge OF the weapon
with his finger. like a barber feels Of
the edge Of his razor, stretched himself
20 his full height. stretched out his long
arms and clipped of a tNig from the
tree above his head with the sword.
There was no, another man Of as who
could have reached Il, and the absurdity
Of that long, reaching fellow fighting
with cavalry sabres with Shields. who
could walk under his arm, came pretty
near making me howl with laughter.
After Lincoln had cut OF the twig, No
returned the sword 10 the scahlord with
a sigh, and sai down, but detected the
CLEAN In his eye. which was always q /
forerunnor Of one Of his inimifahle
yarns, and fully expected him 20 tell
sidcsplittor thorc In tho shadow of the
gravc-Shield's grave. After thinrs
had been adjusted AZ the duclline
Eround we rctumod 10 the forryboaf
everybody chaitering In the most
friendly manner possible"