The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-05-21
ABE LINCOLN'S DUEL.
An Eye Witness Tells Striking Story
of 1t.

of 1t.
The Kansas City Journal prints the
following from its Topeka. Kan, CORE
spondent: William G.. Southcr who
claims to have been an eye witness of the
historic duel between Abraham Lincoln
and Gen. James Shields. has related to
journal correspondent what is pur
ported to be the missing data of that
event. Heretofore but meagre details
of what actually took place when the
duelling party crossed the Mississippi
river have been published, and Souther
now fills in that most important part of
the days proceedings. Southcr, who is
% years old, has for the past eighteen
years been clerk in the office of the au-
dltor of state railway system in this city,
though the greater part of his life has
been spent as a printer and newspaper
man. Up to the time of the arrival of
the duelling party ut the Alton ferry the
story he tells is very similar to the ones
heretofore printed, but from there it diff
ters widely. Souther relates that in or
der to witness the duel he agreed to drive
tie horses which propelled the ferry
boat carrying the distinguished party.
Arriving at the opposite shore says
Souther, (which was Wilderness of
timber, a spot partly cleared was select
ed as the battle-ground. Shields took a
seat on Il fallen log on one side of the
clearing, and Lincoln seated himself on
another ut the opposite side. The sec
onds then proceeded to cut Il pole about
twelve feet long and two stakes were
crotched i'll 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 COM
Blatant stepped back across his own line
it was to be considered 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..
L. NJ. Hope of Alton. He was very
with Shields for long time. As a re-
suit of his 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 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 infexible, and finally DR..
Hope got mad at MN. lie SAID Shlelds
was bringing the Democratic party OF.
Limos and himself into rldicule and
contempt by his folly. FINALLY; ne sprang
to his feet, faced the stubborn little Irish
man, ana Dlurted out: Jimmie; you d
little whipper-snapper if you don't set |
tie this I'll take you across my knee and
spank you
This was too much for Shields and
ne yielded. A note was solemnly pre-
pared and sent across to Lincoln, which
inquired if he was the author of the
poem in question. Lincoln wrote for
nal reply, in which he said that he was |
not, and then mutual explanations and |
apologies followed. l watched Lincoln
closely while he sat on his log awaiting |
he signal to fight. His face was grave