The times., 1897-12-05


the increased distance and the light tall.
Ciiley was put at disadvantage. Neither
party examined the others clothing. Jones
gave the word. CiIley's rifle went off be-
fore he was ready. Graves fired with some
deliberations; neither was hit.
Wise asked for confidence, and some
time was consumed ia talk. Graves had in
tructed his second not to consent 10 any
settlement unless Cilley admitted that
Graves had not carried the note Of man
who was not man OF homer and not
gentleman. ii does rot ape ar that Wise
told this TO Jones, but he asked that Cilley
"asslgn some reason or make some dis
claimer that would satisfy Graves" Jones
submitted the following That when cilley
declined to receive Wehb's Eote Ie meant
no disrespect to Graves, because he
entertained foI him then, as he Goes
low, the highest respect and the most
kind feelings, but tfat he declined to re-
ceiVe Webh's note because lie chose not 20
be drawn into any controversy with Webb.
or, IL that wes not satisfactory, that he
refused TO disclain disresIect for Webb,
because he does not wish TO lie drawn into
any controy ersy with him. This was not
satisfactory, and another exchange Of shCts
was had. Graves lost his slot, and Cilley
fired, as deliberately as possible, but
missed. Graves demanded another shot
nr Folly, Graves surgeon, said that the
fingers of both principals must haze been
nump, as the day was very cold.
Notwithstanding Graves demand for al
other shot, Wise ask ed fer another con
fersnce, which was granted, and consul
erable time was Consumed in fruitle>s
endeavors To adjust the quarrel. IL was
now that Wise said that Graves insisted
that "he must defend the honor Of his
friend Webb, and that he has not borne
the note Of a man WHO is not a man Of
honor Gr q gentleman" But not even
then did Wise Intimate there was a Iues
tion of ver3City bet tween the principals as
to what Tas said when Graves rendered
Webb's note TO Cilley. The conference
came to nothing. A third exchange Of
shots was bad both firing nearly 10 gethcr.
Ciilcy was mortally wounded, AMI died
in a few minutes: Graves was unhurt.
Cilley used the rifle of DR. Duncan,
member OF Congress from Ohio. Jones
insisted that a rifle he had got Of Francis
T. BlaiI was the better and surer gun,
hut Cilley preferred Duncan's. Graves
used q rifle belonging to John G. Rives.
1t was famous gun, and is a good gun
today. It had been used in many shoot
ing contests. David Crockett had often
fired it.. MIR. Rives was fine shot anu
could hit dime, off hand, with this gun
as far as he could SEE it David Crockett
was the only man who could hold his own
with MI Riyes in rifle shooting. It was
saiG that in ordinary matches Rives would
shoot better than Crockett, but If liquor
was the prize Crockett always won.
Blair obtained Rives' gun for Graves.
It had not been used for some time because
the triggers were out of order. A few days
before, Rives had taken it to the only
gunsmith in Washington who could repair
it, and found that he had gone 20
Connecticut and would not return for sew
eraI weeks Rives told this to Blair, put
told him he could take it If he wished
Rives suspected what Blair wanted with
the gun. but he was not told The gun
smith, however, had reUurned before reach
inr his destination to get some papers he
had forgotten, and repaired the qua The
morning OF the duel. Had Riyes sup
posed Shr gun could have beer put in order
ne would net have loaned 1t for duel.
Al tie time Of the duel it was stated
rifle His practice showed that he was
not, but probably he was better marks
man than Graves.
Many years after Graves talked about
the duel The most important Of his
statements was that he consulted Henry
Clay about the duel, and that Clay blamed
him for recklessly taking up Webb's quar-
rel, but being concerned about Graves
f,4 Il, h..
fine shot he said that. the weather being
very cold, Graves must dress as warru
as possible. Cilley, being usel To such
weather, would probably wear only his or
binary clothing. Graves friends must
postpone the firing as long as possible
so that Ciley's skill would avail him
little because of the cold. Graves said
Clay'S advice was taken, and the facts
all point that way.
1t may be of interest to know how the
papers of that day treated this affair as
a matter of news The Globe, the even
ing of the duel. related the facts thus:
FATAL DUEL.
This evening Mr.. Cfley, OF Maine, fell
in a duel with Mr.. Graves, Of Kentucky,
botn members of the House of Representa-
tiyes. They fought with rifles, and Mr..
Cilley was shot through the body on the
third fire, and died in few minutes
MIR. Graves ma d been the bearer of a letter
from James Watson Webb to Mr.. Cilley,
which the latter refused to receive. Mr.
Graves demanded the reason, which MIR.
Cilley declined giving. MIR. Graves then
challenged MI. CiIley, which produced the
melancholy result announced.
The National Intelligencer, Monday morn
ing, had the following:
duel took place Saturday last, mile
or two from this city, between the Hon.
william j. GRAY es, of Kentucky, and the
Hon. Jonathan Ciley, of Maine, both of