The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-08-21
A FAMOUS DUELING GROUND.

cient Cottonwood Tree Has Just Fall
 en-Some of the Duels Fought
 There.
 Bloody Island" has lost it's famous cottonwood tree. Older than the fede- ral government, 1t stood at the head of the Island for at least a century and a half, pointing the way to Indians in their canoes. to the French and Spanish Invaders, and to western settlers. Sun day morning, after having withstood storms and tempests innumerable, it yielded its great trunk to a gently pass ing breeze and fell to earth, just as an old man drops away into his final sleep. In the shadow of that tree have been fought the bloodest and fiercest duels ever known in this country. It has looked down upon scenes which have had no parallel, and in its ancient branches were locked the secrets of events that would fill volumes of histo- ny and of fiction.
 Bloody Island" lies opposite North St. Louis In the Mississippi river with In the jurisdiction of the state of Hi nois. During the earliest days of the west, after St. Louis had become loca- ted as a trading post, this bit of land was selected as a well-concealed spot of neutral ground, whereon the men of those days could settle their differences in accordance with the code of honor. It was convenient, beyond the reach of @ crowd of mediators and without hab- itation. Unimportant conflicts had been fought there at intervals until the territory of Missouri began to be gov erned with some regard for civil law. Then it bounded into fame which is national to this day.
 It was the duel between Thomas H. Benton and Charles Lucas that marked "Bloody Island" as the scene of deadly encounters. Benton had come here in 1916 from Tennessee to practice law. He was an impetuous, recklessly brave and pompous man. Lucas had Just been appointed United States attorney for the territory of Missouri. He was rather unobtrusive, but his eloquence and courage were unquestionable. The controversy between Benton and Lucas began in courtroom, where they had opposite sides in a ease at bar As was the custom in those days, epithets and offensive remarks were banded, at which the hot blooded Benton took eX- ception outside of court. Benton chal- lenged Lucas to mortal combat. Lucas AAhS sional statements to a jury should not be made the basis of a quarrel sufficient ito cause him to jeopardize his own life pr that of another. They were of oppo- site politics, and when the summer elec- lions of 1917 came on the trouble was renewed There are conflicting state ments as to the provocation of the sec- ond Challenge, but the best evidence fla vors the story that Benton offered to vote and was promptly challenged by Lucas as not having resided long enough in the territory. Benton re- sponded with his usual invective refer ring to Lucas as ''a puppy" Then Lu- cas sent Benton challenge to fight, which was promptly accepted. They met at sunrise on Bloody Island," Au- gust 12, 1S17 They took stations at ten paces and fired simultaneously. The ball from Benton's pistol inflicted a se- were wound in the neck of Lucas, while the latter's ball struck the ground, de- fected and caused slight confusion of Benton's knee.
 Benton f1ercely demanded that the duel proceed. Lucas wound had caused a great effusion of blood, and his surgeon withdrew him from the field, after it had been agreed between the seconds that another meeting be had as soon as the wound of Lucas would permit. A few days later their differences were adjusted by friends. But it was only temporary. Within few weeks reports reached Benton re- f1ecting on his conduct on the field. These he attributed to Lucas and his friends, and thereupon sent word he would hold Lucas to his agreement for a second meeting. They met again Sep tember 27, 1877, and Lucas was instant ly killed. He died aged twenty-five years and three days. Colonel Benton three years later was elected to the United States senate by a scratch, and remained there thirty years
 The hostile meeting between Joshua Barton and Thomas c, Rector helped along the fame of Bloody Island" This occurred June 30, 1923. Barton was then United States district attor- ney for Missouri. His brother, David Barton, was serving as the first United States senator from Missouri with Thomas H. Benton. The cause of the duel was the publication in the Missou- ri Republican of an article directly &C., cusing General William Rector of cor ruption in office as government survey or of Illinois, Missouri and Arkansas. Whether the accusation had any justi- liable foundati In fact is not known, but the presumption Is the charge grew out of the fierce partisan and personal politics of those days. General Rector was in Washington when 1t appeared. His brother, Thomas c. Rector hear ing that Barton was the author, sent 9 challenge. Barton refused to accept unless Rector should first admit the published charges against his brother to be true. It Is traditionary that in order to effect the meeting Rector made the admission. Both families were large and influential and there was great excitement over the forthcoming event. They fought with pistols at sun- set on Bloody Island" and at the first fire Barton fell, mortally wounded His body was brought across the river and delivered to Bartons law partner, Ed ward Bates, who was afterward gover-