The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-11-22
DUEL ON GOAT ISLANDl
BLOODY EVENT WHICH OCCURRED
FIFTY YEARS AGO.
Louis 4. Wfgfnll and Preston >.
Brooks the Princiapls-Both Par
Elephants seriously Wounded.

miles above Augusta, was fifty or sixt,
years ago. large and dreary sand bank
known as Goat island-covered with
| drifting and shifting dunes-the home oi
| the crane, the kingfsher and the hnron
Precisely ffty-six years ago one Of the
most noted duels that ever illustrated the
code Of honor took place on Goat island
sort OF neutral ground, amenable, per-
haps, neither to the laws OF Georgia nor
South Carolina. The principals and sec
onds in this duel, save one, were all Edge
field men, Of high descent, and OF the cav
the code d,iello
The principals were two handsome and
brilliant young lawyers, Louis T. W,gfall,
aged %, and Preston S. Brooks, aged 20.
The causus belli in this famous duel grew
out OF political strlfls and ambitions.
Wigfall's second was John Laurens Man
ming OF Sumter county, S. c.. Brooks
second was Pearce Mason Butler of Edge
field. All these four men became famous
characters hl the history OF their State
mdstd in the history of the South-as is
abundantly proved by the chronicles aud
amended since.
In the very earliest hour OF the dim,
gray dawn of a fall morning OF the year
lSiI-to avoid Notice and perhaps arrest
TWO close carriages are driven out OF Au-
sta. They leave the door of the late
Thomas Barrett, Esq, who Is himself an
occupant of one OF the carriages. These
two coaches convey Wigfal. Manning,
Barrett, physician and three color, d
men servants to the vicinity OF Goat is
land. Brooks and Butler, with their ply
sioian and servants, come from the Edge
field side. accompanied by the late Major
Andrew Hammond, OF New Richmond
he duel took place at $3.50 . clock in
the afternoon. The actors in the bloody
drama were taken from either shore to
the island In one Of the long pole boats
OF that day. Two shots were exchanged.
The result OF the second shot was the
wounding of Wigfall through both .lighs,
ana the whizzing Of Il bullet into Brooks
hip the bullet ranging round into his back
and lodging there. Both men were pain
fuliy and very seriously wounded Both
sank to the ground, and soon became al
most unconscious from loss of blood
And now comes the dramatic and some
what weird part of my story. Both
wounds having been temporarily dressed,
both men were lifted tenderly into the
FNiS poa'' anu 'ylIiS dlfHOst size Dy SIDE,
were rowed down the night mantled stream
to the city. In this boat with the wounded
mon were the seconds, Mr.. Barrett, Mejcr
Hammond, the physicians and five negro
men. Imagine this funeral barge, illuml-
mated by lightwood torches, sometimes
ilaring bright, sometimes burning blue, as
~ giided down the broad, still river in
the blackness OF darkness bN,lng in its
bosom two noble, brave and bleeding bows.
nj 1c No.
end, might be called to stand before their
God.
arriving at Augusta, Louis WigfaIl was
taken to the residence of Mr.. Thomas Bar
rett, whose vile and mother-in- law, the
late Mrs Harriet Glasscock, were family
connections of his, and there nursed back
into life with tender care and motherly
watchfulness. Preston Brooks was taken
TO Boards hotel in Hamburg, whence
after few days. ne was taken to his home
in Edgeteld.
LOUIS I. Wigfall married a brilliant belle
oi providence, X. L., and after living in
huseneiu lew years, subsequent to this
duel, removed to Marshall Texas, which
'ate he very sooh represented in the
United States senate, where he achieved
NATIONAL reputation as an orator and
statesman The war. cf course, ,fuui,d hir,
oevotedly and enthusiastically cn the side
OF his native South He became hero In
the memorable and initial siege of Fort
sumner, brigadier general in the Con-
ieoerate army, senator from Texas in the
confederate congress-, and an intimate
iileni and adviser Of Jefferson Davis. He
DIED In Galveston, Texas, some ten or
twelve years after the close of the war.
Preston s. Brooks married a daughter
Of Governor Means of South Carolina and
continued to live in Edgefed. He be-
came SO popular among the people of
Edgeheld and the neignboring ''dt;tric,s"
'nat they sent him to represent them In
congress Previous 10 this. however M.
had led Company d, OF Il e Palu,etto reei-
merit, throughont the Mexican war, and
mad reached the highest rank ms a wjsa
and brave sclier. While he was mem
Der Of the lower house of coagress his
cousin. Judge Andrew Pickens But,er
vas South Cardinals senator In Tho
senate about this time--it is a matter NJ
National his,ory--the famous Massacbn-
sets senator. Charles Sumner, mile
speech, rejecting In an insulting manner
upon Senator Butler who was a man mani
years his ssnior. This insult to his Ven,
eFanle k'nsman so aroused the ire NJ the
merry Brooks that he publicly caned sumner
In the senate chamber. The matter he.
came almost National issue. and aroused
IN inc Northern mind much of that hatred
O. me Scuih that led to the war. Prestor
"s' ~ nis tuiru term as cUlgress-
man, died In Washington In 1857.
. fieroo NJ. Butler became goyernor q,
south Carolina, then United States com.
missioner to the Indians anu subsequently
me devoted and illrstriou.s leader M tha
renowned Palmetto regiment in the Mex.
lean war. He fell al the head OF his reyi-
nent' with bullet through his brain n,
'ne memorable siege of Churubuscc ~
John Lalrens Manning married an ,,n.
1i the present Gsneral Wade Hamp.op H..
was at the time the wellthiest and me
nandscmost man In South Carolina ua
oeeiFns soyerne'- Of his State. IA his f,,har
ana grandfther had been bsfore him "a
er9ved himself throughout ali his ysar sau
zero ana a patrici OF the highest tyne va
iiei eight or ten years ago. 'e
ihsre are old men and women 4, A.,
susa today who remember this faman.
inol, u took place long before .a
porn nus inasmuch as Louis T. WivralI
was my uncle, It has become a stsrt,,n.
ma never-to-bs-f forgotten chaptcr ~ ssns
ny nstory--one to be handed down srar,
ssnera'son to generation. NV" from
49, -->----.----,
Texas Conference.
Bryan, Texas. November 2i.--Ths rox..
cC,rfsrfura 80