The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-15

Lucas and his friends, and theroupon sent
word he would hold Lucas 5,, to ms agree Ie;,-
Sept. q, 1917, and Lucas was instantly klli-
ed. He died aged twenty-five years and
three days.
The bIoodthirstiness of Colonel Benton in
these encounters was counted against him
in all his after life of success. Three years
later he elected to the United states
Senate by a scratch and remained there
thirty years.
The hostile meeting between Joshua Bar
ton and Thomas G. Rector helped along
the fame of "Bloody island" This occurred
June 30, 1923. Barton was then United
States district attorney for Missouri. His
brother, David Barton, was serving as the
first United States senator from Missouri
with Thomas H. Benton.
SENATOR BARTON'S FATE.
The cause of the duel was the publication
in the Missouri Republican of an article
directly accusing General William Rector
of corruption in office as government sur
veyor of Illinois, Missouri and Arkansas.
Whether the accusation had any iustifable
foundation 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 the article appeared. His brother
Thomas c. Rector hearing that Barton was
the author, sent challenge. Barton re-
fused to accept unless Rector should first
admit the published charges against his
brother to be true. 1t is Evolutionary that in
order to effect the meeting, Rector made
the admission. Both families were large
and influential, and there was great excite
ment over the forthcoming event.
They fought with pistols at sunset on
Bloody island" and at the first fire Bar
ton fell, mortally wounded His body was
brought across the river and delivered to
Barton'S law partner, Edward Bates, who
was afterward Governor of the State Bates
buried his friend near the old round stone
tower at the southern end of the town Cf
st. Charles
The deadliest and ferest duel that Bloody
island ever knew was that fought be-
tween Congressman Spencer Petus and
Major Thomas Biddle, Aug. q, 1881. Fettis
had come to Missouri a young lawyer
from Culpeper county, Virginia, in lS24 In
1925 he had been appolnted secretary or
state by Governor John Miller and in 1873
was elected to Congress. Major Riddle was
a paymaSter in the United States army and
had married the daughter of John Mullan-
ply, one of the richest men of the West.
Biddle was fond of politics, and, having
ample means aspired TO a seat in Congress.
About this time President Jackson made
his war ON the United States Bank and
broke it down by refusing to recharter it,
Pettis, who had been a supporter of jack
son in that famous contest, became can
didate for reelection. Then Biddle began
to write articles for the newspapers abusive
Of Pettis rdiculing the latters claims as
of him. On one occasion he referred to Pet
tbs as "a dish of skinned milk" Pettis
replied with spirit ana VlgOr, each becOm-
ing more and more personal
HORSEWHIPPED PETTIS.
Early one morning Major Biddle appeared
at the City Hall, corner of Third and Pine
streets, and sent word to Pettis that a
gentleman wanted to see him. The night
had been hot, and the congressman had
spent most OF it in electoneering in the
southern part of the city. In order to es-
cape mosquitoes and find draught Pettis
asleep. He had sent back word to Bidde
to go away and let him alone. Major Bid
die rushed up stairs and fell upon Petts
with a cowhide. He piled his weapon fast
and furiously, until Pettis got hold of a
sword cane with which he fought the major
into a full retreat
Next day Biddle was arrested on a charge
of assault to kill and bound over to the
next term of the Circuit Court. Pettis was
easily reelected to Congress- and Biddle
went up to Prairie du Chen TO pay off the
army.
During the majors absence Pettis APP
piled TO Capt. Martin Thomas, an exsofficer
of the army, TO become his second in a
duel and went into training. Upon Biddle's
return from he North he received q chaI-
lenge from Pettis, and they agreed to meet
at sunrise Aug. q Ben O'Fallon, brother
Of John, an eX-officer of the army, became
Biddle's second.
BY reason of being the challenged party
Major BiGdle had the choice of weapons
and distance. He chose pistols, and by rea-
son of being very near-sighted demanded
which was accepted. Thousands of peoDle
lined the river banks OF North St. Louis
on that fatal morning, among them John
Mullanphy, who sat astride big roam