The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1897-11-18

| Louis Il. Wigfhll and Preston s. Brooks
:"h1ct on Il S,tHd Bank i'm the Snvan-
nah River.
Mrs, Kate Mlgk.r- Cheatham, Of
| Edgcheld, Ii niece Of the iuuu Senator
Wlgfafi, of Texas, has contributed tire
following -rrmjnisccnce to the Augusta
Herald 49,, -.
In the Savannah River some eight or
ten mi!t S above Augusta, was fifty or
sixty years ago, a largo and dreary
sand bank, known as Coat lslant-
covered with drifting and shifting
|!dunes--the homo of the crane, the
illty-siX years ago, one of tho most
| dotted duels that ever illustrated the
code Of honor took plaoe on Goat Island
"a sort Of neutlat ground amenable,
lberhaps, neither to- tho laws of Gcorgin
or South Carolina. The principals and
and seconds In this duel, ,isavc one, were
air Edge field mon, Of high decent, and
Of the cavalier class, who believed In
and practiced' the Code Duello: -
| The principals were two handsome
! and brilliant young lawyers: Louis r..
Wlgfail, aged % years, and Preston S
fBrUOks, aged ~. The causus bell in
this famous duel grew out OF political
strifes and am mbitions. Wigfall's secCi.G
was John Laurens Manning, Of Sumter
County,: S., c.. Brooks second was
PIERCE Mason Butler, Of Edgciield. All
these four men became famous char
actcrs In the history of the State,--in-
/ decd in, the history OF the SOUTH as is
dbundantly proved by the chronicles
and encyclopedias that have been
l,Writtcn Or amended since.
III the very earliest hour Ct the dim,
gray dawn dig Fall morning Of tho year
lSll.rto avoid notice and perhaps ar
Eest1.tw6 close carriages are driven
l.0t the late Thomas Barrett, ESD, who
is himself an occupant ofone Of the
! l.Garringes. These two coaches convey
lWigfall, Manning, Barrett, d physician
and three cOlOred men servants to the
vicinity Of Goat Island. Brooks and
Butler, with their. physician and ser
.yants come from the .lLlgciieid side,
laccompanied by the late Ma "A ndre W
EI!Ainmond Of Now Richmond. .. r.
Tho duel took place at'5'30 o'clock in
the afternoon, Tho actors in the
bloody drama were taken from either
fsl0re TO, the islapd In: one OF the long
+ 1ekGbanged;.' The result OF tho. second
! shot wds tho: 'W6ubdingH Of: Wigfwll
! through both thighs, and The Whizzing
'EQf 6. buflct Into Bt60ks's hip, Tho
.Fbnllet ranging roudd into his back and
lrpdgilfg there. Both mon were pain
italy and very seriously wotaded.
4 Both sanY to'the ground and soon, bic.
,Ga.t4e ALMOST uncoHsoious from' loss OF
blood: .'.'I.t~ - :; ~: Gu" ~. -.
Aud now comes the dramati io and
somewhat weird part Of my story.
Both wonuds having been temporarily ,
i dressed, both mon were lifted tenderlp
Into the pole boat, and, lying ;almos!
,I'side by. side,.: were, roWed down thi
lnight-mantled stream to the city, Tr
\ th boat with the wounded men wor,
the seconds, Mr.. Barrett. Major FL am
! fmand,. the physicians:. and five negrt
men. Imagine, this .funcreal. barge
illuminated by lightwood torches, { solne
'Etfmts 4iarthg bright, sometimes burn
, ing blue, as IT glided down the broad
sti4L river In the blackness of dark
ness, bearing In its bosom two noble
. BRAVE and bleeding boys, whose i'm
y thortal souls, before the journeys en-
might be-, called to stand befoce ,thef
God. =
Arriving: at Augusta, Louis Wigfal