The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1898-08-04
JACkSON'S FIRST DUEL.
It Grew.Out of o Practical Joke and He
Ever Regretted IL.

he hlmSelI never cared TO speak or
the matter in later years; but some
years ago granddaughter of Col.
Waitstill Avery told the writer the
! full story.
Waitstill Avery was a Massachu-
| sets man who went to North Caro-
lima, carrying with him a letter of
recommendation from no less a per-
! sonage than Jonathan Edwards. He
soon acquired reputation and infiu-
ence, and in time became Attorney
General of the State. 1t was his GUS
tom to take students of law into his
family, who became tutors of his
children.
In 1884, when Andrew Jackson was
but II years old, and ambitious to be-
come lawyer, he applied for this
situation. The tradition is that he
was refused because daughter of
Avery's took dislike to his uncouth
appearance.
Young Jackson next applied to
Spruce McCay, lawyer in Salisbury,
N. c., in whose Office ne was fitted
for the bar, and he shortly made his
appearance In the courts. When Jack
son was II years of age he and Avery
met in the trial of a case at Jones'
boro, Tenn.
1t was Jackson's habit to carry\ in
his saddle-bags a copy of "Bacon's
Abridgement," and to make frequent
appeals to it in his cases. This pre-.
cious book was always carefully done
up in coarse brown paper such as
grocers used before the neat paper
bags of the present day were invent
ed. The unwrapping of this much
priced volume before a court was n
very solemn function as performed
by Jackson.
Now Avery had by this time dropped
whatever of Puritan sedateness had
commended him to Jonathan Ed
wards, and was uncommonly fond Of
joke. He procured piece of bacon
just the size of the book, and while
Jackson was addressing the court he
slipped out the volume from it's wrap
ping and substituted the bacon.
AT length Jackson had occasion to
appeal 20 Lord Bacon. 1t was an i'm
portant case, and he would not trust
to his memory. He would confound
his opponent by reading from the
book itself. While still talking, he
raised the bearskin flap of his saddle
bags, drew out the brown paper pack
age, carefully united the string, un-
folded the paper with the decorous
gravity of a priest handling the holy
things of the altar, and then, with
out looking at what he held In his
hand, exclaimed triumphantly. I'VE
will now see what Bacon says"
The court, bar, jury and spectators
were convulsed with laughter before
Jackson saw the trick that had been
played upon him. OF course, he was
furious. He snatched a pen, and on
the blank leaf Of n law-book wrote a
peremptory challenge, which he de-
livered then and there. He asked for
no apology-nothing but blood would
do. He commanded Avery to select
friend and arrange for the meeting
at once.
Avery made no answer to this per-
emptory demand, thinking his pep
perry antagonist would laugh rather
than fight, as he grew cooler. But he
did not know the young man. Jack
son grew hotter instead of cooler
Next morning he sent this note, which
was full of bad spelling. My North
Carolina friend had seen the original,
and in copying 1t had corrected the
photography but these are the exact
words:
august IL, 17SS.-Sir: When a
mans feelings and character are in
jured he ought to seek q speedy re-
dress. You received few lines
from me yesterday, and undoubtedly
you understand me. My character
you have injured; and, further. you
have insulted me in the presence of
the court and large audience.
therefore call upon you as a gentle
man to give me satisfaction for the
same. And l further call upon you to
give me an answer Immediately with
out equivocation, and hope you can
do without dinner until our business
is done; for 1t is consistent with the
character of a gentleman when he in
5ures another TO make q speedy repa-
ration. Therefore, hope you will not
fail in meeting me this day. From
your obt. ST., ANDREW JACKSON.
''P. S.: This evening after court ad-
journs."
Avery concluded to accept this
challenges; and so, in the dusk of the
summer evening. the duel came off in
a hollow north of Jonesboro, in the
presence of the same crowd that had
laughed at Jackson's predicament.
When the word was given Jackson
fired quickly, and his ball f1icked
Avery's ear, scra tching it slightly.
Now was Avery's chance to change
the later history of his country. but
his Puritan blood asserted itself. He
fired in the air, then advanced and
offered jackson his hand, which was
accepted.-Youth's Companion.