Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1898-09-26
JACKsON'S FIRST DUEL.
1t Grew Out of a Practical Joke and
He Ever Regretted 1t.

None of General Jackson's biog-
raphers gives the details of his first
duel, and he himself never cared to
speak of the matter in later years;
but some years ago a granddaughter
of Colonel Waitstill Avery told the
full story.
Waitstill Avery was Massachu-
sets man who went to North Caro-
lima, carrying with him 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 become tutors of his chill
dren.
In 1884 when Andrew Jackson was
but II years old and ambitious to be-
come lawyer, he applied for this sit
uation. The tradition is that he was
refused because a daughter of Avery S
took a dislike to his uncouth appear
ance.
Young Jackson next applied to
Spruce McCay, a lawyer in Salisbury,
N. c., in whose Office he was fitted for
the bar, and he shortly made his ap-
pearance in the courts. When jack
son was 81 years of age he and Avery
met in the trial of case at Jones'
boro, Tenn.
1t was Jackson's habit to carry in
his saddlebags copy of "Bacon's
Abridgment, and to make frequent
appeals to it in his cases. This pre-
cious book was always carefully done
grocers used before the neat paper
bags of the present day were in
vented. The unwrapping of this
much priced volume before a court
was very solemn function as per-
formed by Jackson.
Now Avery had by this time
dropped whatever of puritan sedate-
ness had commended him to Jona-
than Edwards, and was uncommonly
fond of a 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 wrapping and substituted the
bacon.
At length Jackson had occasion to
appeal to Lord Bacon. It 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, I'M
folded the paper with the decorous
gravity of a priest handling the holy
things of the altar, and them without
looking at what he held in his hand,
exclaimed triumphantly, eve WIZ
now see what Bacon says!"
The court, bar, jury and spectators
we're convulsed with laughter before
Jackson saw the trick that had been
played on him. Of course he was fur
ious. He snatched a pen and on the
blank leaf of law book wrote a per-
emptory challenge, which he deliv-
cred then and there. He asked for no
apology nothing but blood would do.
liz COAuA4c1AOO0 6AFOAV W OOAOOC q
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.
bA &c f0
which was full of bad spelling. My
North Carolina friend had seen the
original, and in copying it had cor
rected the photography, but these are
the exact words:
aug. IL, 1888. Sir:-When mans
feelings and character are injured he
ought to seek a speedy redress. You
received few lines from me yester-
day, and undoubtedly you understand
me. My character you have injured;
and, further, you have insulted me in
the presence of the court and a large
audience. I therefore call upon you
as gentleman to give me satisfac-
ton for the same. And I further call
upon you to give me an answer imme-
diately without equivocation, and l
hope you can do without dinner until
the business is done, for it is consist
ent with the character of a gentleman
when he Injuries another to make a
speedy reparation. Therefore, I hope
you will not fail in meeting me this
day. From your obt. st.-Andrew
Jackson"
"P. S.-This evening after court adj
journs. jackson.
Avery concluded to accept this chal-
lenge; and so, in the dusk of the sum-
mer 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 ficked
Avery's ear, scratching it slightly.
Now was Avery's chance to change
the later history of his country, but