The times., 1898-09-02
TALE OF KENTUCKY LIFE
Steele's Tragic Death Recalls a
Blue Grass Feud.
WERE ONCE DIRE ENEMIES
Grandfather of the Man Who Died
I'm the Senator's Arms Killed the
Father of the BIackburns and
Created Fatal Bitterness Between
Two FamiIies-A Singular story.

The tragic death of Andrew F. Steele,
at Versailles. KY. Wednesday, in the
arms of Senator Blackburn. was s.ngu-
lariy pathetic.j
Forty years ago the grandfather of Mr.
Steele. who was at that time one of the
most celebrated surgeons IN centra! Ken
tucky, became engaged in an alteration
with the Father of the Blackburns. as
he was popularity known.
1t ended in a duel, conducted upon old
time ethics. with the result that Dr.
blackburn was killed. Intense feeling
arose. with partisan expressions made
daily by the friends of both. The re-
markablc disposition which has always
prevailed among the aristocratic, as we'll
as the other inhabitants, of the border
States to settle matters personally, soon
became manifest
Challenge From the Son.
The result was that James Blackburn,
the eldest son. challenged Dr. Steele. who
declined to accept the challenge on the
ground that he was an unerring shot,
and that the personal alteration which
had existed between the father of James
Blackburn and himself had been wiped
out by the death of the latter. Young
blackburn insisted upon his right to
challenge the slayer of his father but
DR.. Steele would not admit his right.
Feeling ran so high that in justice to
himself Dr. Steele permitted his son.
Theophilus. TO act in his place.
The duel was iuterfered with In the
1-ff., Nd md p
bon, but took place upon the edge OF
Scott and Bourbon Counties. Before the
duel began. young DR.. Steele, who Is yet,
at the age of Sixty-hve, maSnlheent
type of physical manhood, withdrew the
load from his revolver. threw the weap-
on on the ground, and. walking delib-
erately up 10 James Blackburn, asked
him If he still wanted TO fight The re-
sponSe was:
II have not followed you through three
counties for any other object"
4 Threat Fulfilled.
"An right" said DIR. Steele. II had
hoped the matter was ended. 1t has been
an unfortunate one" Then pausing and
Indicating with his left index finger a
cross mark on the hip of James Black
burn. he added, with much earnestness,
II intend to hit you there. Jim. II won't
| kin YOU. but it will make you limp for
| life"
| Mr., Blackburn's Gre was futile. and it
may be stated TO his credit that he stood
| his ground and received the full effect of
DR.. Steefe's bullet on the very spot indi-
| Gated, and ne Iimps to this day.
| In after years the Steeles and the
! BIackburns. who have always been ad-
! Joining neighbors, in what is known as
| the asparagus bed of the Blue Grass
| region. having made up their differences,
| founded bond of friendship stronger
! than even their previous antipathy.
DR.. TheophiIis Steele. father Of An
| drew F. Steele, afterwards went to New
! York and became the personal physician
| Of Addison Cammack. at that time the
| personal Dear representative of Jay
| Gould on the Stock Exchange When
| Jim F'iske, Jr was killed in the Grand
| Central Hotel by Edward S. Stokes. DIR.
| Steele was present soon afterward. His
| testimony had much to do with the light
! sentence finally given Stokes. DR.. Steele
| became a police surgeon at remunera-
| tive salary through Tammany influence,
! and continued as such for years, being
| always conspicuous for his superior sur
! gicaI ability which even experts admit
| ted.
Married Miss Caldwell.
Dr. Steele subsequently married Miss
! Caldwell, of Philadelphia, whose sister,
| GwendoIyn, made such handsome be-
| quests to the Roman Catholic Church a
| few years ago The union was not a
happy one and soon became a matter of
| court comment, DR.. Steele imprisoning
t his wife in the Gilsey House, New York.
| claiming that he had discovered that she
was a victim of the morphine habit and
| he proposed TO cure her in his own way.
| Proprietor Breslin refused to permit
anyone TO enter the apartments of the
| Steele's without the permission of the
! doctor Mrs. Steele, however, managed
| TO communicate with Howe & HummelI.
the well-known attorneys. who secured
! her release on a writ of habeas corpus.
| After the trial Mrs Steele embraced her
! husband and they lived happily together
! ever since at Stapleton. Staten Island,
! during the Summer. and in Harlem dur
! ing the Winter months.
Volunteers May Re-enlfst.