The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-07-06
KENTUCKYS FIRST DUEL.


An International Encounter. In Which
an Englis.lman Game to Grief.
An old letter, which has just come
to light and was written by John
Ross of Paris, KY, under date of
Feb. 1S, 1912, gives an account of
probably the first duel ever fought
in Kentucky. If it is not the first,
it is at least the most remarkable
encounter that has taken place on
Kentucky soil. Mr.. Ross says:
son the 1st day of November.
1911, James Allen of Kentucky and
the subscriber met with Thomas
Fuller, an Englishman, and his COM
pany, at q small branch between the
United States Saline Salt works and
Fort Massack. Making stop at
that place, Messrs. Allen and Fuller
entered into a conversation which
led to a very serious recontre. After
learning the name, nation and resi-
dence of each other, Fuller asked
Allen if the Kentuckians were anx-
ious for war with England. Allen
replied they were warm for war.
Fuller said they need not be, for one
Englishman could drive five Ken
tuckians. Allen thought one Eng
lishman could not drive one Ken
tuckian, and was willing, as one of
each was present, to have the thing
tested. Fuller was willing also, but.
it must be done in an honorable
way. He would fight with pistols,
standing about one pace apart, to
which Allen was agreed. Fuller,
finding Allen in earnest, said he
thought it too savagelike to stand
so near each other, and proposed
that they should choose seconds and
take distance ten steps apart. This
proposition was agreed to, and the
preliminaries settled, but Fuller said
he had wife near Pittsburg, and
before they fought he. would go
aside and write a few lines to her,
so that if any accident should hap
pen to him she might know it. He
went and returned in a short time
ready for action.
"Tho com batants then took the
places assigned them and at the
word they both fired, and Fuller
fell, having received the ball of his
antagonist in his left breast, but not
appearing to be much hurt, he pro-
posed another round. They then
proceeded to fire again, upon which
Fuller fell a second time and declined
fighting any more, and was found
to have received the second ball in
his breast, within an inch of the
first.
"Allen was surprised to find that
the balls had not taken effect, and
suspecting some stratagem, he pro-
tested he would kill Fuller on the
spot unless he would fight again OF
acknowledge himself coward.
Fuller, rather than smell powder
again, would submit to anything.
His jacket was then unbuttoned, and
to the astonishment Of the beholders
Dutch blanket was discovered in
eight folds, and one quire of paper
opened and spread under the blan-
ket, both between his waistcoat and
shirt, and upon lifting up the blan-
ket the two balls were found, hav-
ing penetrated through the eight
folds of the blanket and were lodged
on the paper. His breast, notwith-
standing the fortification, was very
much bruised and black, and he ap-
peared considerably injured.
"Allen received no material in
jury. The first ball struck between
his feet and the second grazed the
skin on the side of his head. And
thus ended contest which proved
the superiority of the Kentuckian,
and exposed the boasting, imperious
Englishman to eternal contempt and
disgrace. And tits highly probable
from his own story and conduct
that this same Fuller is employed to
do business for the British in the
western country and among the In
dians. The subscriber was the Sec
ond of Mr.. Allen and is willing to
attest the truth of the facts above
stated. He is now on his way
home, which is on Brush creek, in
the state of Ohio. New York Sun.