The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-03-06
H. BENTON'S FATAL DUEL
RBcALIED By THE DEATH OF HIS
OPPONENTS GRANDPA G HTER,

VT NV
ste wns MRS. n. =. E1aFer or san Frnnet.co-
The RIan whom Henton Killed Was Charlie,
Lucns or ~. Isuis-Mrs. HaEer's Father Ret
Lasa worth lbo 600 In n Poker same.
Mrs. &c. l. HaEer of San Francisco, who died
recently OF paralysis. was the widow of q mil.
lionaire politician who was once a United States
Senator and later a Collector Of Customs at tho
San Francisco port. In her youth Mrs. Hacer
was internationally celebrated for her beauty.
and she broke many hearts before she was cap
turcd by Tho rich New Yorker. who moved with
her TO the Golden State. Sho wns ono
OF the daughters OF n family that 10
famed for its good looks and thc pos.
session Of other qualities that earn 1t promi.
nencc. She was a Lucasuf st. Louis. Like tho
Astors of Now York, tho Lucascs OF st. Louis
arc real estate holders in o growing city. The
unearned increment Of their lands Is greater
than their spending capacity, although that Is
abnormully developed. The present head Of tho
family owns probably the most beautiful coun.
try place in tho South. 1t Is in n suburb Of tho
city and is one OF tho show places OF Missouri.
IL was Charles Lucas. grandfather of the
society leader. whose tragic death gave the
name TO Bloody Island" Bloody Island" no
longer exists. It has become merged with the
mainland, and 10 now q part of East st. Louis,
subject TO the jurisdiction Of Illinois and
reasonably lawful territory. The ducllists Of
the old days were fond Of facing each other upon
the sandbars Of the Mississippi. The river 10
the dividing line between many States,
and there was always a question Of
jurisdiction over these bits Of jetsam.
Charles Lucas was ono Of the prominent
young mepo of st. Louis in the carly part of the
century. He was politically opposed to Thomas
II. benton, aftcrward the celebrated Senator. who
published a paper in st. Louis In 1920 and made
tie editorial columns as warm as he knew how.
Lucas objected to certain-paragraphs printed BY
Benton. Benton would not apologize or re.
tract. The inevitable result was n meeting.
The men faced each other in tho early morn.
ing. They were rowed to tho sandbar in small
skiffs. Each was accompanied by a second and
n physician. They were within plain sight of
the town, and no effort had been made to keep
the duel q secret. Many spectators were on the
banks looking across at the combat. No time
was wasted in preliminaries. The weapons
were single-barrellcd, hair-triggercd duclling
pistols, as accurate as m~athcmatic and carrying
an ounce ball. "Onei Two! Three!" were
counted. and the men fred between "Two!"
and "Three!" Lucas sprang straight in
the air and fell dead, shot through the
heart. There was no attempt TO prose-
cute the survivor, although his victim
had been a man of influence. and tho large
Lucas family was grief stricken. 1t had been a
fair fight, and the relatives Of the fallen were
what is now called dead game" Tho result of
this duel was the cause of tho bittcrest regret
to e3t1 Bsn,on, n Sna b the ,i shad HS a Of 1t lay III fo u, : ,Ss
private papers relating to it, and could never
be BROUGHT to talk about it. Other duels Of less
Tho last encounter upon it's soil, was between
Tom Allen, champion heavyweight pugilist Of
James II. Lucas. father of Mrs. Hager, fought
no duels. but his nerve was as steady as that Of
was fond or desperate risks and bore defeat
calmly. On a summers night in 1859 he. old
Man" Doris and three others whose names are
forgotten were engaged in q friendly game OF
draw poker. In those days .,jnckpots" were not
played. This was = straight" poker. four aces to
crossed for some hours with the customary high
betting of the time md varying fortune. Lucas
came in. Doris bet 800. the other man
dropped out, and L Lnn raised $1,000. Doris
for S., 600. Doris saw this, went 5000 better.
and remarked casually:
Isdas ! f th ! you're IN. ont aso On T. a b ltm Said. How
m9 9%s XIII J SSq S Sst!h ssi Us Pg s1q1.insf'
bnt tn bet my half block Of land at Eleventh
and Olive streets and let it go at $4,000. It's
$4,000 and tossed it into tho middle of the
II call" he said simply.
Lucas showed two aces and a pair OF tens.
Dorrls. held three deuces. .NcmarklnR only.
That's enough for one time" Lucas put on his
hat and went homo.
The next morning he sent n title deed TO tho
land and received from Doris by return mes
senger a check for $4,000. with u note saying
that the ground was worth $50. 900, and that
everything wRs now square and pleasant. rs It
should be between friends. Tho half block is
now a part of tho Doris estate and is known Us
the Doris block There is q largo business
building upon II and it. returns II handsome row.
enue. The corner of Eleventh and Olive streets
In these days is in the very heart of st. Louis.
The property is assessed at $250.O0O, and is
probably worth as much more.