The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-01-07
BENTON'S DUELS.

In a recent conversation with n
nephew of Thomas H. Benton, the
! Globe Democrat correspondent learned
some new facts about the duels OF the
famous Missouri statesmen.
The difficulty between Mr.. Benton
and Mr.. Lucas. which led to the death
OF the latter on an island in the Mis-
sissippi river near St Louis, had it's
origin I'm singular incident that oc-
'curred at North Carolina academy
where the future Missouri senator got
his education. Thomas ~. Benton was
then youth and student at this
popular institution Of learning The
old continental paper money was still
in use TO some extent, and one day a
bill OF this currency was lost by some
member of the school. Theft was sus-
pected, and the faculty made use Of
an old superstitious method OF detect
ing the culprit A kettle was turned
over and the students marched in line
and made 10 touch the black bottom of
the vessel, the idea OF the trial being
that the hand of the thief would show
the most dscoloration. It happened
that young Benton's palm seemed TO be
the blacklist, and the affair caused a
great sensation in the school For a
time. though the matter never seriously
affected the standing of the student.
When Thomas II. Benton came to Mis-
souri, this story followed him. Later
on, when the young politician and Mr..
Lucas became rivals the latter referred
to the academy incident in his paper,
the Argus To emphasize the insult
the paper printed cut OF Mr.. Benton,
representing him as wearing a con-
tinental bill for a necktie. This attack.
the nephew says, provoked the duel in
which Mr.. Lucas lost his life.
Respecting the duel between the Ben
tons and Gen. Jackson and two OF his
friends at Nashville, Tenn, there has
always been much misrepresentation
this same party says. The principals
i'm the Nashville duel on the side were
Thomas IA. and his brother Jesse. a
negro man playing an important part
III the affair.
Col. Benton and Gen. Jackson had be-
come estranged during the Greek war,
the former feeling that the future aero
of New Orleans had sought to prevent
his military advancement by keeping
Meddlesome parties famed the fire of
enmity between the soldiers till "A per-
sonal encounter became necessary 10
settle the strife according To the ideas
OF propriety. in those days.
The two Bentons went to Jackson's
hotel, i'm Nashville. to demand satisfac-
tion. A negro man went along, carry
ing a pair of saddlebags. filed with
dueling pistols. Jackson and his friends
appeared on the hotel porch, armed for
battle. The duel began without much
formality. The Bentons fired their pis-
tolls each a single barrel weapon. ac-
cording To the fashion OF such shooting
irons at the time, and the negro man
handed out another pair. Jackson and
his friend returned the fire. and the
fight went on for some time. Gen.
Jackson was shot in the arm. IL was a
tradition i'm the Benton family that the
negro man fired a shot or two. and a
suspicion existed that he inflicted the
wound that in after years gave the
great warrior SO much pain.
This relative of Thomas Fl. Benton
says there was no sword-cane used i'm
the Nashville duel.-St. Louis Globe
Democrat.