The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-02-10

ed to the most noted ~pCrSOnageS in MS
tory, still he has never been, in n
public act Of his life, elevated above
the understandings and affections of
the masses Of the people. Kind-hearted
and overlooking with sympathy by ma
ture, yet he was controlled by an hon
esty Of purpose hat kept him unyield-
Ing where principle was concerned,
making him s%elf-poised amid opposi-
ton, and perfectly self-reliant when
the hour Of action arrived, yet in small
as well as in great matters the inher-
ent humor Of his mental composition
prevailed. 1t is easy, therefore, to
imagine, that if Mr.. Lincoln deemed it
necessary to appear as principal in a
duel, he would naturally attract to
himself such surroundings as might
turn all the intentions of a tragedy in
to the realities of a farce. The year
1912 was one Of great political excite
ment in tho state Of Illinois, and con-
sp1cuous among the master spirits
We're Mr.. Lincoln and Gen. Shields.
Both at the time were practicing law
yers at the Springfield bar, Doth held
prominent official positions, and both
were accepted leaders in their respec-
tive parties. These gentlemen were
warm personal friends, though opposed
In politics, and differing as much in
their mental qualities as they did in
their personal appearance,G Gen. Shields
being of medium height, Mr.. Lincoln
of unusual altitude.
What eventually brought about a
disagreement between these gentle
men, that made Gen. Shields feel il
necessary to send a challenge to Mr..
Lincoln, was never certainly known.
When it is recollected, however, that
these gentlemen, as party leaders fire.
quently came together on 1.-The stump"
it is not difficult to imagine that Mr..
Lincoln may have got off one of his
telling stories at the expense of his
friend that might have been at the
moment construed into a personal af-
front. Whatever was the cause, it is
certain that the cartel was seriously
written and solemnly borne to Mr.,
Lincoln by Gen. Whitesides, a gentle
man then holding a prominent place at
the bar and an important command in
the Illinois militia.
Up to the time Of which we write
there had been but one duel fought
within the limits of Illinois, and that
occurred in her territorial condition.
One of the combatants vas shot dead
on the Held. and the survivor was in
stantly hanged to the limb Of a neigh
boring tree by the friends of the slain.
such summary punishment made the
o Of onor" unpopular, and a pro-
vision was consequently engrafted up
on the state constitution rendering
principals and seconds engaged in a
duel ineligible for any political office.
This made affairs of honor impolitic
questionable, and all personal
~dif1culties were deemed honorably set
tied by a rough and tumble fight, or
by an appeal for justice to the good
sense Of the community.
In society, therefore, where dueling
had been for years morally and legally
offensive, it was not easy to find a
friend" possessed of the requisite
knowledge to conduct such a proven
bially delicate affair; in fact, at this
SAAS SASA was DuC Ouc pGlSOu III OE
about Springfield who was imposed to
have he required experience, and the
reputation was founded upon vague
tradition rather than from any abso-
Lutte knowledge. The gentleman al
luded to as this expert was DR.. Merry
man, a popular physician, distinguish
ed for his good nature, professional
skill and varied literary and scientific
attachments. In his youth he ran off
to sea. Trained in this rough school.
he naturally, in his maturer years. aft
er obtaining his diploma as rgeon
accepted a professional position on
board Of a South American privateer.
The doctor was fond Of a joke, and not
indisposed, while attending to his bust
ness calls, to tighten the gloom of the
sick by detailing to his patients
his terrible experiences on the Span
ish MAN," all Of which the honest Gin
1srd ~noonlen receiyed with DIV.