The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1900-06-14
:sBGerH PIERClGD BY BULLETS.
a Virginia Editor and a Prominent
Lawyer Met on the Field OF Honor


The Event Was Tragic hnd Sen:
sati0nai. =
The recent death OF Capt. Page Nc
Carty, the celebrated editor amt duel
list, has recalled the tragic affair in
which he was one Of the principals,
and correspondent tells the story as
follows
Captain Page McCarty was the last
OF the famous Southern duelists. He
was in May, 1873 one Of the principals
in an affair that was romantic as well
Us fatal. He killed John Morurcai, u
prominent lawyer, and was himself
terribly wounded. Tne lady who was
at that time the belle Of the South was
the innocent cause OF this duel.
McCarty came OF the bcs. stock. One
of his ancestors WAS speaker OF the old
= House Of Bnrgesses, away back ip l7l1.
lie and Mordecai we're aDOu, the same
nge. They were deskmatcs at the Uni
versity Of Virginia when law students
there just before the war. McCArty, rs
=. II volunteer, was present at the time OF
the time Of the capture OF Harper's
Ferry. He was then q b. ardless youth,
but it was not long before he WAS rap.
idly promoted from private and became
8 captain OF artillery: ~. ..
Alter the war Captain McCarty turn
ed his attention to newspaper and
his old friend, Mordccai, were both
desperately IN love with Miss Mary
Triplett, who was at that time the most
celebrated beauty in Virginia, # not in
the whole South. A grand ball was
given in April Of the year mentioned,
and all the fashionable people Of Rich
mond we're there. On this occasion
Nj ss Triplett wounded the feelings OF
Captain McCarty by showing decided
In
else. Shortly after the ball tho fol-
. lowing verse was printed in q local
newspaper, but no name was signed
to It:
"When Mary's form divine press,
In Strauss sweetest waltz,
Those lips |, too, would fain carcss,
Altho' those lips be false"
. John Mordecai was sitting at res
taurant on Main street waiting for his
order for breakfast to be filed when
he read these lines. His friend, Viii.
liam Royall one OF the leading lawyers
in Richmond. was with h m. MOraecai
said it WAS evident that McCarty had
written the verse and that the MARY"
referred to was Miss Triplett He an
nounced his purpose to hold McCarty
personally responsible. Mr.. Royal in
sisted that If the author OF the publica-
w
reason why Mordecai should undertake
to do it, as the lady had q grown broth
or and other male relatives. But the
young lawyer was terribly angry and
he would not listen to the advice OF his
friends. lie sought the counsel of Will
liam II. Trigg, the present head Of the
w. H. Trigg ship building company.
Mr. Trigg took the same view of the
matter as did Mr.. lS0yall and Mordecai
was finally :convinced that it would
bo a mistake for him. TO challenge Nc
Carly. :. I i +
The old Richmond Club was then the
place where the fashionable gen
.tlemen OF Richmond spent their even
ines. McCafty and Mordecai were
'members. One evening McCarty's ne
e. phew heard Mordecnir0undiy abusing
his uncle: and reDorteq the matter to
the captain. There was some CORES
pohdenGe passed. add it is said MeCarty
denied the authorship OF thG lines
Everybqdy, believed that trouble would
be:ayertea after ,,this. "A fow weeks
later McCarty and Mordecaf met in the
cafe OF the'club and some angry words
were passed. This dispute resulted in
Mordecai knocking McCarty down
The latter at once sent u challenge tu
duel and 1T was promptly accepted
The meeting place Wnss just outside o
O&kWo0d cemetery winch Is In the
~ Suburbs Of Richmond. 1T was an idea
May morning., William'L: Royal and
William II Trigg acted as seconds fol
Mordecai and Colonel William. B. Tabt
and John S. Meredith were there
as friends OF McCarty. Dr.. Huntt
d Mcclure, who had been StopeWa
Jackson's chief medical director anc
who attended that great soldier after
he received his: fatal wound at Chan
cellorsvflle, was present as surgeon toI
Mordecai: Tho late DR.. .J.<S. Dorsey
:. Cullen. who was surgeon on Genera
James Longstreets staIf,' went "alonl
: TO attend McCarty in case he receive,
"a wound.
Both mon faced each other with tn,
: courage and c0olness evoh POSSESSED
At the first fire the bali from Nor
decai's pistol. struck. McCnrty in hi
right thigh. Mordecai was shOtin hi
abdomen. Both mon had to be carrie