Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-05-26
DEATH OF PAGE MCCARTHY.


Thirty years ago or more Page No
Carty, then a young man who had
commanded an artillery company 10
the Confederate army, went to the Uni
versity Of Virginia to study law. His
fast friend and desk mate was john
Mordecai. Each came OF family
prominent in Virginia's social and bus-
mess world, and each, by reason OF
many talents, played leading part
wherever he was placed. The two
completed the law course at the uni
versity, Mordecsi graduating with die
inction, McCarty, whose bent was to-
wards journalism, taking course 10
accordance with his predictions.
The friends returned to Richmond to
begin their life work, and Mordecal
fIrmed a partnership with Col. John
B. Young, the celebr 4ted criminal law
yer of that day. McCsrty turned his
attention to newspaper and magazine
work.
The reigning beauty of the day in
Richmond was Mary Triplett, one of
the most charming and queenly OF Vir-
einia's daughters. Hundreds worship
ped at her shrine, and she was known
as the "Belle OF the South" Mingling
in the best of society, Mordecai and
McCarty constaDtly met Miss Triplett,
and soon were rivals for her favor, out
stripping, it is said, all the rest. The
two. once such fast friends. became
estraDged, although not exactly hostile
to each other.
Matters went on until great ball
was given, at which the exclusive por.
ton of Richmond's social world wae
present. Miss Triplett was, as always,
the centre of attraction, and among
her devoted cavaliers were Mordecsl
and McCarty. The former was the
favored suitor that night, and the pa
tience Of the high-spirited McCarty was
severely tried. Finally Miss Triplet'
slighted him in such marked manner
that he left the ball thoroughly enraged.
A few days later q local paper pub
lished an anonymous verse OF poetry,
which read
When Mary's form divine press
In Strsuss's sweetest waltz.
Those lips i, too, would fain cares,
Although tnOse lips Do ihioo'
The piece met the eye of Mordecai.
The event at the ball flashed through
mis- mipd and in fury he swore that
the author, whom he believed to be
McCnty, should answer to him for the
Insult to Miss Triplett. The advice oil
friends. however, dissuaded him from
his purpose, and it was arranged by the
friends OF both that in order to avert a
duel that McCarty and Mordecai we're
10 he strangers to each other ever after.
The meltsr, however, weighed upon
the minds of both, and when some time
later Mordecai met McCarty in the
| csfe of the Richmond Club he was In a
mood for a quarrel. The men had been
drinking and soon a dispute arose.
| Mordecai struck McCsrty in the face,
knocking him down.
The blow was not returned. for when
McCarty, calm and cool, declared tba
blood only could avenge the insult, all
nresent understood what must follow.
A challenge was sent by McCarty and
promptly accepted. 1t was to be duel
TO the death. The spot selected wss
Gear Oak wood Cemetery, where sleep
the ,emaius of twenty thousand Conted-
crate soldiers.
| On a beautiful afternoon in May
1873, two carriages left the city by dii'
ferent routes, bound for the place chos'
en-. Mordecai was accompanied BY
William Tsbb and John 8. Meredith as
seconds. while the surgeon was Dr
Hnnter Mcclure, famous as the physt
clan who attended Stonewsll Jackson
| In his diving hours. McCarty's seconds
were VIM. r. Tr gg,n " head OF the w
R. Trigg shiphuildlng Company, o.
Richmond, and William L Royal, no"
leading lawyer there. The men were
placed in position, both cool and CAIN
AZ the word both fired, and when thu
smoke lifted, each lay on the ground
apparently l;feless.
A hurried examination by the sur
eeon revealed wounds OF terrible ma
4, fure. McCarty's right thigh had been
shattered, while the bullet from bis pis
tol had pierced Mordecai's abdomen.
The duel took place on "Wednesday
and on Friday Mordecai died ,peritoniti
having set in, while McCsrty was Coo
fined to his bed desperately III. In
seconds were arrested and lodged II
isil where they remained for six weeks
AT the end of that time MtCarty, hav
ing pal tally recovered, was placed o.
trial. All concerned declined to testii.
axcept DIR. Mcclure. McCarty wss con
victed and sentenced to pay fine, o
1900 as we'll as serve sentence OF si'
months in jsil. He paid the tine, ou
was hardened few days later by GOV
srnor Kemper, on the statement I,
nhy ysicians tha. he would die II connne
Slpos that day to the time OF bis dea.
!. McCarty was q miserable man. II
avoided women, and was inclined :
r sbnn all mankind. He re-enterea tn
nawsnaper field, doing work on Wasf
;ngton. Richmond, New York, and Aiez
= IN an Aria papers. He lived In this Gu.
from 1892 to 1897, when he remoVeu
Norfolk. s aa;t,
ths "Campaign," published durin
the ''resdjuster days" OF vNsls1,n Nv, VT
mis- uttersnces were 80 violep. .nn, ,
seemed that he would be cnsiiepgeu
another duel. Oflate McCarty nad uol
d no regular work. O. phil;
Miss TripIe,t married Cap. faiIll Ill
Haxall short time after the uuei' =" 81
N died suddenly of hesrt desease 40
wears ago. To the last she was ieau
OF society.