The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-09-30

as Jackson had believed it would. The
force of the blow broke two of Jackson's
| ribs.
I'm later years during the Florida war;
General Jackson challenged General
Scott but Scott refused to fight duel.
| He said no duel was necessary to prove
| the courage of either General Jackson or
| himself, and that his conscience would
not permit him to engage in any such af-
| fair.
cit comes with a shock when one first
hears that the kindly, patient, joke-lov-
ing Lincoln went out. once upon time,
to fight duel. And it is all the more
remarkable That he should have done so
when it is remembered that he was citi-
zen of Illinois ct the time. For Illinois
people had never thought well OF such
doings. In fact, they had not fought
duel since 1920. when a man named Ben
nett was hanged for killing another nam
ed Stewart in duel.
One James Shields. a man of inordi-
nate vanity" and with an extremely
sensitive nature" as well. was elected
Auditor of the State on the Democratic
ticket. The turkey-cock ways of the lit
tie man made him the subject of endless
ridicule on the part of the Wings. Lin
coin published a letter that was ostensi-
bly, written from Lost Townships"-a
letter that rolled Shields exceedingly, al
though it was manifestly written for polit-
ical effect. 1t was followed by another,
in much the same vein. written by Mary
Todd, Lincoln's sweetheart. Then Shields
called in a friend to hunt out Lincoln
and demand an explanation and retrac-
ton.
1.-THE correspondence and detailed &C.
counts written by the participants show
that Shields second was intent on scar
ring Lincoln into an abiect apology, but
he found hat he was swapping at the heels
of the wrong mastiff.
at rs plain that Lincoln did not approve
of such duel. but under the circum
stances he was lot going to be bullied by
an opponent like Shields. Very likely,
the fact that Mary Todd was. in way,
involved in the controversy made him
feel Obliged to fight, if fight was de-
manded Accordingly, as Mr.. Shields did
insist, Lincoln accepted the challenge, and
here are the terms as he wrote them:
First, Weapons-Cavalry broadswords
of the largest size, precisely equal in all
respects, and such as are now used BIZ
the cavalry company at Jacksonville.
Second, Position-A plank 10 feet long
and from 9 to II inches broad. to lie
firmly on edge on the ground as the line
between us which neither is to pass his
foot over upon forfeit of his life. Next, 4
line drawn on the ground on either side
said plank and parallel with it. each at
the distance of the whole length of the
sword and three feet additional from the
plank: and the passing of his own such
line by either party during the fight
shall be deemed surrender of the con-
test
THE meeting place was within three
miles of Alton, on the opposite side of the
river and the time o'clock in the after
noon of Thursday, September %, 1912
The two parties went to the appointed
place, which Mr.. Lincoln said had been
most appropriately selected" being with
in sight of the penitentiary, whereat there
was a laugh in spite of the seeming grav-
ity of the occasion. When Shields saw
the amused unconcern of the gaunt Lin
coin, and then "hefted" one of the broad
swords, he turned listening ear to the
common friends who arrived just then
to propose an amicable adjustment
Il did not intend to hurt Shields unless
l did so clearly in self-defense,' said Lin
coin afterward. IF ii had been necessary,
of his head to the end of his backbone"