Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-07-16
SOAKED WITH BLOOD.
a FAMOUS oUELlNo GROUND NEAR.
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.

: i ii -
a FAMOUS DUELlNo GROUND NEAR
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL
The Historic Field where Brave ne
catur was lxillsA ~ Barrsn-The
lIason-alcCartyl ana Cilley-Graves
!, Aaairs of Honor.
The little village OF Bladensburg, about
i've miles from Washington, once the
home OF the flower Of Maryland's aris-
tocracy, but now rambling collection Of
decaying houses, is rich in historical as
ISOLATION, but 1t has attained more prom
inence for it's famous duelipg ground
than for any Of it's other features. A
short distance outside the town little
ravine leads down from the road and
opens into sort OF miniature amphi-
stheater, admirably suited to the purpose
which for many years it served. A slen-
der stream wanders the length Of its
level, grass covered bottom, while hills
rise protectingly on either side, and two
great trees. about 80 yards apart, mark
the ends OF the grounds. It is here so,
many affairs OF honor" most Of them
cruel and entirely unnecessary and all UNI
fortunate, have been settled.
The initiation OF the spot into its
grewsome usage occurred In the early
part OF the year 1914, when Edward
Hopkins. an ensign Of infantry. was shot
by an unknown antagonist. The next
duel followed soon after, when Randall,
naval cadet, settling dispute at eight
PAGES with pistols, killed Fox, a clerk in
the treasury department.
OF the many duels that have been
fought here none have been more typical
us examples Of what is known as "6re
eating" than that between General Ar
mistead I. Mason, United States senator
from Virginia, and John NJ. McCarty.
During political debate insults were
freely exchanged between the two, apd
Mason challenged McCarty, who was his
cousin. The challenged party proposed
that they jump from the dome Of the cap
itol, then that they fight with pistols over
n barrel Of powder. and, finally, that
they struggle to the death with dirks,
| AL these interesting suggestions were OBJ
jected to by the seconds, who gravely5
lstigmatized them as Unusual, extraordt
nary and opposed to the code OF HONOR
but the matter was settled with muskets
loaded with ball at ten feet. 1t is need.
less to state that the result was most
sanguinary, for Mason was killed out
right and McCarty recovered only after
4 long illness.
These and other duels had given the
4 place an i'll name and an evil reputation,
when the country was electrified by the
startling news Of that deplorable affair
4 in which the gallant Decatur lost his life.
4 The quarrel had arisen between the two
/ post captains, Barron and Decatur, over
the incident of the search OF the Ill omen
ed Chesapeake by the British prior to the
war of 1912 and the subsequent court
martial Of Barron. who Mt that time was
in command OF the frigate. Decatur was
a member Of the board OF judges which
SO severely punished the delinquent and
had nftcrwnrd, with a hostility that now
seems somewhat uncharitable. opposed
4 all the efforts Of his disgruced brother Of
fcer toward reinstatement in the navy,
A long md rnncorous correspondence en-.
sued. Urged on by interested mischief
makers, the dispute was carried past the
hope Of friendly adjustment. All the
preliminaries having been arranged, q
duel was decided upon for March %
1920.
The men met on the field, and short
4 conversation occurred between them
which was evidently in conciliatory
tone, ms Barron was overheard to reply
4 to a remark of his opponent, Would tc
4 God you had said as much yesterday
Nevertheless thcttwo officers squared off
faced each other at eight PAGES. raised
4 their pistols and at the first utterance OF
~, AZ, a
4 two, three. four; Stop fred almost 81
I, simultaneously. Both fell, and Decatur's
second, Lieutenant Bninbridge, rushing
forward. found him to NIL appearance.
dead In few moments, however, he
recovered consciousness and asked to bt
A moved to the side of his antagonist, wht
j wns seriously and at the time believed Il
A be mortally wounded. A few almost in
4 audible remarks passed between them, o.
which enough were heard to assure tn.
. listeners that reconciliation had take1
4 place. Barron murmured something II
better friends in the life to come thar
, responded, Il have never been your enc
my, sir" They were removed in CIR
riages to Washington. Decatur to hi
A4dAsACu III A|ulAy SltS SQudle, NnclSs ~
died early the next morning. and Barrol
a to the hospital. where. after man.
months of pain. he recovered. 1t is /,
7 curious fact that both were absolutel.
opposed to ducling on principle. but wer
constrained, the one to prefer and tn
! other to accept the challenge. becaus
they believed their profession Of arm
!. forbade them to do anything else.
One morning in the summer OF 1886, il
n cornfeld near the town. two youn
midshipmcn came to settle their disput
y by an appeal to arms. The FIRST. name
{ Shcrbourne, was exceedingly reluctan
: to engage and said to the other. a so
J, OF the composer Of The Star SpanEle
i Banner
mir. Key. have no desire to kill you.
III His antagonist returned: No matter
/ came to kill you.''
This was not encouraging and Shel
j bourne answered.:
) very well; then will kill you" whic
he promptly proceeded to do, as Key fe
!, dead at the FIRST FIRE.
5 A duel which was really more case Q
!, murder than an affair OF honor was tough
!. in 1888 near Bladensburg and, more tina
any other single instance. served to d.
! velop the rapidly growing sentimen
against the foolish practice. The age
y = ..