The National tribune., 1902-11-27
COMMODORE STOCKTON.
How He Challenged q Regiment Of Brit.
ish Soldiers His Running Fight Down
the Rock Of Gibraltar.

TUG NUN VI ulUt oatols
An old sailors log, brought to light by
the Princeton Alumni Weekly, records
some startling adventures of Capt. Stock
ton, afterward the famous. Commodore
Stockton, of the United States Navy. The
courage and reckless daring of this men,
Der of the historic New Jersey family are
well remembered at Princeton, yet the
events set forth in the log eclipse any
thing that has ever before been generally
known of his doings.
The log was kept By an officer named
Squibb on board the United States store
ship Erie, off Gibraltar, in 1S49. The
this occasion has been told in his family,
and the version of it in Squibb's diary cor
responds infinitely with theirs. Charles s.
SQuibb, of Brooklyn, son Of the author
of the log, has sent the excerpt to the
Stockton family. He says that he is sure
it is authentic, because his father was
very careful in such matters. Here is the
story as told by the elder Squibb's log:
''This Gibraltar is the place where the
English officers were taught to be more
civil and more sparing in their use of
opprobrious epithets toward our officers
and countrymen after the last war. This
lesson they learned. too, upon their own
impregnable ground.
"Our Mediterranean ships at that time
frequently came in here to buy supplies,
and as the officers were commonly insulted
in the streets duels were by no means I'M
common and generally terminated in favor
of our side. To such an extent was this
carried that the Governor first prohibited
his officers from going outside, and next
prohibited American officers from coming
ashore, except under peculiar circum-
stances.
about this time an English officer
grossly insulted the Consul, who was
peaceable man of family and did not re-
sent the affront This very ship Erie
came in soon after, under the command of
the fire-eating Stockton, of Princeton. He,
hearing of the insult to an old Consul,
sought out this officer and grossly insulted
him in return, with view to elicItlng
challenge. Finding his efforts unavaiIing
he challenged the officer, who promised to
make arrangements for the duel, notwith-
standing the prohibition.
"a few days after Stockton received a
note telling him that if he would land
at the Ragged Staff Stairs and take GER
tain roads up the mountain to Ger.
tain PERCEPTIONS ledge at an appointed
| time, he would find his adversary ready.
The latter pledged his honor that Stock
ton would be allowed to return to his ship
unmolested, if he escaped being shot.
Stockton went, of course, and on reach
! ing the spot found his adversary ready.
But just as they were about to take their
places a guard was seen coming mp by the
| way Stockton had taken. He. however,
come for that purpose, before the guard
arrived. They took their places and fired,
the Englishman falling, not killed, but
| manned for life. Stockton started then IN
the direction opposite to that by which the
guard was coming, but soon found himself
opposed by another guard in front. He
| therefore returned to the ledge of rock and
met the officer of the first guard just as
he was mounting upon his ledge. He asked
to be allowed to pass, but was told that
he was a prisoner. He then stated that
the honor of the regiment was pledged fol-
his return to his boat, and was insolently
told that there was no dependence to be
placed upon his word. Stockton imme-
diately clinched with the officer and sprang
with him over the precipice, falling dis,
lance of 30 or 40 feet. When he regained
his senses he found the Englishman dead
in his arms. He made the best OF his
way bleeding and bruised toward his boat
| when he had come into the public
road again he saw an officer on horse.
back and begged him, If he had any pity
or honor, to lend him his horse. The Off
Ger replied that he would see all the
Yankees in creation hanged first. He
seized him by the leg, capsized him off his
horse, got into the saddle himself and rode
to the Ragged Staff Stairs. Here he
found himself impeded by two soldiers
with fixed bayonets, with orders to ares
every one who attempted to pass. While
talking and explaining to them he go'
close upon them and pushed their bayonets
aside and sprang over the parapet. Here
again he lost sensibility and was only
aroused by the victorious cheering OF his
boats crew as they rOwed into the bay
and stopped to cheer.
| "The result of this expedition was that
Stockton Immediately challenged the whole
regiment for their dishonor and bad faith
| to him. Some time after that he received
notice that if he would come upon neutral
| ground Just before sunset on a particular
day he might get his satisfaction. Now
both the English and Spanish guards had
| orders to arrest any officers seen together
upon the plain. Stockton. knowing this
picked out boats crew of his best men
armed them with pistols and cutlasses and
started for the rendezvous. Leaving the
crew at the boat, he crept on his hands
| and knees until he came within sight OF
the meeting place.
"There he saw the English officers dis
armed and in charge of guard of seven
or eight Spanish soldiers, all sitting down
with their arms stacked close by, evident
ly waiting for the result of some message
which they had sent to the Rock. Stock
ton returned to the crew, explained what
he was going to do, and told them to de.
sist as long as possible from the use OF
| their arms, particularly pistols. They al
erept softly up, took the guard by sur
prise, and, before they could use theiI
arms effectually, had them all tied upon
the ground. Now says Stockton to the
officers, we can have our fight undis
| turbed.'"
Squibb's diary then tells how several oil
the English officers went aside to deter
mine by lot which of them should meet the
| Captain, while Stockton, seated on a rock,
cOnversed with ole of their number, how
the lot fell to the man to whom he was
| talking, and how Stockton, said: 81 don't
want to fight this man; he is the only one
among you know, and although have
only known him for 20 minutes, yet be-
lieve him to be gentleman. I would
rather fight any two or three of the rest
of you than this one man." The English
men, amazed at the unfiinching nerve of
the Yankee, consulted together again, and
then requested that the affair be called off,
-, Lovely