The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1902-11-18
uhe Atrald aud @ell's
STOCKTON'S GREAT COURAGE
DUNLs OF TAE EkMOUs OEFlCER
ONsCRlRND IN A l.0a R0Ok,
startling Adventures OF TORs Nf the
Moat CSlNbraled ERhteSs In the
Old American Navy,

An old sailors log, brought to light
by the Princeton Alumni Weekly,
recorAs some startling adventures Of
Capt Stockton, afterwards the fam
ons Commotore Stockton, Of the Uni
ted States navy, The courage and
reckless daring Of this member Of
the historic New Jersey family are
remembered at Princeton, yet the
events set forth in the log eclipse any,
thing that has ever before been gem
orally known Of his doings.
The log was kept BY All officer
named Squihh, on board the United
States storeship Erie off Gibraltar,
in lS+a, The story of the Ccmmo.
dors's adventures on this occasion
has been told in his family and the
version Of it in Squihh's diary corre.
spends infinitely with theirs Charles
s. Squihh, Of Brooklyn, son OF the
author Of the log, has sent the e4-
cerpt to the Stockton family, He says
that he ia sure it is authentic, he.
osnse his father was very careful in
such matters Here is the story ~
told hy the elder Sqnihh'S log;
"rhis Gibraltar in the place where
the English officers were taught to
he more civil and moro spsrins in
their n"e Of opprohrious epithets to.
ward our officers and countrymen
sitter the las, war. This leSSrN they
lesrnea, too, upon their own i'm
pregnshle ground
Oar Mei.,errsnesu ships $, that
time frt'4uently csme in here 10 buy
supplies sni, ss the officers were
commonly insultei in the streets,
duels were hy no mesuS uncommon
snd generally terminstei in favor Of
onr side To such Nh extent WAS
this carried thst the governor first
prohibited fighting within the garri-
son snd prohibited his officers from
going outside, and mex, prohibited
American officers from coming
ashore, excep. under peculiar cirrum
stances
about this time al English oth
Ger grossly insulte>l the consul. who
WAS 8 pescesble old msn Of fsmilv
and did not resent the stfront. This
very ship Erie csme in soon sitter,
under the command ot the fire eSting
Stockton, Of Princeton. He, hearing
Of this insult to su cid consul, sou hit
out this officer snd grossly insultea
him in return. with view 10 elicit
ing challenge Finding his efforts
unsvsihng, he challenged the officer.
who promised to make arrangements
for the duel, Notwithstanding the
prohibition.
A few days after Stockton re
ceived note telling bin ,hst it he
wonld lsnd at the Ragged Staff
Slsi s, snd take certain rosds up the
mountain to & certain PERCEPTIONS
ledge a. al sppoin,ed time, he
would find his adversary ready. The
latter pledged his honor tha, Stock
ton would be allowed to return 10
his ship unmolested If he escaped
being shot.
"Stockton went, of course. and ou
reaching the spot found his siver
sHry ready. But just as they were
ahont 10 take their plsces gusr6
WAS seen coming up by the wsy
Stockton had taken He, however,
'nsisted on having fight, since they
had come for that purpose, before
the guard arrived. They took their
places ana hrea, the Eug!ishmsn
falling, no, killad, hut msined for
life Storkton started then 10 90
acwn the hill il direction opposite
to ths, by winch the guard was com.
ing, but sooa touud himself opposed
by another guard in front. He there
fore returned to the ledge ia front
and met the officer of the first guard
just as he was mounting upon tho
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
for his return to his boat, ard was
insolently told that there was no dc.
pendence to be placed on his word.