Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-11-15
sTOCKTON's GREAT COURAGE.

STOCKTON's GREAT COURAGE.
Duels of the Famous Ofcer Describ-
ed In a Log Book.
An old sailors log, brought to light
by the Princeton Alumni Weekly, re-
cords some startling adventures Of
Captain Stockton, afterwards the ia
nous Commodore Stockton, Of the
United States navy. The courage end
reckless daring of this member 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 gener-
ally known Of his doings.
The log was kept by an officer named
Squibb, on board the United States
storeship Erie, off Gibraltar, in 1S49.
The story Of the commodore's adven-
lures on this occasion has been told in
his family and the version of 1t in
Squibb's diary corresponds minutely
with theirs. Charles S. Squibb, Of
Brooklyn, son Of the author of the
log, has sent the excerpt to the Stock
ton 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 COM
monty insulted in the streets, duels
were by no means uncommon and gen.
orally terminated in favor Of our side.
To such an extent was this carried that
the governor first prohibited fighting
within the garrison and prohibited his
officers from going outside, and next
prohibited American officers from COM
ing ashore, except under peculiar cir
cumstances.
| "About this time an English officer
grossly insulted the consul, who was
peaceable old man Of family, and did
not resent the affront. This very ship
Erie came in soon after, under the
command Of the flre-eatlng Stockton,
of Princeton. He, hearing of this in
| kn ~ oh thfd
officer and grossly insulted him in re-
turn, with a view to eliciting a chal-
lenge. Finding his efforts unavailing,
he challenged the officer, who promised
to make arrangements for the duel,
notwithstanding the prohibition.
"a few days after Stockton received
note telling him that If he would
land at the Ragged Staff Stairs and
take certain roads up the mountain to
certain precipitous ledge, at an ap-
pointed time, he would find his adver-
sary ready. The latter pledged his
honor that Stockton would be allowed
to return to his ship unmolested If he
escaped being shot.
stockton went, Of course, and on
reaching the spot found his adversary
ready. But just as they were about
to take their places a guard was seen
coming up by the way Stockton had
taken. He, however, insisted on having
a fight, since they had 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
to go down the hill in direction op-
posite to that by which the guard was
coming, but soon found himself opposed
by another guard in front. He there
fore returned to the ledge in front and
met the officer Of the first guard just
as he was mounting upon the ledge.
He asked to be allowed to pass, but
was told that he was a prisoner. He
then stated that the honor of the regi-
ment was pledged for his return to his
boat, and was insolently told that there
was no dependence to be placed on his
word. Stockton Immediately clinched
with the officer and sprang with him
over the precipice, falling a distance of
80 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 officer replied that he would see
all the Yankees in creation hanged
first. This was enough for Stockton.
He seized him by the leg, capsized
him off his horse, got into the saddle
and rode to the Ragged Staff Stairs.
Here he found himself impeded by two
soldiers with fixed bayonets, with or
ders to arrest every one who attempted
| to pass. While talking and explain
ing to them he got close upon them
and pushed their bayonets aside and
sprang over the parapet. Here again
he lost sensibility and was only arous-
ed by the victorious cheering of his
boats crew, who had picked him up,
pulled into the bay and stopped to
cheer.
1.-The result of this expedition was
that Stockton Immediately challenged
the whole regiment for their dishonor
and bad faith to him. Some time af-
ter that he received notice that If he
would come upon neutral ground just
before sunset on q particular day he
might get his satisfaction. Now, both
the English and Spanish guards had
orders to arrest any officer seen to-