The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-02-09
fsnee,sl pisoatch to The Tines


IEESBURG, VA, Feb. S.-With the an
nounce,nent that Selma mansion Is to be
rebuilt very shortly by Mr.. E., 3. White.
the owner OF the magnificent estate Oh
that name, there is revived story. wilich
In the grim tragedy of relentless. pursu-
ing fate, rivals those of the Middle Ages.
Few men now living can recall the TWO
young dnsmen. Armistead Mason ano
John Mccarthy, both starting OUT IN me-
now over century ago. with every prom
ise of success and every advantage ttiat
wealth. position and brilliant intellects
could give Fewer still are those VINO
can now relate the circumstances Oh thar
famous duel, the second to be fouSht
on the bloody field of Bladensourg, whlch
buried one young man in an unumeiy
grave, and scarce SO kind TO the other,
left him 10 witness the direful coiise-
ouences of the vengeful deed, and to drag
through LONG weary years the prey OF
remorse.
Thursday, February 9Th, of the past
week commentaries the eighty-third an
niyersary of that unfortunate and deadly
combat, which marked the beginning OF
the end OF two Of Loudoun's most
,rominent and influential families. View
ed in the light of subsequent events, IL
eecms that aveng1ng justice was not 10
be appeased until the blood there shed
had been atoned for even to the last
drop.
A POLITICAL QUARREL.
Arnistead Mason and John Mccarthy
ware both natives OF Loudoln county,
Young, handsome, gifted, wealthy. with
all the prestige of family about them.
Closely allied by marriage. they were
widely separated by political differences,
from which sprang succession OF bitter
c.uarrels In 1915, following the example
of his father and of his illustrious unclc
George Mason. Armistead Mason entered
the Senate of the United States-tht
youngest member of that august body
He had served in that body for four years
when there arose between him and JONI
Mccarthy, some difficulty of pollhca
nature, which became more and more
otter through the influence of injudiciou.
friends, foremost Of whom Is SAID 10 D.
no less a. parsonage that Andrew Jack
son.
At length the bitter hatred resulted a:
such matters were very apt TO IN lhos
DAYS. John Mccarthy, then serving
the Virginia Legislature. resigned to NEE
his opponent ION the field Of honor
The old Mason estate in Loudoun coun
TX was Raspberry Plain, now owned D,
Mrs. George Hoffman of LeesburS. opol
his marriage a few years previous to TN
residence at Selma, the beautiful planta-
ton adjoining that of his mother at Rasp-
berry Plain. Here with young aIo ue-
voted wife and a bright baby boy a lew
months old, the "Chief of Selma, H'eo
in a. world OF happiness and beauty.
John Mccarthy though several years
his Junior, was already rising Sou'is
lawyer in Loudoun and member Oh h's
states Legislature. He. too. mad iouho
, woman known for her loneliness OF per-
son and character, and their weoolhs,
day was fast approaching, when the iatai
tragedy doomed big on the horizon
DUEL IN A SNOW-STOF,M
All unexpected. the two comba Its,l1.s
made their preparations in silence "heIi
about to start for the field OF honor'
Young. Mason persuaded his wife TO 60 on
visit to his mother at Raspberry Plam:
directing letter to the latter IN case OF
his death, to go to his young VIE ana
comfort her. The fatal day was IN Keep
ing with the fatal deed. February g. 1878;
dawned gray and lowering. The tnai