The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-05-06
oLD-TIME NAVAL FEUD.
Conflict of Officers Which Led to the Death of Commodore Decatur.

DCatA VA ~S>-~~~-~~-
 Everywhere.
 In 1897. a certain commodore. in com mand of United States frigate. rsI' Norfolk with insufficient means or os- fence! and was met by an English Vessei which subjected him to the injury anu Humiliation of having his ship searched: and several men taken from t-claimeu as British deserters. ,
 After the war was over this man, Com modore Barron. who had. in his time, peeh an efficient officer, asked for restora- lion to rank Commodore Decatur. who had been a member of the coirtmartiaI that passed upon his case, opposed this strenuously. and the matter might nave rested here had not some meadnng Irienus nus carried to Barron the words which the officer had used with some more grlevous words. which he had mot. Barron, wno then lived at Hampton, Va, wrote De. catur. asking if he had really said that he (Decatur) could insult nm 'barioip with impunity."
 The other wrote back. denying that he had said this, but putting in their place some words. almost as bad < One word brought on another ana friends of both parties were not lack ing to add to the grievous words written those that they had heard spoken. By June. 1879. rile feud had progressed so far that Commodore Barron wrote Com modors Decatur: "l am also miorneu that you have tauntingly and boastingiy observed that you would cheerfully meet me in the field. and hoped I would yet act like man."
 Decatur, who could write a peculiarly trenchant and gtinging letter, answered this communication from Barron, tartly reviewing the case. taunted the other with being largely the cause of the war of 1872. and then remaining in Europe instead of taking part in the conflict. and then added that he had never said any thing about their meeting in tzae field, ex- cept that if oh lllenged, he would accept. He stated that he disapproved duelling, and took pains to say the sungraclous words: 'I should be mueh better pleased to have nothing to do with you. From your manner of proceeding, 1t ap- hears to me that you have come to the determination to fight some one, and that you have selected me for that purpose; and | must take leave to observe that vour object could have been better at- tained had you m 1de this. decision during the late war. when your lighting might have benefited your country as well as yourself ,
 ,nt4 on January n, -S20. Barron chal- tengcd Decatur and on the 2ith he ac- cepted. ,,-,- AL. tiny but momentous battle was tought on the historic old iuelling ground of Rladensbulg, on the old stage road De- tween Washington and Baltimore. The weapons used were pistols and the dist ance was the murderous one or elsht fac, that Barron was nearsighted.
 Nothing can induce me to take the life of Barron" Decatur had said. when he received the challenge. And Barron al- rewards made remarks which showed that he also entered the duel with great est reluctance. Before the firing Barron said to Decatur Sir. l hope. on meet ing in another world. we shall be better friends than in 'nis." Decatur answered T have never been your enemy, sir. These words. while they showed that neither was implacably angry, were nc doubt spoken with metallic politeness and made no headway toward settlement oi the difficulty. Both fired at the sams second and fell Lying upon the ground, their, heads mol llmore than ten feet apart. with their ONT blood staining the earth around them theS became roconeiled.
 Let us make friends while VIC are vel on earth! said Barrons for no doue