The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1902-10-22
MOTHER SAID CHALLENGE.
Some Facts About q Famous Virginia
Duel.

Perhaps few living men, in this
section at least, are SO thoroughly
conyersant with the now obsolete, but
once favorite, method Of settling the
differences Of gentlemen, the duel, in
all it's many nice points, especially as
it obtained before and after the Civil
War in the Old Dominion, as is ex-
Judge w. G. Riley, of Virginia. The
Judge has himself appeared on the
"feld of honor" on more than one oc-
casion, both as principal and second
for some friend, and he is therefore
authority in all matters pertaining to
the "duello" as medium for wiping
out an insult to ones personal honor.
''The death few years ago Of
Captain Page Mccarthy in Richmond, "
said he, "forcibly recalls to memory
the high standard of honor possessed
by the women Of the South, and the
eagcrncss with which they sought to
avengc personal insult. The Nc
Carthy Mordicai duel, in which the
latter was killed and the former
wounded on the field Of honor, is more
or less familiar to all Virginians. But
the part in the sad affair which was
played by the mother of young Nc
CSrthy has never been so generally
known to the public. The affair oc-
CURED over then celebrated Rich
mond beauty, Miss Triplett, leader
in the aristocrat circles Of Richmond i,
ct White Sulphur Springs, and where
ever else the beauty and wealth Of
Virginia happened to assemble.
Nearly all the participants in the ae-
fair have now passed away. McCar-
thy was an exceedingly brilliant young
man Of literary attainments. Both
were lawyers, but Mccarthy never
practiced, preferring journalism to the
profession of law. Mordicai was a
highly talented, and moreover. an ex-
ceedingly handsome man.
Both moved in the highest socie-
ty, and were social leaders. It was
generally known by their friends that
young MCCARTHY and the beautiful
Miss Triplett were betrothed before
the advent of the handsome Hebrew.
AS soon, however, as Mordical appear
ed on the scene it was remarked that
the lady treated Mccarthy coolly, and
it was not long before it was whisper
ed about among their friends that the
engagement between Mccarthy and
the belle of Virginia's capital had
been broken off, and by the lady.
Mccarthy took it greatly to heart,
and before long there appeared in a
publication in Richmond q couplet in
which Miss Triplett was alluded to as
acoquette and Airt, though, of course,
not giving her name. Every one at
once knew who was meant, as we'll as
knew who the writer was. Mccarthy,
needless to say, was the author.
"Mordioai and Mccarthy meeting
soon after this event. the former rath-
er haughtily inquired Of his rival if he
was not the author Of the couplet in
question, and upon McCarthy's refus-
ing to answer, on the ground that
Mordioai had no authority to demand
an answer, the latter knocked McCar-
tiny down, but before any further
damages could be done, friends of
both parties interposed and restrained
the two men. MCCARTHY was physi-
cally his antagonists inferior, but was
full of grit. Both were in the full
vigor Of young manhood. Friends of
both men arranged that this matter
was to be settled by both parties not
again speaking to each other.
Needless to say that Mccarthy
chafed under the insult terribly, and
in short time such was the social os-
tracism visited upon him by the ladies
and gentlemen Of his acquaintance
that he was sorely humiliated and
mortified at the open snubbing he
y eived. Some weeks later Nc Carthy
entered Richmond cafe and there, in
unmeasured terms, he denounced
Mordical as o poltroon and coward.
The latter, entering the place, while
Mccarthy was still speaking, asked
the latter if he was not speaking harsh
In of hin, Mnra;na; IIna. MaGa..L.