The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1902-11-18
n RNEwBERRYHERALD AND NEWS NOVEMBER Is leo2

leg, eapsised him of his horse, got
into the saddle and rode to tho Rag
gsd Staff Stairs, Hers he found
himself impetted by two soldiers with
fixed hayonets, with oriefa to arrest
every ono who attempted to pass.
Talking and explaining to them he
got close upon them and pushed
their bayonets aside and spraug over
the psrapet Hero again he lost sNn
sibility and was only aroused by tho
victorious cheering Of his boats crew,
who had picked him up, pulled into
tho hay and stopped to cheer,
"The result Of this expedition was
that Stockton immediately challenged
the whole regiment for their dishonor
AMI bad faith to him, Some time
after that he received notice that il
he would come upon neutral ground
just before sunset OH \ particular day
he might get his satisfaction, Now,
both the English and Spanish guards
had orders to arrest any officers seem
together upon the plain. Stockton,
knowing this, picked out q boats
crew OF his best men, armed them
with pistols and cutlssses and started
for the rendezvous Leaving the
crew at the boat, he crept on his
hcntls and knees until he came within
sight Of the meeting rlsce.
"There he SAW tho English oth.
GERS disarmed and in charge OF II
guard Of seven or eight Spanish sol,
d,ers, all sitting down, with their
arms stacked CLOSE by, evidently
waiting for the result Of some mas
sage which they had sent to the
Rock. Stockton returned to the
crew, explained what he WAS going
to do, and told them to desist aS long
rs possible from the uss Of their
arms, particularly pistols, They all
! crept softly up, took the guard by
surprise and, before they could use
their arms etfectuslly, had them al
tied upon the grouud. Now says
Stockton to the officers, 'we can have
our fight undisturbed '"
Squihh's diary then tells how sev
eral OF the English officers wen,
aside to determine by lot which OF
them should meet the csYtsiu, while
Stockton, seated on y rock, conversea
| with one Of their number: how the
| lot fell the msn with whom ne WAS
taking, and how Stockton So 4: II
| don't want to fight this msu; lie $
the only one among y"u | know, aud'
slthoughl have only known him for
twenty minutes, yet | believe him to
be 3 gentleman. | would rsther
| fight sny two or three of the rest Of
YOU than this one man The Eu
glishmen, smszed at the untlinchiug
nerve Of the Yankee, consulted to
| ge,her sgsin, snd then requested
that the sffsir be called off. prom.
is!ng that the single coward
smong them, who had failed to keep
his word to Stockton, should be im.
medistely sent to England, csshiered.
Later all American midshipman WAS
insulted by tle English and the cap.
ssin sent challenge to the Cover
nor Of the place, which" SAYS the
log, "produced an apology and put
sn end to the cause OF disturbance by
inducing the English to mend their
manners. ~
| Commodore Stockton was the off
Ger who commanded the fleet sent
along the Pacific coast during the
war with Mexico and, in co operation
with Fremont, did more than any
body else to accomplish the cession
of California TO the United States.
He commanded the United States
steamer Princeton, on which, during
it's trial trip up the Potomac during
President Tyler's terri, one of it's
guns exploded, killing the Secretary
OF State, the Secretary of the Navy
and Mr.. Gardiner, whose daughter
President Tyler afterwsrd married.
After his retirement from active ser
uiee Commodore Stockton was prom.
inent both in national and State
politics.
| 1t took the jury in the Molineaux