The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-11-02
&zA1V1ETVI EOT66
 =:s CURED BY SWAMP ROOT.
PRINCETON FlRE-EATER
DARING, OF COMMODORE STOCK.
 TON TOLD IN OLD LOG.
Landed at Gibraltar-Fought @ Duel and Jumped Down a Precipice. Challenged Regiment-Fig-
 ured in California's Cession.

Stockton. afterwards the famous Commo- dore stockton of the United States navy. The courage and reckless daring of this member of the historic New Jersey fam fly are well remembered here, yet the events set forth in the log eclips anything that has ever before been generally Tbs log tells how Captain Stockton landed at Gibraltar and fought a duel with British officer; how on attempt ing to get back to his ship, he encount- oyer predpice, locked in the arms of his struggling antagonist, how he pulled another guard of his horse: how he faced two more with Hrawn bayonsts; how; up- ing crew, he challenged the entire Brit ish regiment; and how he had to over come and bind seven Spaniards to get an opportunity to carry out his challenge. :. The Jog was hept by an officer named Squ1bb on board the United States store ship Erie of Gibraltar in, 1s4s. The story of theScommodore's adventures on this occasion has been told in his family here and the version of it in Souibb's diary corresponds minutesly with theirs. Charles 8. SQuibb of Brooklyn, a son of tfNe author of the log. has sent the ex- oerpt to the Stockton family. He says he is sure 1t 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 ofacers were taught to be more civil and more sparing in their use of cp- probrfous epithets toward our officers and oountrymenl after the last war. This les son they learned, too, upon their owl impregnahle ground. Our Mediterranean ships at that time frequentlyk came in here to buy supplies. and as the officers were commonly insult ed in the streets, duels were by no means uncommon and generally terminated in favor of our side. To such an extent was this carried that the Governor prohibited fGntin1 vyt a ~a ed his officers from going outside, and next prohibited American officers from coming ashore, except under peculiar cir cumstances.S
 About this time an English officer grossly insulted the consul, who was a peaceable old man of family and did not resent the affront This very ship Erie came in soon after. under the command of the fire-eating Stockton of Princeton. He, hearing of this insult to an old con- sul, sought out this officer and grossly eiciting a challenge. Finding his eff forts unavailing, he challenged the eff feer, who promised to make arrange ments for the duel, notwithstandir~ the prohibition.
 "A few days after Stockton received a note telling him that if he would land at the Rugged Staff Stairs and take certain roads up .!e mountain to certain pre- cipitous ledge at an appointed time he would find his adversary ready. The lat ter pledged his honor that Stockton would be allowed to return to his ship unmolest- ed, if he escaped being shot.
 Stockton weat, of course. and on reaching the spot found his adversary ready. But just as they were about to take their places guard was seen com ing up by the way Stockton had taken. He, however, insisted on having fight, since they had come for that purpose, be- fore the guard arrived.
 They took their places and fired, the Englishman falling not killed, but maimed for life. Stockton started then to go down the hill in the direction op- posite to that by which the guard was by another guard in front. He returned to the ledge of rock and met the officer of the first guard just as he was mount ing upon the ledge. He asked to be al lowed to pass, but was told that he was a prisoner. He then stated thatthe honor of the regiment was pledged for his are- turn to his boat. and was insoleptN told that there was no dependsencs to- bs placed s.stockton immediately fcllncfed' witt the officer and sprang with him over the precipice. 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 of fcer replied that he would see all the Yankees in creation hanged hrst: This Fms
  by the leg. capsized him off his horse, got into the saddle himself and rode to the Ragged Staff Stairs
 Here he found himself inpeded by two soldiers with fixed bayonets, with orders to arrest every one who attempted to pass. While talking and explaining to I them he got close upon them and pushed their bayonets aside and sprang over Here again he lost sensfbility and was only aroused by the victorious cheering I.a ..N4 4lr IN ID, pulled into the bay and stopped to 'sThe result of this expedition was that S Stockton immediately challenged the I whole regiment for their dishonor and had faith to him. Some time after that % he received notice that if he would come * upon neutral ground just before sunset < on a particular day he might get his sat- Now. both the English and Spanish xuards had orders to arrest any oft1oers seen together upon the plain. Stockton. E Knowing this, picked out boats crew z nf his hest men, armed them with ptS- I tols and cutlasses and started for the rendezvous. Leaving the crew at the @ boat, he crept on his nands ana knees 4 until he came within sight of the meeting place. ,,.,. aa.u a,. a1med and in charge of guard Of seven or eight Spanish soldiers all sttng ooWn' with their arms stacked close by, eW- 6ently waiting for the result of some mes sage which they had sent to the Rock: Et0ckton returned to the crew, explained Ehat he was going to do. and told them h desist as long as possible from the Ise of their arms, particularly pistols: hey all crept softly up, took the guard
 surprise, and, before they could use
 cir arms effectually had them all tied
 on the ground.
 ..Now' says Stockton to the officers,
 a can have our fight undisturbed
 ionibb's diary then tells how several O.:
 Q English officers went aside to deter
 ma by lot which of them should meet
 Captain, while Stockton. seated on a
 sk, copversed with one Of their mum
 r: how the lot fell to the man with
 ,on he was talking, and how Stockton
 Id:
 IT don't want to fight this man; he is
 only one among you I know, and al-
 nuoh have only known him for twenty
 nlifes. vet I believe him to be a gen.
 man. I would rather fight any two
 three of the rest of you than this one
 ln."
 ochinr nerve of the Yankee. consulted
 SetheT again and then requested that
 affair be called off, promising that
 Isingle coward" among them, who
 n failed to keep his word to Stockton,
 nuld be immediately sent tp England
 shiered Later, an American midship-
 m was insulted by the English, and
 Captain sent a challenge to the Gov
 ,or of the place. which" says the log
 roduced an apology and put an end to
 s whole cause of disturbance by induc-
 the English to mend their manners'
 kommodore Stockton was the officer
 o commanded the fleet sent along the
 ciec Coast during the war with Mex
 and. in cooperation with Fremont