Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-10-11
HIS MOTHER SAID CHALLENGE.
Some Facts About n Famous and
Rather Recent Virginia Duel.

Rather Recent Virginia Duel.
Perhaps few living men, in this Sec
ton at least, are so thoroughly con-
versant 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
1t 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
field or honor on more than one oc-
casion, both as principal and second
for some friend, and he is therefore au-
thority in all matters pertaining to the
"duello" as medium for wiping out
an insult to ones personal honor.
"The death few years ago Of Cap
tain Page Mccarthy in Richmond
said he, "forcibly recalls to memory the
high standard of honor possessed by
the women Of the south, and the eager
ness with which they sought to avenge
a personal insult. The Mccarthy
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 Mccarthy has never
been so generally known to the public
The affair occurred over then cele-
brated Richmond beauty, Miss Trip
lett, a leader in the aristocrat circles
of Richmond, at White Sulphur
Springs, and wherever else the beauty
and wealth of Virginia happened to as
semble. Nearly all the participants In
the affair have now passed away. Nc
Carthy was an exceedingly brilliant
young man of literary attainments.
Both were lawyers, but Mccarthy nev-
er practised. preferring journalism to
the profession Of law. Mordicai was a
highly talented, and moreover, an eX-
ceedingly handsome man.
Both moved in the highest society,
and were social leaders. It was gener-
ally known by their friends that young
Mccarthy and the beautiful Miss Trip
lett were betrothed before the advent
Of the handsome Hebrew. AS soon.
however, as Mordicai appeared on the
scene it was remarked that the lady
treated Mccarthy coolly, and 1t was
not long before it was whispered about
among their friends that the engage
ment between Page 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 a couplet in which Miss
Triplett was alluded to as a coquette
and flirt, though, of course, not giving
her name. Every one at once knew
who was meant, as well as knew who
the writer was. Mccarthy, needless to
say, was the author.
"Mordicai and Mccarthy meeting
soon after this event, the former rather
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 Nor
dicai had no authority to demand an
answer, the latter knocked Mccarthy
down, but before any further damages
could be done, friends of both parties
interposed and restrained the two men.
Mccarthy was physically his antago-
nists inferior, but was full Of grit.
Both were in the full vigor of young
manhood. Friends of both men ar
ranged that this matter was to be set
tied by both parties not again speak
ing to each other.
Needless to say that Mccarthy
chafed under the insult terribly, and
in a 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 NOR
titled at the open snubbing he received.
Some weeks later Mccarthy entered
Richmond cafe and there, in unmeas-
ured terms he denounced Mordicai as
a poltroon and a coward. The latter,
entering the place, while Mccarthy
was still speaking, asked the latter If
he was not speaking harshly of him,
Mordicai. Upon Mccarthy repeating
his insulting language, Mordicai again