Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-15

Gen. George w. Jones, who had acted as
Mr.. Clley's second, and had desire to
see the spot once more where ms lamented
friend had poured out his life blood. More
| than a half century had elapsed since he
had been there, and he had very lndls-
tinct recollection Of its location Benevlng
that I knew about where it was, l took
them. together with a news reporter, In
my carriage, went in search and soon
found a man who had witnessed the ngnt.
He was living near by and went with US
AS soon as we got in sight of the heid Gen.
Jones exclaimed, That's it; 1t looks just
like it did on that fated day." 1t is an ir-
regularly shaped old field embracing some
fifteen to twenty acres, almost surrounded
by dense woods and inclOsed by an OLD,
very much dilapidated worm renee more
or less overgrown with briars and brushes
an ideal place for such meeting Gen.
Jones took the lead, and In a rev minutes
pointed to about where eacn OF the com
batants stood-Graves near the base OF the
slight hill next the residence of Mr. John
Mills. the owner Of the property. and Gil
ley's position about ninety yafoS away.
They were to have fought at eighty PAGES
commonly reckoned yards. but after the
fight when the distance was measured II
proved to be over ninety yards That was
brought about by the seconds-Henry "A.
Wise and Gen. Jones-who TOOK hoIo OF eaS ;1
others hands and stepped it of. Jones told
us that without saying word one to the
other they made the eighty steps as long
as possible
w nen all the Aoo DSSi. I'll.
ranged and they had exchanged shots 1t
was found that neither was hurt. Some II
not all the friends 3of Mr.. Cilley suggested
that he withdraw the offensive WORDS ana
stop the fight but hes said, mo Will not.
The rifles being reloaded they took de-
liberate aim and fired again. but with the
same result. Mr. CiHeys fr1ends then IN
sisted and urged that he had 1ully yinu-
Gated his honor and ought to stop the con-
fict but he was obdurate. and uny1elding
and demanded another trial. Again ana
the third time 9they tleveled their pieces
with more precision and determihatoh' re-
sulting in death instantaneously Tor Mr..
Cilley. The moment he fell his. fr1enos,
who were in waiting but a few steps away,
jumped to hts relief but he was dead when
they reached HIM
II will be understood that 1t is my pur-
pose to state tina facts just as they Were
told me and othersswhfle on the ground
by Gen. Jones. eri a.
Persons wishing < to find that field can
easily do So Ills ron the Benning road
about one-third Of a mile from It's inter-
section with the Bowen or .MariDoro' ROAD.
It was the intention to meet on the wary
land side Of the line, and 1t was not known
until after the duel was over that 1t took
W. LEE WHITE.
To the Editor Of The Evening Start
In your paper of April you make an old
Washingtonian say in regard to the Graves
Cilley duel: ''Wise was generally blamed
for Cilley's death. It was charged that ne
instigated the encounter. Certainly he did
not try to prevent it." This version has
passed down as history. History. however,
is not always coincidenf with truth. My
friend. John Neefy. formerly OF Accomac.
visited General Wise on his deathbed and
received from Wise his version of the duel.
urged my friend to write It out SO could
have 1t published. but he, too. died without
acceding to my request Nicely related to
ms almost the whole story, but my recol-
lection extends to- but two points rOne was
that he (Wise) did all he could to prevent
that duel. and the other was that he (Wise)