Omaha daily bee., 1905-12-03

that the WhOle matter be referred to
committee. whose decision should be final.
To this Miller responded that, as Duryee
had not accepted the challenge. he and
Drake looked upon the incident as closed.
The affair would doubtless have ended
there had IL not been for the entrance OF
Midshipman Hunter into the dispute On
March 10 he visited Miller, demanded the
letter written from New Brunswick and
went away In hot anger because Of the
refusal Of the lawyer to hand It over
A few days later the New Brunswick
letter was printed, and Hunter demanded
immediate satisfaction, Miller disclaimed
any responsibility for the publication of
the letter, but the explanation was not
accepted, and on March II Lieutenant
westcott bore a cartel to Miller. The at
torney again insisted that he had no con-
nection with the publication Of private
| correspondence and declined 20 accept the
challenge.
Three days later Hunter posted Miller as
a coward. concluding his declaration with
the gratuitous assertion that the Philadel-
phia lawyer was a liar as well as a poll
troon. This rapid fire oratorical bombast
stirred Duryee to action, and he sent an
1 acceptance Of brakes challenge, but that
scion Of society retorted that an adversary
who had waited to screw his courage to
| the sticking point would not be accorded
the honor of meeting with a gentleman.
Miller quickly took up Hunters challenge
and sent his acceptance by Lieutenant Ed
mund Byrne, an intimate friend. and West
colt was deputized to arrange with Byrne
the time and place Of the meeting. II was
agreed that the duel should take place in
Delaware a short distance below the boun-
Diary on the morning OF the next day, and
Il hat Nhn 1N, gnN
should be represented by one friend. For
some reason the combatants did not leave
Philadelphia until nearly noon on Sunday.
A carriage containing Miller. Byrne, Craig
! and a surgeon left a dwelling In Chestnut
J street that stood on the present site OF the
German Democrat office, while another car
! riage, in which were seated Hunter, West
colt, Duryee and a friend. drove from a
hotel that stood opposite the customs house.
A rapid drive was made to Chester, four
1 teen miles south OF Philadelphia, where
/ the suspicious Of the townspeople were ex-
! cited by the number of men In the party
and their mysterious silence as to their
destination and reasons for travelling,
The Tragedy.
Fearing arrest the party hastily left
Chester and drove at a rapid gait down the
post road, through Marcus Hook and halted
at INC bIioBt ONNI MANI CREEK. Inc
meeting place, a short distance from the
road. but screened by glen and clump OF
trees. was soon selected. The PAGES were
marked of and The positions of the duel
| lists marked with stones, then the lnstruc-
lions as to the method OF firing were given.
Not word had passed between the princi-
pals,
Gentlemen, are you readyP" came the
question.
Each duellist assented.
| "Fire-one-two"-
The last word OF the count was lost in
the report of the pistols, which were fred
so nearly together that the separate re-
ports could scarcely be distinguished.
Miller turned toward his seconds; his
face was deadly pale; his pistol dropped
| from his hand; he placed one hand over
his breast, then fell heavily to the ground.
Hunter advanced toward the fallen man,
and In a loud voice that was filled with
emotion, cried: "Gentlemen, assure you
that had no enmity toward that man.
His blood must rest upon the hands of
others who have dragged him into their
quarrels. Is he badly wounded. doctor2"
\ he asked with evident trepidation.
He will not live i've minutes" was the
reply. "You put the bullet squarely into
his breast" Kneeling about the dying man
I the little group, filled with varying emo
lions. watched the life OF the young law
yer quickly flow out
IT would give my life II could restore
that man to life," cried Hunter, as he saw
the dying gasp Of his victim.
Fleeing from the Law.
A consultation was held, and 1t was de-
cided that Hunter, westcott and Duryee
should leave the state before the result of
the duel was known, and a few minutes
| later a carriage carrying the naval officers
rolled rapidly down the road toward VIII
mington, then his seconds boarded a vessel
bound for New York.
The duel sent a thrill of excitement
| throughout the country and so great was
the indignation that on Saturday, March
81, Mr.. Moore of Beaver county, offered
| a resolution In the house of representa-
tlves OF the Pennsylvania legislature re-
questing President Andrew jackson to
strike the name Of Passed Midshiuman
Charles G. Hunter from the roll of the
navy. This was forwarded by the gov
ernor of the state, and on the day after
| its reception John Branch, secretary Of the
| navy, wrote TO the president recommending
that not only Hunter. but Byrne, West
Branch of Virginia, was the ancestor OF
Mldshipman Branch, whose death In a
fstic duel is now the subject of inquiry
The father of Miller personally wrote to
President jackson In the interest of Hum