Omaha daily bee., 1905-12-03
NAVAL ACADEMY TRAGEDIES
ReoolleotiOns Of Times When Pistols
Settled Affairs Of Honor
"CODE" RESPONSIBLE THEN AS NOW
Melancholy, Fate of the Midsbipman
Who Did the sboOting-A Type
of the Branch-Meri-
wether Case.

There rests in a New York cemetery close
to the haunts of trade the dust of young
man one OF whose acts made his name Inn
mortal In the navy, but who died an OBJ
ject Of charity. though not of charity
grudgingly bestowed.
The young man cast of by his country
was Midshipman Charles G. Hunter Of the
United States navy, who won the sobriauet
Of 'Alvarado" Hunter because he dared
capture an enemy's town and fortress with
out orders.
But the dishonor the government had
placed upon an of1cer whose brave act
official dignity could not acknowledge was
not the Nemesis that followed the young
midshipman through an eventful but UNI
happy life.
That Nemesis consisted Of the recollection
of Hateful Sunday many years before
March 81 1sS0-when Passed Midshipman
Charles G. Hunter shot and killed william
Miller, jr in a duel on the bank of Naam's
creek. Delaware. He went through haunted.
sorrowing days, the victim of an unreason-
able false code of honor that prevailed then
In the United States and mas apparently
survived in part to this day.
Victims of the "Code."
The pistol shots that rang out that Sum
day threw the two principal cities Of the
country-New York and Philadelphia-into
ferment OF excitement, stirred naval cir
cles, became a national incident and re-
suited in executive action. Yet, strangely
enough, the two young men who faced each
other on the bank Of the little stream
Just south OF the Delaware circle that
March Sunday to settle an affair Of honor
were not the original parties to the quar-
rel which resulted so tragtcally, but were
drawn into it IN an endeavor to effect a
settlement Of the difficulty
Miller was a young lawyer OF much prom
inence in the Quaker City and Hunter, then
only q year of age, had won special COM
mendation from his superior officers in the
navy and seemed destined for a notable
career
The duel grew out of a trivial incident
Henry Wharton Griffith and R. Dillon
Drake two society men of Philadelphia, in
company with some friends. sauntered into
billiard parlor at Third and Chestnut
streets on the afternoon of Friday, Febru-
airy IT, 1880, and Drake, angered by an
implied imputation upon his skill with the
cue, struck Griffith In the face Before
friends could interfere Drake had severely
whipped his companion. That evening q
message was sent to New York to Passed
Midshipman Charles II. Duryee Of the
United States navy, asking him to come
Immediately to Philadelphia. Duryee ar
rived on the following Tuesday and the
next day carried a challenge from Grifith
to Drake, who refused to entertain any
message.
Il will have no affair or intercourse with
person OF his reputation" was brakes
contemptuous retort Tell him he is be-
meath the notice of a gentleman"
us that your answer" demanded Duryee
1T is" replied Drake. Take your letter
back to him"
Forcing u Fight.
Burning with indignation Duryee strobe
out and at once sought Commander Philip
F. voorhees, of the navy, who sent him
back to Drake with inslstence that salts
faction be given to Grifiith for the insult
Il refuse to accord q meeting to q man
who has placed himself beyond the pale of
recognition" retorted Drake haughtily.
But you were the assailant," asserted
the officer with some warmth.
Very true. but hit him not because of
the billiard game. but because he wrote a
letter to my brother, DR.. Drake, that was
derogatory to his hancee, and that on the
very day OF his marriage"
Duryee left in hot anger, declaring that
ne Woulo post Drake as coward, and
that brought the young lawyer. Miller, into
the quarrel. The following day the attor-
ney. carried a challenge from Drake to
Duryee, but Lieutenant Hampton westcott
OF Duryees vessel, refused to permit the
midshipman to accept until Drake had
given satisfaction to Grifith
II shall never put myself on level with
that degraded individual until he makes
apology for the wrong done my brother,
the doctor, and his bride" was brakes
ultimatum.
News of the controversy had spread
among the naval officers at New York and
Philadelphia, and there was sharp criticism
OF Duryee because he had not accepted
brakes challenge, despite the hair-splitting
ruling of Lieutenant Hampton Westcott
So, to clear Duryee of the imputation of
, cowardice, some friends in New Brunswick
N. j.. wrote to Miller. the attorney, asking