Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-02
THE CITY DISCOVERER.
LEARNS THE TRUE HISTORY OF
THE LAST BLADENsBURG DUEL.

] The City Discoverer is always restless in
| the springtime. The warmth of the young
| sun, the breath of the first southern
breezes, the odors of the greening earth, all
get into his middle-aged veins and create
| a longing that nothing but one of his long
and favorite rambles will satisfy. The other
| afternoon the City Discoverer decided he
could stand it no longer, and selecting his
favorite cane, with his blacklist briar for
company, he started out from his home for
| a solitary tramp The Bladensburg pike
was hard and dry, in splendid condition for
| walking.
The City Discoverer trudged along, his
| round face wreathed in smiles, his mild
| blue eyes beaming behind his gold-rimmed
| glasses and almost before he knew it, he
| was far from home and tired. And then,
just as he felt for the little bundle of lunch
| in his pocket, and looked about for place
| to rest, a battered signboard by the road
| side caught his eye.
THE site of the Bladensburg dueling
| ground" read the City Discoverer as he
sat down on little mound in the shade.
| why, this is the very place I have SO often
| wanted to see,' he remarked aloud, as
| he munched his sandwiches in perfect con-
| tent. What scenes must have been en-
| acted here What fateful shots must not
| these aged trees have heard. If one could
| only know some of the unwritten history
| of this wonderful elsewhere of the days
| of the code duellO.'
| ''Vandal! cried voice behind the City
! Discoverer. Arise and cease to profane
| the ground
| The City Discoverer arose with consid-
| cradle alacrity to face the speaker, blue
| leaned agriculturist, with straggly mus
tache and melancholy air.
| Sir" he inquired, as sternly as his ami
| able disposition would permit, what do you
! mean?'
your pardon" replied the agrculturist,
| dejectedly, Il forgot you could not know.
| His fame is unsung; his history unwritten.
But cannot see his grave profaned. for the
| manner of his exit is known to me-"
Sir" said the City Discoverer, moving
briskly away from the mound-his lunch
| con seat-'I should like to hear the story"
In confidence only replied the detected
| to you. That mound which you just used
| as a place of repose contains one shoe, a
I collar button and lock of hair, the mortal
| remains of Vincent Alonzo Stubs. He died
ciple''
The City DISCOVERIES mild blue eyes
grew round with wonder behind his gold
trimmed specs. Il don't believe 1 ever
heard Of" he began.
| "Of course mott replied the blue leaned
agriculturist, with considerable irritation
1
! field, for there have been many that have
| gone down in history. There was that for
| instance, between Commodores Barron and
| Decatur in which the latter lost his life;
| there were dozens between other persons of
| less Importance and there was that famous
meeting between ex-senator Mason of Vir-
| ginia and his cousin, Jack McCarty. But
| you have never heard of that remarkable,
| that wonderful, that sublime duel in which
| Vincent Alonzo Stubs was the principal
| figure.
| You will remember the Mason McCarty
duel, and how McCarty, who was a dead
| shot and who loved his cousin, Senator
Mason, despite their difficulty, endeavored
to prevent the tragedy by endeavoring to
| make the duel horrible and ridiculous.
| When challenged by Mason he first pro-
| posed that the combatants climb to the
| top of the dome of the Capitol, clasp hands
and jump off. This being refused, he pro-
| posed that he and Mason should each sit
on barrel. one barrel filled with sand and
| the other with gunpowder, and at a given
| word should touch off the fuses. This was
| also refused, as We're other worthy sugges-
| lions, and finally the two men fought with
| rifles, and McCarty, much to his regret,
| was forced to kill the senator.
You may wonder what this has to do
| with Vincent Alonzo Stubs. Listen! Stubs
| was opposed to the code duello. He con-
| sidered it barbarous and awful. He be-
| lieved it would cease if a duel should be
fought under the most frightful circum-
stances. Mr.. Stubs followed his principle
and put 1t into effect. Going out on the
| street he insulted the first passerby he
| CHANGED to meet. Of course he was chal-
| lenged. Heroic Vincent Alonzo Stubs!
| He accepted the challenge, but on condi-
| ton that he should name the weapons, and
| that his choice be accepted. The stranger
agreed. Vincent Alonzo Stubs selected
cannons."
'Cannons,' echoed the City Discoverer,
| feebly, his mouth and his mild blue eyes
open with wonder.
"Cannons," repeated the detected agricul-
turist. sadly. 1.-The weapons were secured,
never mind how, and brought to this place.
Twenty four-pounders they were-big ones
At the appointed times o'clock in the
| morning-the principals and seconds re-
paired here. The cannons Were placed
full charge of powder and a ball. The
other was filled with sand. Then they
drew lots. Vincent Alonzo Stubs was
dashed to the muzZle of the right-hand
cannon; his opponent to that on the left
The lanyards were placed in their hands
and the seconds retired If my opponent
dies said Vincent Alonzo Stubs before the
tributed to the welfare of humanity. If /
die it is In defense of principle Then
the seconds gave the word. and each duel
list jerked his lanyard :.
The detected agriculturist paused and
furtively wiped his eyes. The City Dis
his gold-rimmed glasses with a hand that
shook.
"A few minutes later" continued the ag-
riculturist, in an unsteady voice. I'VE cut
/ the cords that bound the opponent of Vim
cent A1onzo Stubs to his cannon and re-
turned to Washington. That was the last
duel at Bladensburg. Vincent Alonzo Stubbs
had not died In VAIN.
what happened to Mr.. stubbsr' in