The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-03-06


a duel and asked to name the weapons,
replied after this fashion, and SO
alarmed his challenger. one George Nc
OuHy or South Carolina. that the latter
refused TO fight, saying that ii was
murder, and not dueling, to which he
had been requested 10 be a party. He
suggested pistols, but the Kentuckian
declined TO fight with such weapons,
ana they did not meet on the field OF
honor
1t is a far cry back to the days OF
dueIng in Kentucky, though there were
hot-heads were resorted to that anti
quated method of settling disputes even
AFTER the state had put the ban Of the
law upon the practice.
The history of Kentucky and her
great men in the early days is freely
Sprlnkled with meetings between lead
ing men in all walks OF life. and many
a promising career in politics and med
lclne was cut short by a shot fired i'm
the settlement of some dispute which
was usually trivial i'm its beginning.
Duels and dueling form a part of the
history of Kentucky. and several OF the
duels had great effect on the subse-
quent events connected with the public
lie OF the state Even as late as 1919
II was not unusual for man who was
aggrieYed at some insult. fancied OF
otherwise. to invite the offender 40
stand before him and allow himself TO
be the target for pistol or rife ball,
the offender also having the privilege
of shooting back.
In at least two insta noes. so anxious
Tor fight were the Kentuckians in
Volved I'm other quarrels that the second
took UP the challenge of the other and
fought in the place of the principal.
who declined to fight William J.
Graves of Louisville thus fought in
stead OF his principal. when Jonathan
Cilley declined to fight James Watson
Webb, who had challenged him. An
other instance was when James Rich
ardson took up the challenge which was
sent to Professor Drake, who was OPP
posed TO dueling, and fought DR.. Ben
Jamin Dudley in Lexington, almost
losing his life as a result.
The first duel fought in Kentucky
was not fought at all; at least no shots
were fired at a living target. 1t was in
1892, and ended in a shooting match for
a gallon Of whisky, the men who had
thfrsted for each others blood becom-
ing the best of friends alter the agree
ment which ended the affair. The story
of this duel which is the first instance
in kentuckys history where a chai-
lenge was sent and accepted, was first
given TO the public by Colonel r. 7.
Durrett, who wrote an account of it
some years ago. obtaining the facts
from descendant of one of the princl-
pals.
John Thurston and John Harrison,
both prominent in Louisville, and both
related to the leading families in the
state, had a quarrel over the small
amount of 1919 cents, which Thurston
claimed was due him as a fee for isSu-
ing a warrant. Both We're magistrates.
il being the custom then for the best
men in the county to be magistrates.
The first case which was presented to
Thurston was family quarrel between
neighbors of the magistrate. He saw
hot inc hat
no matter how he decided it, he would
make enemies, issued a warrant max
ing it returnable before Harrison. The
latter tried the case. gave decision
which was satisfactory TO all parties.
and charged no fees. Later ThurstOn
put i'm a bill for 1215 cents, which was
is fee for issuing the warrant Har-
rison refused to pay it. as he had col
lected no fees. A quarrel arose and
both men became very angry.
Thurston went to Robert Breckin-
ridge. a member of the first constitu-
tional convention and first speaker of
the house of representatives.. insisting
that he convey a challenge to Harrison.
II was all done quickly and without
chance for anybody to interfere. jacob
US Sullivan acted as second for Harrl-
son, and the place of meeting was ar
ranged. Rifles were chosen and the
principals stood up ready for the shoot
ing to begin. The seconds, however.
had begun TO do some thinking. and
came to the conclusion that it was alb
surd for prominent men to kill each
other over 1914 cents Sullivan who
was a frontiersman. made a speech, and
il was so amusing that the two men
who were thirsting for blood laughed
and made up.
It was finally agreed that a tree about
the size of a man should be selected,
fired at in turn by both men, and the
one who hit should receive a gallon jug
full of whisky. Thurston simply
scratched the side of the tree, While
Harrison put a bullet in the center.
This ended the duel, and the whisky
was drunk.
Because OF the prominence of the
men and the fact that Rowan was aft
erward accused of shooting before his
opponent had turned, the duel between
John Rowan and DR.. ]. Chambers of
BardStown is one Of the most famous
which was ever fought in Kentucky
DR.. Chambers was killed by a ball
which struck him in the side, on the
firing of the second round. Both lived
in Bardstown, and during a card game
one night in February, 1901, they quar-
relied. A challenge was sent the next
day and accepted. Mai or Bullock acted
as second for Chambers, while George
NJ. Bibb acter for Rowan.
The details were arranged on Feb. ?.
and on the day following the men met
near Bardstown. Tt was agreed that
they should stand with their backs the
one toward the other, and after the
word was given turn and fire at will.
Both men aimed carefully, resting their
pistols on their left arms and shooting
with elaboration. Both missed entire
ly on the first fire, but on the second
round. both still Shooting carefully, DR..
Chambers fell and died later.
After the duel ii was charged that
Rowan had shot before his opponent
turned taking an unfair advantage.
This was denied by the friends of
Rowan and also by the witnesses, but
the Palladium, a weekly paper pub
lished in Frankfort, devoted all of sew
eraI of its issues to a hearing by the
two factions. The charge against
Rowan was never considered seriously
and was never proved by any reputable
witnesses
Years after this duel son of Rowan,
also named John, fought a duel with
Tom Marshall in almost the same place
where the famous Rowan-Chambers
duel was fought. Neither was hurt IN
this encounter. Marshall was a well
known duellist typical of Kentucky He
was quick to anger and always ready
to send or accept challenge He
fought with James Watson Webb. who
was editor of the Courier and Enquirer
OF New York. and during the Mexican
war fought with General James Jack
son. both being slightly wounded.
Magnanimous we'll as brave. and
quick to forgive as quick to anger. DIR.