The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1905-07-21

years ago, near the old town OF Bath,
there was duel between two ship
captains, growing out Of a quarrel
about a triling matter In which their
left hands were lashcd together while
each had a dagger in the right hand.
Each dagger was fastened 10 the wrist
with lanyard 50 that II it slipped
from the hand II could be grasped.
Both men were killed in this desperate
encounter, which was witnessed by
several persons, i'm the cold blooded
fashion Of that time.
Dueling continued 10 be much In
vogue until the period Of the Mexican
warm fact, there were ducls up TO
the time OF the civil war. Toward the
end OF the eighteenth century ducling
came 10 be the fashion, and this went
over into the nineteenth century for
some years. The state university was
then Ia the early stages OF existence,
ana the president and faculty called
upon the famous Colonel William Polk
OF Raleigh, the greatest North caro-
llnian Of his time, a distinguished
Revolutionary soldier, the friend Of
Washington and OF Lafayette ana the
father Of Bishop Polk Of Louisiana
(afterward notable lieutenant gen
eraI in the Confederate servlccl, To go
10 Chapel Hin, the seat Of the uni
versity. and by his precept and exam
pie stamp out dueling. Colonel Polk
went aud talked 10 the students in
such n way that ducls ended there
Perhaps the most interesting OF all
the fatal duels IN the state was that
between Governor Richard Dobbs
SpeiQht and John Stanley. This was
fought I'm the center OF the historic
town OF Newbern I'm 1906. NewDern
was the most arlstocratic place In the
state. n had been for years the seat
of the royal government aud for con
sidera bic time of the state government
under the federal constitution. The
duel was the result OF one or the in
tensely bitter ana prolonged political
controversies which marked that pc.
rlod. The challenge was sent by
Spclght. and Stanley. exercising the
pistols ne the weapons The place cho-
sen was a lawn under some noble clms
I'm the rear of the Masonic lodge, and
II Is one Of the strange facts that com
plete publicity was given 10 the ahair
and that not the least effort was made
TO stop Il. In fact, n number Of promi.
ncnt persons witnessed II.
The friends OF Stanley pleaded for n
reconciliation, not only before the duel.
but while Il was I'm progress. After the
first exchange OF shots, which was In
effectual. the friends OF Stanley urged
Governor Spcight Ia end the matter
and renew the old friendship, but he
refused. and 90 five times these men
took aim nj each other and exchanged
shots. AT the firth shot Governor
Spelght raised hs hands, staggered
and fell. death resulting In few mo.
ments. Governor Spcight and Stanley
were aristocrats OF the highest type.
Speight had twice been governor. A
son OF stanley became governor of the
state of California. Members OF both
families yet live in the state. Another
son of Stanley became prominent dur
ing the civil war because of his ap-
pointment by President Lincoln as
governor OF aorth Carolina. OF course
he could be in charge of only that part
Of the state which was under federal
CONTROL namely. about fifteen coun-
ties. with Newbern rs the capital, the
Federals having occupied the latter
city in the summer of 1862.
A brother OF John Stanley figured In
another duel, also at Newbcrn. This
was Wright Stanley, and his antago-
mist was Louis -. Henry. The latter
was a man OF great talent and very
marked personal beauty, who In later
years became attorney general At the
time of rne duel Stanley and Henry
were quite young and ranked among
the leading bcauN Of North Carolina.
The duel grew out OF triflc. AZ tea
party at which several young ladies'
were present Henry carclcSSly dipped
with his thumb and forciinger n bit or
biscuit across the table and into stan
ley's Gun OF coffee. Stanley was deep
ly offended. colorcd high, rose from the
table. but resumed his seat and little
later i'm the evening sent challenge 20
Henry. This was at once accepted.
and the details were arranged the next
day. In THIS meeting stanley was shot
dead aud Henry lost a finger OF the
left hand. which was cut M by the
heavy bullet FROM Stauley'~ pistol.
Htanley'S second was George r. Badg
or Of Raleigh, who many years after
ward was United states senator and
who was one of the greatest men
North Carolina has ever produced
When Badger left the senate the latter
adopted resolutions ~ regret II IL
sid that it was the only time such a
thing was ever done
This duel was fought very near the
line between Virginia and North Caro-
lima. q few miles south Of suffolk, Va.
News ct II got out. and both Virginia
snd North Carolina officers hurried 20
the place When they arrived they
found Stanley's body on the ground,
ieath having occurred almost instantly
from n wound near the heart. Badger.
stanley's second. left the field IN q
The Courage Of Failure.