Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-08-14

gossiping world with all the revolving
particulars Of that tale of horrors. I
sought, and found another pretext.
And now, sir, you will understand how
useless It Is to submit propositions OF
adjustment, and what consequences
will be likely to flow to yourself from
refusal to accede to my demand. Good
night, sir. hope to meet you once
more, and but once"
/. He turned and walked away. Ham
tlton stood as If petrified. It was long
Before he shook off the numbing torpor
that seized upon every limb; and when
he re-entered his own door, the pres
age OF coming doom weighed heavily
upon him.
| After this some correspondence was
carried on between the parties, but
1t was evident 1t could have but one
termination. 1t was ended by a per-
epmtory challenge, from Colonel Burr,
and its acceptance by Hamilton. The
day of the final meeting was, however,
postponed, at the request Of General
Hamilton, to enable him to settle up
his business and make such prepara-
tons as he deemed needful In the event
Of his fall. The consciousness OF the
deep wrongs he had inflicted upon Col
onel Burr through a long series OF
years had its effect even upon his dar-
ing nature, and he seems from the first
to have had a presentiment that his
last hour was approaching. Weehawk-
en- was the place selected for the fatal
encounter; and, according to previous
arrangement, Colonel Burr and his
second were first on the ground
When Hamilton arrived he found
his antagonist, with his coat off, care
lessly breaking branches from the un-
derwood. The two principals exchang-
ed salutations; but Burr observed that
the eye Of Hamilton fell when 1t met
his own, which was glowing with all
the deadly hatred that years OF out
rage calumny, and wrong had engen-
dered. Hamilton won both the choice
were loaded, the two men stepped to
their places, announced themselves
ready, and the word was given. Both
pistols were discharged nearly togeth-
er-Burr's a little before his adver-
sary's. Hamilton sprang convulsively
UP, and then fell heavily forward on
his face. His second raised him, and
the surgeon was Immediately by his
side. To him he said: This Is NOR
tai wound" and sank into insensibil-
ity.
Colonel Burr, who was unhurt, was
led away to the boat by Mr.. Van Ness,
AID the two rowed at once to Rich
mond Hill.
Thus, under the heights Of Wee
hawken, the long rivalry Of Aaron
Burr and Alexander Hamilton had its
bloody ending.
Justice is seldom weighed by human
judgment in equal scales. The victor,
on that fatal day, labored under pecu-
liar disadvantages. The foul wrongs
which Hamilton had committed, the
deep duplicity Of his character and
the bitter malignity of his nature were
known only to his slayer. and that
slayer was one from whose lips no Sc
cSet ever passed. The natural feelings
texcited in a great party by the loss OF
it's leader, was enhanced by sympathy
for the family Of the dead, and foster
ed by reckless misrepresentation OF
the living. Calm and self possessed,
Aaron Burr breasted the storm. He
might have forgiven his own griev-
ances, he might have hesitated to dye
his hand in human blood for any injury
done to himself; but the murderer OF
Adelaide Clifton and the slanderer Of
Margaret Moncrieffe was entitled to
no mercy and his fate called forth no
regrets. Long years afterwards ne
stood upon the spot where Hamilton
fell. Time had bowed his form and
dimmed his eye; but when the recol-
lections of the 10th of July, 1904, came
over him, his body swelled beyond the
proportions Of age, and his eye burned
with all the fire Of his early days.
He wronged me-" he said, land
forgave him! He wronged her. and
I slew him! If twenty lives had CEN
tered in his single body, 1t would have
been a poor atonement. When 1 saw
him fall headlong to the ground,
weight seemed lifted from by breast,
and a peaceful tranquility settled here
I never could have known while the
same earth sustained us both. He has
gone long ago to render his account at
the Judgment bar before which too
must soon appear. Face to face In
presence of the God who must pro-
nounce our several dooms. I shall say
that he deserved the death he receiv-
ed at my hands; and never, for one
moment has a thought of repentance
obtruded itself upon my soul!"
| THE END.