Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-10-19
LINCOLN'S ONLY DUEL.


y Abraham Iincoln's one meeting on the field o.
honor no shot was fired, ono hurt and buta
single blow was struck That blow was aimed by
the future President at twig which suffered acu.
rate decapntlon.
The affair is commonly referred TO "the famous
Lincoln Shields duel" n widely misleading phrase
The fact remains however. that the great humauita.
rian was once drawn under the operations Of the code
ana that he sailed forth with deadly weapon ready
to his hand apparently with deadly intent His oppe
nent was to have been James Shields then State
Auditor Of Illinois and later major general
shields was peppery. staggering little man WHO
took himself with much seriousness, and was
stantly the object OF jokes personal and political
Lincoln was then member OF the Legislature He
wrote letter to Springfield paper dated from "Iost
Townships" and signed Aunt Rcbecca' I'm which he
attacked certain taxation provision. incidentally be
took a quiet rap at Shields.
Lincoin's broken engagement with Mary Todd was
then I'm process Of repair, and the young woman
nightly amused by the young legislators cOntrlbu
tlon She welded a sharply satlrical pen herself
and Is suspected Of having had hand In the original
letter Whatever her share IN the first she Is
monty credited with the authorship of the second 10
which "Aunt Rebccca" proposed 10 the Auditor one
Of whose weaknesses was pride In his CALAMITY
4 few DAYS later she also produced some doggere
verse celebrating the supposed marriage Of "Aun.
Rebocca" and Shields.
There was laughter IN Springfield but Shields was
furious He Inquired at the office Of the newspaper
and Lincoln took the responsibility for the whole
Aunt Rebecca" series upon himself soon alterwau
Lincoln left Springfield and went TO fremont While
ne was there two friends Il. II. Merryman and VIII
lam Butler drove into town and warned him that the
Auditor was close behind, breathing vengeance. On
arr living Shields sent demand for retraction OF all
offensive illusions" Lincoln took the stand that the
Auditor should have first asked him formally whether
he was the author Of the articles. would not answer
and declared that a withdrawal Of the demand or
challenge was the only possible course for Shields
seconds were accordingly named, Merryman for Lin
coin and General Whesdes for the Auditor. Lln
coins conditions were
''First -Wcapons--Cavalry hroadswords Of The
largest size precisely equal in an respects and such
as are now used by the cavalry company at jack
decentralization plank ten feet long and
from nine to twelve Inches broad, 70 be firmly liked
ON edge on the ground as the line between u.s. which
neither Is 20 pass his foot over on forfeit of bis IRE
Next n line drawn ON the ground ON either sue OF
said plank ana parallel with It, each M the distance
Of the whole length Of the plank ana three tee auu
tional from the plank. and the passing Of DIS own
such line by either party during the night shah De
deemed a surrender Of the contest"
He also named time and place, and on September
D. 1912, Lincoln and Mcuymau drove into the town
of Alton ON the Mississippi, with bloaus"oIus
enough 10 equip regiment mtuns IN The bottom o.
The suggestion that Shields who "could walk under
Lncolns am.' should light his lanky, long Iimuts
adversary with sword as tail as himself was sui
ncicnty ludicrous. But the preparations went to,
ward with a due ceremony. The one touch of hunpi
which "Old Abe" added 10 the situation ai ihs POM
was the remark that the place selected was sIneuaig
appropriate since It was within easy distance OK he
Shields aud Whitesides arrived aud all
embarked the little horse ferry, each second carry
ng selection Of the huge Dragon sabres uhaeI n'
landing was effected on low saudsldt on ths
Missouri side where the two principals sat oh op%
site logs while prclimnarics were being aIlANE'W
The residents of Alton were extremely curlou, !" N'N
the proceedings. None Of them was allowed to eiv,
0n the ferry, however and The spectators were Am"r1
90 those who r0wcd across ln skihs crowd F
manned the lcvee. watching best they nlgul
IL was remarked that Lincoln was solemn ANA M
moved. lie sat looking over The river appaiel2
obliNous of the preparations. suddenly he ieAS"1
over and picked up one Of the sabres, drew ID ny"
its scabhard aud felt IFS edge critically mons y"
length Then lac arose slowly The others "Helep
MIN curiously but his glance was turned upNnI
After few seconds he found what he sought uA,u
his eye certain iWig that thrust Itself lmhi1u.3
out from the foliage far over head ano biac'a ,la
on hs feet The sword swung out ana p'eA, 'ui-
Whlstod up m wide circle and the tWls' n.l.w
Topped. fel 10 the ground. After this LITTLE eAh''"
Lincoln grayoly resumed bis seat ,
The demon iminn OF his opponent term. It
Wus probably cooling % tine ardor of Hhieaa' ",
unexpected Intervention removed lhe nece'sus ~,
submitting himself as twis for pfuhlus ,ised
friends Of Lincoln at tarruton had been nuNl'I
of The affair aud arrived m time 40 reopen leA't."5
negotiations. Honor was finally declared .a'l'Hs s
on both sides ana the whole party climDeu 'N' '
foriyhoat once more. ia
Ihe crowds on inc Alton leyce were a. great slals
Of excitement as the boat drew near a hsuie n. r-
stained clothing was seen lying ia lhe DOW LINING
were STOPPING above n aud one ~ ihrm wac l"tn.-S
vigorously Evidently there had been shhsuiu, ~
ing o the duel, aud bets were hlzdrded hs ~ ts
had suffered II was only when the boat ul'H Nv is
the landing Dat the ugitaied spectators saw ',"t
Yiclm uf the fray WAS "a log carefully cnlet'u -
red shirt. Lincoln and Shields stepped H7no'' "
gcther cOuyersing amlcahy. $500 A., o,ld
only have fought in sefdefence, ana lhal wv h.sd
would have Cleft Shields from the crown on i1 re-
90 The end of his backbone Another ',,nf he
port more IN keeping with bis conduet ihivus eod
Incident was that be played shields gan ~
'ledge" 20 determine which should pay 'u'