, 1912-10-03
DUELSlNM|SS0UR
The Field Of Honor Was a Com
mon Resort a Century Ago.
BATTLES ON BLOODY ISLAND

This Notorious Fighting Ground was
the Scene Of the Two Dusis Between
Benton and LueaseRuiss Of the
osysr- kennsriy Meeting.
The biographies used In the schools
today do not show Bloody island, a
one time notorious dueIing resort in
the Mississippi river meas 81. Louis
The spot remains, but 1t is no longer
an island. 1t now Is a part Of East
ST. Louis
The opprobrious title was derived
from the many sanguinary encoun
tiers which tool place on the island
Here II was that the fatal afraire
%d'honneur between Thomas Il. Ben
bon and Charles a. Lucas tool place
One day In 1915 these two men en-
gagged in trying a lawsuit. one repre-
senting the plaintiff and the other the
defendant Lucas was twenty-five
years old, son Of a Judge and the dis
trict attorney of the territory. Benton.
too. was we'll known n later became
United States senator Lucas won the
case. His opponent accused him of
Juggling with the evidence. The &C
cusation vas resented, and 1t was re-
sponslble for q challenge issued by
Benton. Lucas refused to eight, say
ing that he could not be held account
able for defending his client
Bad blood ensued. and from time to
time the two men the lei year often
engaged In harsh words. Finally on
an election day Benton questioned
Lucas right to vote, saying that the
other had not paid his axe It irked
as a puppy" This appellation was
too much for Benton. who again chal
lenged Lucas to a duel This time the
challenge was accepted.
The two men met on Bloody island
Aug IL. 1917 The tool
place at a distance Of thirty feet. Lu
cas- fell with a bullet in his neck upon
the exchange of shots. Upon the ad-
vice of seconds Lucas declared himself
satisfied The men shook hands and
went to their homes. The wound was
not dangerous. A few days later the
two men m.t ON the street again, and.
N " SNAiootDoyos ahothCh d6hh was
planned This time II was to be at a
distance of only ten feet Lucas was
mortally wounded Benton vas unin.
jured- He approached the dying man,
according to custom. and expressed his
sorrow Lucas flashed forth an accu.
sation OF murder. but 9 few minutes
later before dying he recanted and ex
pressed his forgiveness.
But the first duel that ever took
place on Bloody island was fought in
1910 between DR.. Farrar and James A
Graham One OF DR.. Farrar's friends
challenged Graham. but the challenge
was refused on the ground that Far
rar's friend was not a gentleman Dr..
Farrar was then under obligation to
defend the honor of his friend This
challenge was accepted. and as a re-
suit Graham was severely injured and
died after months of suffering.
A second duel on Bloody island &C.
Cured in 1915 between Captain Henry
8. Geyer and Captain George b. Ken
nerly. both veterans Of the war Of
1912. Captain Geyer was for many
years a leader in Missouri politics and
one Of the states most able lawyers.
Kenneriy was wounded at the second
fire and remained a cripple for life.
There were many other duels fought
here between some Of Missourt's early
statesmen and pioneers. A few Of the
encounters were the Thomas Hemp
stead-Joshua Barton duel In 1916. the
Martin Ramsey affair in 1918. the
Reynolds. Brown. Walker-Marmaduke
and Pettus- Biddle.
While duels would not be counte-
nanced under any consideration today.
1t must be remembered that at this time
they were almost as common among
men as fights among schoolboys- II a
man felt that his honor had been i'm
peached in any way the popular thing
to do was to settle 1t by a duel. pistols
being used in nearly every instance.
There was a certain unwritten code"
observed For instance. in the duel
between Geyer and Kennerly the fol
lowing were the rules:
The ground shall be measured Oh
to SIX PAGES
The gentlemen shall stand back to
back at the distance of six yards from
each other.
At the word March" the gentlemen
shall Immediately step of three PAGES
and turn and fire without further or
der.
II either party reserves his nre and
continues to take aim after the other
has cred he shall be hot instantly by
I the adverse second.
The seconds shall decide by lot which
gives the word
The only words shall be. Are you
ready2'' and. being answered In the ar
hrnative. the word March" shall be
the order for stepping of and turning
and firing as above stated
The weapons smoothbore pistols
The pistols to be delivered cocked to