St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1912-07-24
DUELSN MISSOURI
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 DueIs Between
Benton and Lueas-RuIes Of the
Geyer- kennerIy Meeting.
The Biographies used in the schools
today do not show Bloody island, a
Dne time notorious dueling resort in
the Mississippi river near st. Louis
The spot remains, but it 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 took place on the island.
Here it was that the fatal affaire
d'honneur between Thomas FL. Ben
ton and Charles h. Lucas took place.
One day in 1916 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 judge and the dis
trict attorney of the territory. Benton.
too, was well known and later became
United States senator. Lucas won the
case. His opponent accused him of
juggling with the evidence. The &C
cusation was resented, and it was re-
sponsible for a challenge issued by
Benton. Lucas refused to fight, 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 next year often
engaged in harsh words. Finally on
oI0
Lucas right to vote, saying that the
other had not paid his taxes. 1t irked
Lucas, who later referred to his enemy
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 encounter took
place at a distance of thirty feet. Luz
cas- fell with a bullet in his neck upon
the exchange of shots. Upon the adj
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 met on the street again, and,
like two schoolboys, another fight was
planned. This time it was to be at a
distance Of only ten feet. Lucas was
mortally wounded. Benton was unin-
jured. He approached the dying man,
according to custom, and expressed his
sorrow. Lucas flashed forth an accu-
sation of murder. but a 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 &lonths Of suffering.
A second duel on Bloody island oc-
Cured in 1916 between Captain Henry
S. Geyer and Captain George 81. Ken
nerly, both veterans Of the war Of
1912. Captain Geyer was for many
years leader in Missouri politics and
one Of the states most able lawyers.
Kennerly was wounded at the second
fire and remained a cripple for life.
There were many other duels fought
here between some Of Missouri'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
n oil NJ a r-T10n cd IlyG
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
man felt that his honor had been inn
peached in any way the popular thing
to do was to settle it 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 of
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 off three PAGES
and turn and fire without further or
der.
If either party reserves his fire and
continues to take aim after the other
has fired he shall be shot instantly by
the adverse second.
The seconds shall decide by lot which
gives the word
The only words shall be, Are you
ready?' and. being answered in the af-
firmative, 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 cooked to
the gentlemen after they have taken
their places and to be held hanging
down by the side until after the word
ssAFarch