The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-04-30
From the Kansas city Times.

FROM the Kansas City Times.
~ RYAN and Champ Clark have
IN buried the hatchet, according to
the Washington correspondents.
They met at luncheon, shook hands and
'all was merry as a marriage bell.'' In
the course of the Ratchet burying lunch
con, other guests persuaded the speaker
of the House to tell one of his favorite
stories-the tale of the brawl between An
drew Jackson and Thomas Hart Ben
ton of Missouri.
He wasn't Thomas Hart Benton of Mis-
souri, in those days. but Colonel Benton
of Tennessee, state which has been the
scene of a good many famous duels and
|7'gun fights The fight took place in
1S13 and a curious combination of cir
cumstances led up to it. Benton had been
one of Jacksons aides and had been sent
to Washington by Jackson to straighten
out the generals financial affairs with
the federal government. This Benton did
and did we'll
In the meantime Benton's brother, Jesse
Benton, quarreled with William Carroll,
one of Jackson's officers. The quarrel
proceeded in the conventional manner;
arrangements were made for a duel.
Jackson consented to act as Carrolrs sec
ond, after he had tried unsuccessfully TO
patch up the quarrel. Well the duel took
place and both men were wounded.
Colonel Benton, away in Washington,
got news OF it and came home across the
mountains breathing out threats of ven-
geance against Jackson. Now Andrew
jackson, whatever his shortcoming may
have been. was not the person to pull In
his horns because of threats. Instead.
he got his "shootin' irons in order ana
was waiting impatiently in Nashville for
Benton to come back.
They met in Nashville street in front
of the City hotel. September 4, 1913. and
Jackson at once drew his pistol There
are various accounts of just what hap
pened then. So many things happened
and in such rapid succession that it is
hard to give wholly accurate account
of the afrray that followed. Anyhow,
Jackson gave his arvorsary no time to
draw a gun, but forced him into the
hotel and was backing him down a hall
way. a pistol held close to his heart.
when Jesse Benton appeared. Jesse had
a pistol that at close range was almost
as effective as a Gatling gun. He emptied
two bullets and a slug into the future
President at short range. Jackson fell,
his left shoulder mangled and his right
arm shattered. and at that moment up
rushed John Coffee, one of Jackson's aids.
Coffee believed Colonel Benton had laid
his chief low. and he began firing at him.
Benton fell downstairs and was out Of the
combat.
In the meantime Stokely Hays, a
nephew OF Jackson's, had drawn a dagger
and grappled with Jesse Benton. whose
right arm he finally pinned to the floor
with the knife. At this stage of the fight
'.innocent bystanders,' 'one or two OF
whom had been wounded In the mean
time, took hand and pulled the CON-
batants apart.
Everybody recovered from his wounds,
but the result of the duel was that Ben
ton was dead politically In Tennessee.
"Oid Hickory was already tremendous
favorite in the Mountain State. and
shortly after he had recovered from his
wounds he won the battle of New Or
leans. There was not much popularity
for the man who tried to kill him, even
though the attempt may have been Justi-
fable.
Benton struck out for pastures new
and the pastures he chose were those ol
Missouri. Eight years after the fight ir
Nashville Thomas II. Benton went &c
washington as the first senator from Mis-
souri,. He served for 30 yeerss
Jackson arrived as a member Of the
Senate in 1923. His desk was next tc
Benton's, and there was considerable
breathless curiosity as they sat silent
and refusing to recognize one another
the first day jackson took his place. The
quarrel, however. was speedily forgotten
| "Old Hickory sent his card to Mr.. and
Mrs. Benton. and within an hour received
| their cards in return. The next day the
| two statesmen shook hands and there
was general applause in the Senate cham
ber as they did 80.
During Jackson's two administration