The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1914-03-18
THE LAURBNs ADVERTISER hAURBNs s. @, MARoH 49, 1914

other State than the one in which
they lived.
Dickinson was a famous shot with
the pistol, and between the time of
the acceptance of the challenge and
the meeting he did everything possi-
bic to daunt his prospective adversary
by exhibitions Of his wonderful accu-
racy and quickncss. In his home he
had Il dummy prepared OF about the
same size and general build as the
tall, spare form of Gen Jackson, and
would amnsc his friends who called
to sec him by asking: and where
shall hit Gen. Jackson this time?"
No sooner would they reply: "In the
eye" or "ln the heart" than his pis-
tol would ring out and the bullet
would go true to the spot named on
the target
On the road to the duclling ground
he entertained his companions and
those they would meet by shooting
small objects, even cutting small
cords in two rs they swung free. or
hitting coins that were dipped into
the air. At one tavern where the
party stopped Dickinson went through
his performance and left the severed
strings with the tavern Keeper. say
ing: "If Con. Jackson comes along
this road, BE kind enough to show him
that Hut these things did not dis
concert Old Hickory
Jackson and his partv were tho
first to reach tho ncighboyhCod Of the
duelIn% ground, and thcy stopped mt
the home Of u Mr.. Miller. where tray
clfcrs were wont to be cared or
hhout u hour later Dickinson and
his party stopped at the same place,
but finding tho others already there
they went short distance further, to
the home of a Mr.. Harris. son-in-
law oi Miller, where they were taken
in for the night Both Of these
houses are standing today. The
Miller House is Of brick and the
earthquake of 1911 so badly cracked
the walls that it had to be largely re-
constructed. The Harris house. u
rambling two story frame uffair, is
still cNtant, though plainly showing
the ravagcs of time.
The next morning dawncd bright
and clear, in sharp contrast to tho
rainy, disappointed time the princi-
pals, with their seconds and a sur
gcon each. met near The Harris home.
Adairvillc people will tell you that
the place selected WAS pawpaw
thicket. and that before the duel
could proceed the bushes had to be
cut away with pcnknives.
JacksOns Iron Nerve.
Ro Il nc & m,v ,,o o,;,,
wore soon orr,n"n,, an, ~,
tossed for choicn nf mn.;,;nr MI,
inson won nnn cho.o ~ ntnn1 ,nn;,' iM
west which mn thn .nn ~ ". h,ois
giving him ,,,ito On od,ont, 'r,
distance wos mo,smroI nm 90, ~
sot for o,ch man ,In u i';t ptSS
against AZ .hn word ..Eiro,,, n;oI,
inson icvnlod h;s ni"to, ~, ,,i,'', I
tho trigger Thn hm,lot snnn, tr,,
and ~ Jackson IL no hrna|, nrD'' ,ranI a.'
ing two ribs an iniurv whinh v,nni,
encd ana troubInd him ro,. ~ ro,t -,
his life. Tc Shaved en- li,tin ui"n ~
being hit, however I'M niclin.nn
cried out. "Nv Goa i Iovn m,;ssnn
him
Dickinson so thn tolc or tho ,d,ir
vile pconln goes mon stnnnnd o,vn,,
from his peg. brt his seconds rnrcna
him back ana made hin stnnL still
until jackson could fire. Inc Inter
calmly raised his pistol, took delhi |
crate aim. and Dickinson fell, win u
mortal wound lie was taken back
10 the Harris home and made as
comfortable as possible all day in !
the shade OF an enormous elm that
stood in the yard When night came !
on he was moved into the house, but
by that time his vitality was nearly |
spent and he died about 9 o'clock. |
Dickinson's grave is in small field |
near Nashville on the Bosley or Whit
worth lands, unmarked at the pres
ent time save for Il small plain slab
on which is no lettering to indicate