The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1914-05-07

fought on the banks Of Red river,
small stream near what is now the
little town of Adairville, Ky. Among
the people of that section the details
of the duel have been handed down
from generation to generation, un-
til it is a neighborhood legend, cloth
ed in all the romance which such
folklore usually acquires, yet re-
markably clear and true, even to the
small details.
Jackson was one of the most re-
nowned duelists as we'll as notable
characters in many ways in United
States history. But all agree that he
was a man of quick temper. firm
convictions and always willing and
ready to fight. His severest critics
pay him homage for his fidelity and
devotion to his wife, and it is a sad
fact that their marriage was under
such circumstances as to give rise to
a scandal that was magnified and US
ed as political capital during his
first campaign for president.
1t was in defense of his wife's
honor that he fought his most not
able duel. His demeanor in this
memorable encounter is a true index
to his implacable enmity and his ab-
solute fearlessness.
At the time the quarrel with Dick
inson arose, Jackson had located at
Nashville, Tenn. At the age of Fl he
was sent as public prosecutor to
PENNSYLVANIA, then wild and unset
tied country, where lawlessness held
sway, and where his life was in al
most constant danger, yet he is Gre,
dited with having discharged his du-
ties fearlessly and well, and rapidly
made himself one of the foremost
men of the times.
How Jackson Met Mrs. Roberts.
On reaching Nashville Jackson Sc
cured board with a Mrs. Donelson,
widow of John Donelson, pioneer
who had been killed by Indians sew
eral years before. To this couple
had been born a daughter, Rachel,
and, according to the custom of those
early days, she had married at very
tender age, Lewis Robards being her
choice for a husband. Lewis Rob-
ards is charged with having bear
ish disposition, and continually
found fault with his beautiful young
wife, and was insanely jealous of
any man who spoke pleasantly to
her. At one time he sent her back
to her mother, where she remained
for a year before a mutual friend
effected a reconciliation.
So it was that when Jackson, then
a young lawyer, took up his abode
in the Donelson home it was not
long until Robards grew jealous of
him. So violent was Robards' pas
sion that he again sent his fair wife
back to her mother, and, two years
later, in 1901, the legislature of Vir-
ginia passed a bill authorizing the
Supreme Court of Kentucky to try
before jury the suit for divorce
which Robards had brought.
After fling his petition Robards
took no further action for two
years, but in the meantime Jackson
and Mrs. Robards had been married,
evidently believing the decree of di-
vorce had been granted. When
Robards did really secure his divorce
on September .27, 1898, Jackson and
his wife were publicly married again.
Never was there the slightest sus-
picion of conjugal faithlessness
against either Jackson or his wife,
save the ambiguous conditions un-
der which they were married. Yet
the public never forgot or ceased to
gossip, anu IL IS SdlQ IudC tue over
hearing of some of the tales that
were being told really caused Mrs.
Jackson's death.
During the first campaign her hus-
band made for the presidency, when
stories were told and printed
throughout the country that form a
pitiable commentary on the political
ethics of the day, Mrs. Jackson was
in her room in an inn at Nashville.
and overheard some men in an ad-
joining room discussing her with
easy assurance and probably recount
ing in detail the slanders that were
being circulated. The horror of the
revelation-for up to that time Jack
son had been successful in his effort
to shield her from all knowledge of
the scurrilous stories-brought on
the heart attack, and she died with
in few days.
Jackson's friends declared that