The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1916-04-06
rifle HAS RECORD
Famous Relic Now in the Nation.
al Museum.
oerrlnger Rifle Used by Davy Crockett,
and In the Graves-ciiley Duel
ls Still In Excellent
Condition.

Washington, D. C.-Among the
thousands of relics in the United
States National museum at Washing.
ton, there are few objects more re.
plete with historical interest than a
certain Derringer rifle, catalogue No.
$500. This rifle was used by Col.
David Crockett Of Alamo fame, and
was also the weapon fired by Hon.
William j. Graves IN the duel with
Hon. Jonathan Cilley, resulting the
death Of the latter. 1t was made about
a hundred years ago.. and the curator
of the division Of technology says 1t Is
an exceedingly well.made and finely
finished gun, being still in excellent
condition.
Col. Wright Rives, U. s. A., who has
deposited the rifle In the museum,
states that it was made for his ia.
Their. John Cook Rives, by Henry
Derr:nger. John c. Rives was one OF
the publishers of the Congressional
Globe, now the Congressional Record,
and knew many congressman, several
Of whom he was accustomed to take
out for rifle practice to a field. some.
times used for horse racing, near
where the corner of Fourteenth
street and Park road now intersect.
Among them was David Crockett. pho,
neer, hunter. soldier and congress-.
man from 1921, and 1895, who
later lost his life at the Alamo in the
Texas struggle for freedom.
Crockett seemed particularly to like
this rifle and often joined the shoot.
ing parties to keep himself in prac.
tice.
The circumstances which led to the
fatal duel between Messrs. Graves
and Cilley of the house Of representa-.
tives. in which this rife figured &C
conspicuously, were quite unusual and
more or less complicated. The report
Of the investigating committee ap.
pointed by the house, covers the story
of this duel we'll; an abstract of ii
taken from "Notes on Duels and Duel.
ing" by Lorenzo Sabine, follows:
On February -, 1888. Henry A
Wise Of Virginia presented to the
house a copy of the New York Courier
and Enquirer. charging a member OF
congress with corruption, and asked
for an investigation of the charge. Mr..
Wise stated that the author of the
article was vouched for by the editor
of the paper, and that the house was
called upon to defend it's honor. iona.
than Cilley, member from Maine, op.
posed the resolution. and in. debate
said that II it vas the same editor
who once made charges against a
certain institution, and later received
facilities amounting to $52.O 900 from
the same institution, which he then
gave his hearty support, he did not
think the recent charges were Untitled
to much credit in an American con.
gress. Mr.. Cilley was in order; he
was quoting a published house com.
mittee report on the subject, but a
few days later the editor Of the pa.
per. Col. James Watson Webb, ad.
dressed a note to him asking il he
were the editor referred to, and, If SO,
demanding an explanation.
This note was directly responsible
for the duel between Mr.. Cilley and
| William J. Graves Of Kentucky, who
undertook its delivery on the floor Of
the house for his friend, Colonel Webb.
MI. Cilley refused to receive the note.
because he chose to be drawn into no
controversy with Colonel Webb, stat
ing hat by so doing he meant no dis
respect to the bearer; but he refused
to affirm or deny anything in regard
to Colonel Webb's character. Mr..
Graves was not satisfied, however, and
several notes between them were ex-
changed, with the result that Mr..
Graves finally challenged Mr.. Cilley
because he would not say whether he
refused the note on the grounds OF
any personal exception to Colonel
Webb as q gentleman and a man of
honor.
Naturally Mr.. Cilley denied MI.
Graves the right to demand an abso.
Lutte yes Or mo- answer, and &C.
cepted the challenge.
AAc Oucl Wd6 5Cucuu4cu AO4 y H. LIZ
on February "a, 1893, and the two
parties met near the boundary line OF
the District, on the Marlborough road.
MI. Cilley fired first, and Mr.. Graves a
second or two after him, but both
missed. Efforts to adjust the matter
were futile and the parties reassumed
their positions and exchanged shots
again. also without effect. Still being
unable to agree after further argu-
ment, they went to their positions the
third time. This time they fired very
nearly together. MI. Cilley was shot
through the body and expired a few
minutes later.
The congressional committee found
Mr.. Graves guilty of O breech of privi'
leges in the house, but held that Mr..
Cilley had remained within his rights.
They recommended the expulsion OF
Mr.. Graves from the house, and that
the seconds and friends be censured.
(fA.