Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1916-03-10
RIFLE HAS RECORD
Famous Relic Now in the Nation
al Museum.
Derringer Rifle Used by Dsvy Crockett
and In the e%raves-cIiey Duel
Is still in Excellent
Condition.

NAANhaNAan VI 1AAN ~ EAR me-
States National museum at Washing.
ton. there are few objects more re-
plete with historical interest than a
certain Derringer rife. catalogue No
$500. This rife was used by Col.
David Crockett OF Alamo fame, and
W J also the weapon fred by Hon.
William J. Graves in the duel with
Hon Jonathan Cilley. resulting the
death OF the latter. II 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 rife in the museum.
Their. John Cook Rives. by Henry
Derringer. John G. 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 rractice to a field. some
times used for horse racing, near
NnEAG NnC CoAmGA VI EOhANOShNh
street and Park road now intersect.
Among them was David Crockett, piO-
neer, hunter, soldier and congress
man from lS27-31, and l833-35. 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 Mesgrs, Graves
and Cilley OF the house Of representa-
tives. In which this rife figured 80
conspicuously. we're quite unusual and
more or less complicated. The report
% the investigating committee APP
pointed by the house. cover the story
of this duel we'll; an abstract of 1t
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 waT vouched for by the editor
of the paper. ED that the house vas
called upon to defend its honor. Tona-
than Cilley, member from Maine, OPP
posed the resolution. and in debate
said that II II was the same editor
who once made charges against a
,,-tn9- gnrkFN,Nfar nnA Iaknr ronofund
facilities amounting to $52. 900 from
the same institution, which he then
gave his hearty support. he did not
link the recent charges we're Untitled
to much credit in an American on
gress. Mr.. Cilley vas 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 If he
we're the editor referred to, and, II SO,
demanding an explanation.
This note was directly responsible
for the duel between Mr.. Cilley and
William J. Graves Of Kentucky. who
undertook it's delivery on the floor OF
the house for his friend. Colonel Webb.
Mr.. Cilley refused to receive the note,
because he chose to be drawn into no
c. ~ntroversy with Colonel Wetb, stat
ing that by so doing lie meant no dis.
respect to The bearer; but he refused
to affirm or deny anything n Regard
to Colonel Webb's character. Mr..
Graves was not satisfied, however. and
Sc geral notNs between them we're 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 a gentleman and a man of
honor.
Naturally Mr.. Cilley denied Mr..
Graves the right TO demand an abso-
lutte yes or "no" answer. and &C
cepted the challenge.
The duel was scheduled for 3 p. m,
on February "a. 1888. and the two
parties met neal the boundary line OF
the District, on the Marlborough road.
Mr.. Cilley fired first, and Mr.. Graves q
second or two after him. but both
J mlASeu EAOlNn " dhJuSN NhO UaANuA
we're 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. Mr.. Cilley was shot
through the body and expired a few
minutes later,
The congressional committee found
Mr.. Graves guilty Of a breech Of privi
leges in the house. but lei that Mr.
Gin had remained within his rights
they recommended tine expulsion OIL
Mr.. Graves from the house, and that
this seconds and friends be eens-red
Wolves Approach a City.