Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1916-11-11
A DARING DUEL|ST
Fighting Bob" Stockton Both a
Quaker and a Fire Eater.
WAS THE PRIDE OF OUR NAVY.

10 Sou'o wv - VHtabUaU TosUse VI
Getting In and Out Of Row and
Once Challenged Ten Captains Of .
British Regiment to Mortal Combat.
The life Of Robert Field Stockton Is
full Of adventure and Of remarkable
exploits. He was Quaker, and yet
he was one Of the greatest fighting
men In the American navy.
While the young American naval Of.
6cer was still In the early twenues he
found himself with no less than ten
duels on his hands. Stockton had
served with distinction In the war Of
1912, and when the rulers Of the Bar
barry states became troublesome a
short time thereafter he accompanied
the squadron to the Mediterranean and
was one Of the most active OF the Of
fcers In Kidding the sea Of the pirates.
In those days the American navy
was practically stranger in European
ports, and the British, smarting under
the defeats Of the war of 1912, were
very unfriendly toward Americans. On
one occasion the Erie, upon which yes.
sci Stockton was an officer, dropped
anchor In the bay OF Naples. An Ital-
ian came aboard for job and showed
a recommendation given him by an
American naval officer beneath which
British officer had written a con.
temptuous epithet
Stockton was furious when he read
what the British officer had written
Learning the officer was abonrd one Of
the British men-of-war in the bay
Stockton sent him challenge. The
Englishman seemed dlslnclined to fight
except at long range with pistols, but
duel was finally arranged.
Stockton shot the English officer IN
the leg. The Britisher dropped, yell.
ing: "Tm hit! I'm hit! Are you sat
isfied?" Stockton said he was not,
but finally agreed to let the matter
drop II the Britlsher showed proper
courtesy to all Americans thereafter.
From Naples the Erie sailed for Glib.
raltar. The officers Of the British regi
ment stationed there were still angry
at the memory Of the war Of 1912 and
made life unpleasant for the young
American. Stockton was not the sort
of man to take their insults calmly
The upshot was that he rashly agreed
to fight a duel with each OF the regi
ment's ten captains. The chances OF
his returning home looked very small.
Yet he fought several Of the duels
wounding his adversarles, and escaped
practically unhurt. The series o.
fights came to an end In sensation
al fashion before all ten Of the cap
tains had met him. In one encounte
Stockton had just wounded his oppo
nent severely when a guard OF British
cavalrymen swooped down upon hin
and placed him under arrest. Stock
ton wrenched himself free, sprang n
one Of his mounted captors, tore tn
man from the saddle, vaulted on TO tn
riderless horses back and gallope,
away to his ship. outstripping his pur
suers and gaining the Erie In safety.
Stockton. feeling that he had beei
deceived by the British officers an,
that their conduct I'm arranging 70
his arrest was contemplate, brande
them as n lot Of knaves. Meanwhile
Stockton was the idol OF the squadron
and when he returned to New Yor
In 1921 he was Fighting Bob TO th
whole country.
charge OF the American Colonizatio
soclety's expedition to found n negr
colony on the west coast OF Africi
BY rare diplomacy he secured and SCI
tied the African territory that late
became the Republic OF Liberia. Ono,
while In Liberia, he held whole ho'
tile tribe at bay single handed by levc
Ing a pistol at their king. Upon hi
return. there being no work for hi
In the navy, he retired and for twely
years he was n successful tinaucler an
promoter.
In 1898 Stockton went back to the SCI
> tie utNbttu ulilStli w lulluuu'ihS ih'
our fleet the use OF steam vessels
place OF the old fashioned sailing shlI
aud was thus In way the father ,
the present mighty battleshlp an
cruiser Later he was made COZ
mander In chief OF the squadron In Il
| proposed attack on California, and
| a short time he won for himself u
| title Of "Conqueror OF California"
| honor OF his achievements s,ockto
| Cal, and stockton street In San Fra
| cisco bear the conqucror's name.
III Stockton died In 1860, having col
| bined during his career OF soldier
| fortune the vocation Of duellst, 81
fighter. colonIzer, territorial conquerC
| fnancler and statesman philadelph
Press.
/ "