Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1916-11-02
A DARING DUEL|s7
Fighting Bob" Stockton Both a
Quaker and a Fire Eater.
WAS THE PRIDE OF OUR NAVY.
He Could Give D'Artagnan Points on
Getting In and Out Of Rows and
Once Challenged Ten Captains Of .
British Regiment to Mortal Combat.

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 a Quaker, and yet
he was one of the greatests fighting
men In the American navy.
While the young American naval Of.
fcer was still In the early twenties he
found himself with no less than ten
dues on his hands. Stockton had
served with distinction In the war Of
1912, and when the rulers Of the Bar.
barry states became troublesome
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
q British officer had written q con.
temptuous epithet.
Stockton was furious when he read
what the British officer had written.
Learning the oficer was aboard one Of
the British men-of-war In the bay,
Stockton sent him challenge. The
Englishman seemed dislnclined to fight
except at long range with pistols, but a
duel was finally arranged.
Stockton shot the English officer In
the leg. The Britisher dropped, yell.
ing: I'm hit! I'm hit! Are you sat.
isHed?" Stockton said he was not
but finally agreed to let the matter
drop II the Britisher 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 ant
made life unpleasant for the younl
American. Stockton was not the sor
Of man 10 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 o.
his returning home looked very small.
Yet he fought several Of the duels
wounding his adversaries. and escape,
practically unhurt- The series o
tights 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 guard OF Britisl
cavalrymen swooped down upon hin
and placed him under arrest Stock
ton wrenched himself free. sprang a
one OF his mounted captors, tore tn
man from the saddle. vaulted on to tn
riderless horses back and gallope
away to his ship. outstripplng his pun
suers and gaining the Erie in safety.
Stockton. feeling that he had bee
deceived by the British officers an
that their conduct I'm arranging f.
his arrest was contemplate, brande
them as a 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 N
whole country.
! Stockton's next mission was TO TAX
charge OF the American Colonlzatio
soclety's expedition to found negr
colony on the west coast OF Africi
BY rare diplomacy he secured and Sc
tied the African territory that lat,
became the Republic OF Liberia. One
while In Liberia. he held a whole no
tile tribe at bay single handed by leve
ing a pistol at their king. Upon b
return. there being no work for bill
In the navy. he retired and for twel,
years he was successful tinancIer an
promoter.
In 1888 Stockton went back 10 the Sc
lie devoted himself TO introducing I'M
ouE u'tl Tue use VI NN'uh N'HNtiS
. place OF the old fashioned sailing shil
and was thus In way the father
= the present mighty battlcshlp al
cruiser Later he was made col
= mander In chief Of the squadron In q
! proposed attack on California. and
a short time he won for himself q
title OF "Conqueror OF California"
honor Of his achievements stockto
| Cal. and Stockton street In san Fra
cisco bear the conqueror's name.
| Stockton died In 1893, having col
| bined during his career OF soldier
| fortune the vocation Of duellst. y
| fighter. coloniEer. territorial conquer'
| anancier and statesman -PhIladclph
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