Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1916-12-30
A DARING DUELIST
Fighting Bob" Stockton Eoth a
Quaker and a Fire Eater.
WAS THE PRIDE OF OUR NAVY.


Getting In and Out of Rows and
Once Challenged Ten Captains OF a
British Regiment to Mortal Combat.
The life Of Robert Field Stockton Is
full Of adventure and Of remarkable
exploits. He was Quaker and vet
he was one Of the greatest fighting
men in the American navy.
While the young American naval Of
ficer was still In the early twenties he
found himself with no less than ten
duels on his hands Stockton had
served with distinction In the war of
1872, and when the rulers Of the Bar
bary states became troublesome
short time thereafter he ACCOMPANIED
the squadron to the Mediterranean ana
was one OF the most active of the of
hcerS In Kidding the sea of the pirates.
In those DAYS the American navy
was practically 4 stranger In European
ports. and the British. smartng under
the defeats OF the war of 1872. 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 con
temptuous epithet.
Stockton was furious when he read
what the British officer had written
Learning the officer was aboard one Of
the British men-of-war In the bay
Stockton sent him challenge. The
Englishman seemed dlsinclined to fight
except at long range with pistols. but
duel was finally arranged.
Stockton shot the English officer IN
the leg The Britisher dropped. veil
ing: I'm hii, I'm hit! Are you sat
isiiedT' Stockton said be vas not.
but finally agreed IL let the matter
drop If the Rrttisher showed proper
courtesy to MI Americans thei eafter.
From Naples the Erie sailed for Glib
raitar The officers of the Brit ish regi
ment stationed there were still angry
at the memory of the war Of ST. and
American. S, ockton was not the sort
of man TO take their insults calmly
The upshot was thai he rashl, agreed
to fight duel with each of the regi
ments ten captains. The chances of
his returning home looked very small
Yet he fought several of tie duels
woundlng his adyersarles. and escaped
practically unhurt The Sc. les OF
lights came to mn end In a sci. sation
al fashion before all ten of the can
tains had met him. In one encounter
stockton had just wounded his oppo
nent severely when n guard of British
cavalrymen swooped down upon him
and placed him under arrest Stock
tom wrenched himself free, sprang at
one of his mounted captors. tore the
man from the saddle. yaulted on to the
riderleSs horses back and galloped
away to his ship. outstrirping his pur
suerS and gaining the Erie in "a fety.
stockton feeling thar he had been
deceived by the British officers aud
that their conduct in arranging for
his arrest was contemptible branded
them As lot of knaves. Meanwhile
Stockton was the Idol of the squadron.
and when he returned to New York
in 1871 he was Fighting Bob" TO the
whole country.
Stoektons next mission was to take
charge ol the American Colonization
society's expedition to found n negro
colony on the west coast of Africa
BY rare diplomacy he secured and set
tied the African territory that later
became the Republic of Liberia. once.
while In Liberia. he held whole hos
tile tribe az bay single landed by level
ing pistol Mt their king. Upon his
return, there being no work for him
In the navy. be retired and for twelve
years he was a successful tnancler and
promoter
In 1898 Stockton went back to the sea
lie devoted himself to Introducing int
our fleet the use of steam vessels il,
place Of the old fashioned sailing ship>
aud was thus In way the father Of
the present mighty hattle,,hlp and
cruiser Later he was made com
mander In CHIEF Of the squadron In the
proposed attack on California. and I'm
short time he won for himself the
title Of 'Couqueror of California. In
honor OF his achievements Stockton
tai. aud stockton street in san Fran
cisco bear the conqueror's name.
Stockton died in 1866. having com
blned during his career of soldier Of
fortune the vocation Of duelist, sea
lighter. colonizer. territorial conqueror
hnancier and statesman Philadelphia
Press,