Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-08-03
Old Fashioned Satisfaction


quite freely 10 the dueling pistol when
they felt there was any danger Of
their shining honor becoming tar
nished Thomas II. Benton, for 80
years Senator from Missouri, was
probably the most frequent partici-
pant in duels. This was due to his
running paper In st. Louis called
The Missouri Inquirer" in which ne
set forth his views soldly and with no
fear or favor. In one duel ne killed
his opponent.
Fiery Andrew jackson was always
In hot water of some kind, and took
part in two duels. In one of them he
killed Charles Dickinson, who WAS a
dead shot with the pistol. OF this IA
nous duel IL is said that Dickinson.
TO shake Jackson's nerves. entertain
ed the party on the way TO the duel
ing grounds by shooting birds out OF
trees. and making other exhibition Of
his remarkable ability with the pistol.
Jackson, though, saved mis- own life
in curious way. He wore a coat Of
extra fullness on the left eide. which
deceived Dickinson. Dickinson's shot
missed Jackson's heart, but hit Jack
son. although he gave no sign. Then
Jackson shot Dickinson dead, and not
even Jackson's seconds knew he was
hit until he returned to the hosiery
where he WAS putting up. On draw
ing OF his left boot. il was found TO be
fun OF blood. jackson was MANNED for
life from the shot.
Jacksons other duel WAS with John
Sewer, first governor OF Tennessee.
who was one OF the prime movers in
the formation of the proposed state
OF Franklin.
One of Jacksons firmest political
friends was Thomas II. Benton, who
secured payment of the expenses of
Jackson's men after they were order
ed dishanded in Mississippi on their
way to New Orleans. This friendship
was terminated, though. when Jack
son stood as a second against Jesse
Benton, a brother OF Thomas Later
jackson threatened 10 horsewhip
Thomas Benton. The two Bentons
and jackson got into a brawl in
tavern, in which jackson was shot
twice and Jesse Benton badly stabbed.
Perhaps the most famous duel of
American history is that in which
Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr
took part Hamilton had been instru-
mental several times in blocking the
political ambitions of Burr, which the
latter keenly resented. Finally. for
some pretended or real insult, Burr
challenged Hamilton TO mortal COM
bat Hamilton was seriously opposed
to the dueling code. but felt that If
he refused TO meet Burr he would be
deemed a coward. When the men
met, it is believed that Hamilton dis
charged his weapon in the air. Burr $
shot struck Hamilton and Hamilton
died from the wound the day after the
.duel.
Many other duels between well
known Americans are recorded. De
Witt Clinton and Swartout settled
their differences on the so-called field
OF honor. Chilley and Graves fought
4 duel. CadwalIader and Conway and
General Mcintosh and Gwinnett, OF
the time of the Revolution, took part
in such ARRAYS.
Charles Lee, once second in COM
mand to Washington. and formerly OF
the British Army, proved BY history
10 be a traitor 10 America, was
wounded in duel by Colonel John
Laurens, of washingtons staff. Lee
disobeyed orders in failing to hasten
the retreat of his army across New
Jersey, and was captured by the
British. but his exchange was et-
fected because his perndy was not
known. Eventually ne was relived OF
his commission because Of an im-
pudent letter he wrote TO Congress.
Great Pacificatof Fights.
Henry Clay once forsook the fields
of oratory and statesmanship to take
part in a duel with John Randolph of
Virginia. 1t grew out of the contest
for the Presidency in 1924 when Clay
was one OF four contenders. the others
being John Quincy Adams, Andrew
jackson, and William H. Crawford
No one Of the four had a majority OF