The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1922-08-31
HISTORIC DUEL
FOUGHT IN LANCASTER OVER EIGHTY YEARS AGO
WILDLY RECALLED
Both Participants Prominent
,By Clay su,ton)

fought in the outskirts Of this city.
in 1870, Is probably 'he only instance
in the history Of Kcrtueky where a
personal insult was wiped out by the
arbitrament Of the sword on the field
Of honor. The medieval custom Of
dueling. even in the early decades Of
the last century, was held in unmis-
taxable disrepute b. public senti-
ment, although a number Of promi-
nent men. including Henry Clay, him
self, who fought two duels. had re-
course TO thi, method Of satisfaction
as a balm for wounded honor
The clash between Kemper and
Thompson was a dramatic and san
culinary combat. Both principles
were Kentuckians by birth. and one
% them. Kemper, a lawyer by pro-
fession. Moreover, by a singular
coincidence both were thoroughly
familiar with the scientific use 81 the
sword ms a deadly weapon.
Kemper was the scion Of a proud
and influential family Of this county.
He was educated in New Orleans,
where he had numerous relatives. and
IL wa. in that city that he studied law
and also learned the art Of fencing
as n polite accomplishment. Upon
his return to Kentucky he begun the
practice Of law in this city. He was
then only twcnty-six years Of age.
The antecedents Of Thompson are
involved in some ,hscurity. IL il
known. however. tina. he was q very
studious and ambitious young man,
tina, he left Kentucky at the early
age Of twenty years and crossed the
Atlantic ocean In cattle ship, at
forwards making his way 20 Paris.
where he studied medicine at the
medical department Z the Sorbonne
for a period Of abou' three years.
A cynie by na,urr, he found IL
quite easy TO sdap: himself to the
rather arrogant. Bohemian life char
ae;eristic Of many French medical
schools Of that period. II seems al
so that he possessed a very violent
temper. fact which frequently in
volved him in quarrels with his fell
low-students. Indeed il was in the
settlement Of one OF these disputes
BY a d-clash on the field Of honor
jus; outside Of Paris that his
left cheek was run through
by a napier in the hand OF his adver-
sary. Thompson had about complet-
ed his studies in medicine when his
father died. circumstance compel
ling his immediate return 10 Ken
lucky for the purpose Of settling the
paternal estate, TO which he had fall
en- heir. this property consisting %
some valuable real estate in this
county.
II was at this tine that an ae-
quaintance between Kemper and
Thompson. formed when they were
mere boys attending the same school
here. was renewed. a tie, however.
which was very soon afterward rupt-
ured by a dramatic incident which
occurred at the court house here.
II was precipitated b. a hot political
argument between the two men in
which Thompson gave Kemper the lie
direct, hazardous imputation,
by the way. for Ken,per was not a
man TO brook with pg'ienee an insult
leveled at his honor. The affront
was no sooner given than he slapped
Thompson on both cheeks with such
violence that he was sent reeling
backwards. A clinch followed. but
several friends quietly interferred
and they were forcibly separated.
The irate Thompson still struggling
in the hands Of his friends, now chal-
lenged Kemper to formal combat.
an invitation which was promptly ae-
eepted. following which seconds were
appointed on the spot by both par
ties. Kemper chose swords TO fight
with, a selection acceptable enough
to his opponent, himself a rather
clever swordsman who had already
participated in at least two duels in
France. The proposed meeting was
kept as secret as possible.
At Lexington. two rapiers Of exact
~ similar pattern ws'e secured, hav-
ing flexible blades thirty-two inches
in length. with dagger points, and
representing the last word in ornate,
tempered steel. A lttle before sun
rise on September ~. 1870 the en-
tire party, consisting Of the prinei-
pals, four seconds and a couple Of
surgeons, hastily left town in car
riages and assembled in a grove Of
trees near the present residence Of
John NJ. Farra. and only a stone
throw from the Stanford turnpike.
Once at this rendezvous the sec
onds held a brief conference, speak