Evening star., 1925-03-22

devious on horseback. 1t required
two days to get there, and every
where along the route the Jackson
party was told of the shooting Prov
| ess Of a man named Charles Dickin-
| son, who had passed through the day
before. At each farm, cross roads,
village or store tales were related of
the Qulckness and accuracy of Dick
inson with his pistols. No one knew
why the exhibitions were given, but
they were so remarkable that they
were repeated eagerly to the next
party that came along, which hap
pened to be the Jack son party. Dick
inson, of course, knew Jackson was
a day behind. He was really an eX-
pert marksman and the fancy work
en- route was intended to get Jack
sons goat-which it did.
JUDGE OVERTON and Jackson were
y so deeply impressed by Dickinson's s
feats (and by his wide reputation as
a crack shoD that they adopted a
unique, though risky, plan of action
They decided to let Dickinson shoot
first and take the chance that he
would miss (Which was exceedingly
unlikely or that he would not wound
Jackson so severely but what the
general could take his own shot with
deliberation.
II expect to be killed" Jackson said
to Overton, but l will live long
enough to make my shot effective"
The stipulations covering the duel
provided that the duelists should
stand 25 PAGES apart, each with his
toe to a peg, with his pistol loaded
and cooked and his arm hanging
down at his side. The referee was
to count: "One, two. three-ire."
any time after the word fire The
seconds were authorized to shoot
either man who violated the stipu
lations in any particular, and were
provided with loaded, cooked pistols
for that gruesome purpose.
Jackson and Overton feared that if
Jackson tried to get in his shot first
he would miss because he would be
affected by the knowledge of Dick
insons quickness. On the other hand,
IL Dickinson shot first and either
missed or failed to kill Jackson, the
general could take his time, aim
deliberately and be certain to hit.
These pleasant topics were discussed
during the ride and the details ar
ranged accordingly, in spite of which
Jackson ate heartily at the inn where
the party spent the night before the
duel, slept soundly and partook of a
substantial early breakfast before
setting out for the dueling grounds.
Jackson was always thin to the
point of emaciation, but on the trip
to the duel he wore a. large, heavy
g1eatcoat, because of the raw. damp
late Winter weather. The garment
was actually a little too large for
him. 1t was a skirted coat and
Jackson had frightened his belt for
the occasion, which caused the upper
part Of the coat to bulge out from
his chest and give him the appear
ance of a right stable man. Whether
or not this was done with intent to
deceive Dickinson is not known.
The duelists took their places, the
signals were spoken. and. quick as
flash, Dickinson's arm came up and
his pistol belched flame. jackson
stood straight as a ramrod and never
budged nor raised his arm. Dickinson
stared at him through the smoke
MY Cod" he cried. II missed
him.
Involuntarily he recoiled a step or
two, whereat Judge Overton leveled
his pistol at him and Numbered:
"Stand to your peg, sir"
White as paper, Dickinson stepped
back into position. Jackson slowly
lifted his arm, took careful aim and
fired. Dickinson was standing side
ways to present as narrow a target as
possible, and .Jackson's ball struck
him in the side, just below the ribs,
passed clear through his body and
came out on the other side, tearing
a great ragged hole through the groin
and intestines. Dickinson fell in a
pool of blood. Jackson handed his
pistol to Overton, sent his surgeon
to help bring Dickinson to the other
inn in the town, where the Dickinson
party had spent the night. mounted
his horse and set out with Overton
at a fast trot. Ten minutes later
Overton happened to glance at Jack
| sons boot and saw blood running
over the top of it.
My God, general, were you hit?" he
asked
Yes, but it is not serious Jackson
replied, his jaws set in grim determi-
nation. Let us ride on"
By the time they reached the inn
Jackson was bleeding profusely, but
he got off his horse unassisted and
| stopped outside the kitchen, where
servant was churning, to drink a
glass of buttermilk. Once in his room
he collapsed. Investigation revealed
| the fact that he had been shot in
the breast, in the exact spot where
| his heart would have been IL his frail
body had been as big as 1t seemed
| to be in the bulging coat. His chest
| was badly torn, several ribs brok en-
| and his lung punctured. A little later
Dickinson was carried into the village,
and It was given out that Gen. jack