Show A DUEL IN 1873 I Twice Was Ws Averted Be Before Before I fore Gossip Forced It On From Some Somo Reminiscences by Wil William l liam L HORtI of Richmond I One incident of the year ear ar In wh which ch chI I played a leading part made a groat noise at the time Miss Mary Iary Triplett one of o the most beautiful be women ever eyer created by the Almighty was at that time a reigning belle belie in tn Richmond 1 Pago McCarty an attractive sort of fellow fell ten desperately de In love with her and it U was generally genera U under understood understood stood that they had become heroine engaged to tobe tobe tobe be married All at once Miss Mary Mar I broke off with h l m ni and went to Europe where she stayed possibly po a year ear When I she returned she would not speak to McCarty and would never nevor afterward have anything to do with him We had hada in two a german dub lub that met mt onlY oner weeks The club dub was wu usually led by b al a reckless bright audacious fellow named I Sprigs S Campbell At one of their meet m Et ings l Campbell amp contrived a figure that would throw McCart McCarty and Miss Ml Trip Triplett Triplett I lett together for a dance It was s swanton r wanton act a t Intended for cleverness They met and commenced to dance but after a turn or two Miss Triplett disen disengaged disengaged ed herself and a ad walked to her Every E ry one knew that she he intended It IL as aa asa aalur asS a S slur lur on McCarty McCatty It threw h bin 1110 in Into a desperate det ratE rage ra f fA Amongst A the young men m n of Richmond B at that time was wa one named John Mordecal Morde al He was els pi ei feet two to about 33 years of oC age and one of the handsom handsomest hand est men I have haw ever eer seen He had served gallantly g Jl nth through the war ar as a private soldier in the Richmond Howitzers Howitzer was wae wasa w wa a fellow of the most delightful wit and take him all in all I think he was about the most charming harming companion I have ever known Handsome gallant chiv chivalrous chivalrous affectionate and witty Itty I have 1138 never neer seen his like He too was waa desperately des tIes desperately in love with Miss Triplett The night of the german erman and ami after ann it was over oveT McCarty went to the Enquirer newspaper and offered them the Ute follow following followIng ing in verses Te which the paper published next morning When hen Marys queenly form I press In Strauss latest waltz I would as well her Ups lips caress careM Although those thOle lips ItIN be H false For lor still sun with fire love teve tips dart 1 And kt dIes up anew The flames that once consumed my m heart When ben those dear lips Ups were true Of form so 80 fall fair of faith so 80 faint taint If truth were only in her Though Tb uh shed b be then t n the sweetest saint Id still feel teel a sinner I was as a bachelor then and took mv my m meals meal usually at restaurant re The net morning after alter the german g I 1 Iwas was in GeroVa getting setting my m breakfast I and had just jut read thel these verses in the Enquirer when John came cam In 10 i He took up the paper and his eyes fell feu fellen i ion I Ion on en the th he verses He understood the whole who i i situation at once and I 1 saw his race a aget get as 88 black as midnight Laying down don i tile ute paper he said perceiving that I understood the ease case I 1 snail n kill that fellow i iI I remonstrated with him telling him it was a matter that he had no right to i Interfere with that th t Miss Triplett had hada a grown brother who would do what whatever whatever ever wa WILlI proper to be done In such a I case and that he be did not know i I she or her family wanted wan t d anything done I He would not be quieted however but out II went off to our mutual and very dear friend Willie Tillie Trigg to consult with him Trigg told him exactly what hat I r had told hm and between us we got gol him to promise to let McCarty alone I That night I 1 met him at the Richmond club and being seated together on a asora sofa sora he proceeded to denounce McCarty In the most unmeasured twin tun A reT rel relative of McCarty overheard him and rr re reported port ported d the th denunciation to McCarty At that time duelling was dying in Vir Virginia I ginia but K It I was a very VI far from dead dea I j I McCarty sent a friend to Mordecai Mordecal de tie a retraction and apology apoloS 1 which Mordecal refused to make I knew that McCarty said he had not I I written the verses about Mary Triplet but about another lady lad named Mary Iary 1 I I and I intervened Intervene as IS a friend and got i ith I the th matter patched up Upon the basis basin of f the v erses er having been written about I another person Thereupon the matter I Iw was wa w supposed to be closed dosed But there were wen goss ps In Richmond and one a singularly beautiful and in intelligent I girl girt made her tongue busy bu I with insinuations that McCarty McCart had j backed out because u e he was waa afraid I These things came to Mccartys ear and put him in a terrible fury rUTY I A short time afterward aro Mordecai on n tend the barroom of the Richmond club dub i where here McCarty and Charley Hatcher were er Mordecai Mordecal ordered a R drink and I while bile t was being prepared McCarty walked up and down don the floor right by bv Mordecai Mordecal making reference reter nce to the affair af i i fair and making throats threats of ot what he hI j would do the next neAt time he be got a j I chance Presently walked up u i ito Ito to him and said Do you mean tho those I remarks for me McCarty replied in inthe Inthe I the most insulting manner And who are you sir Mordecai Mordecal lord answered I J Iam Jam Iam am a gentleman at least McCarty said aid as offensively offen as possible Ah and Mordecai Mordecal instantly struck him a powerful blow In the face t ec which cut all aU aUthe the skin from over oer his left lett eye and felled I him to the floor Mordecal then jumped I I II on him seizing both his wrists apt hal I I I I pinned to tu tie if floor fluor wha wh n J I I rushed m In n and separated separate them 11 at once onel sent Mordecai Mordecal a per peremptory peremptory peremptory challenge by b Colonel William WilliamB i B Tabb and it was agreed that the duel dul should come off oft at nt once near Oak Oakwood Oakwood wood McCarty to be represented by Colonel Tabb and John a S Meredith Mordecal Mordecai by b myself and Willie Trigs Trig The terms were that they were to lire at ten paces The command would be Fire one two three They could fire at any time after the word firs tIrO fir but not after alter the word three It The weep WOOI weapons ons to be b used were Colts army ann revolvers ers era all six chambers loaded We e placed planed the men the word was given both men fired and both missed Tabb said ld to McCarty Arc rt re you satis satisfied nod fled McCarty replied Oh no I de tie demand I mend mand another fire Again the word was wae given both men fired red and ti both fell McCarty u was s badly bady wounded by bya bya a shot in the hip Mordecai had been struck in 10 the naval n vel the ball bail ng the intestines He Ha died dl on the fourth day da after the duel McCarty lin lingered lingered a long time but finally I I and in a trial was fined and sent to jail jaU for six eix months The e governor re remitted remitted the th jail J sentence ok OR the doctors certificate that it would endanger end his life Ufe I think was WItS one ote ot of the tile knib t gentlemen gentleman g that ever Qed on title this earth An n hour hOOF before rore hs ending h he sent sont for Cor me Putting Put ng his arms around my mJ neck he pulled my ear down don to hl bib mouth and whispered Remember Royall ROYAn what I told toM you Jou I answered I 1 certainly shall hall John J It was a IL mes moe sago sage to his sweetheart art |