THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 12, 1995 TAG: 9510120541
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JOAN C. STANUS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 85 lines
A set of antique dueling pistols.
A dead body discovered in the courtyard of the historic Moses Myers House.
A famous 18th century duel played out among the gravestones of St. Paul's Episcopal Church.
Put all these clues together and what do you get?
A murder-mystery dinner that promises to offer a well-balanced menu of serious history, '90s-style entertainment and some hearty indulgences served in two of Norfolk's most historic structures.
Sponsored by the Friends of Norfolk's Historic Houses, the party is set for Oct. 29, ``just in time for Halloween,'' notes Patrick Brennan, director of the historic homes for The Chrysler Museum.
A 6 p.m. cocktail party at the Myers house kicks off the affair. Professional actors will mingle through the crowd, advocating the cases of two famous Americans:
Stephen Decatur, an American naval hero who distinguished himself during the Barbary War and the War of 1812, and
James Barron, another naval officer who was severely disciplined for his actions while commanding the USS Chesapeake in an 1807 incident with the British warship, a Leopold.
After a long dispute, the two men dueled March 22, 1820, in Bladensburg, Md. Although Barron was wounded in the hip, Decatur was killed.
Their story goes something like this: After Barron was relieved of his command, Decatur became commander of the Chesapeake and later sat on the board of inquiry that suspended Barron. In 1818, five years after Barron's suspension expired, Decatur continued to fight against his reinstatement. Barron took this as a personal affront, and the two began a heated correspondence. Rumors at the time said that Decatur called Barron a coward. Eventually, Barron challenged Decatur to a duel.
One of the four sets of pistols used in the duel were owned by Moses Myers' son, John. Handmade by British craftsman D. Egg, the guns were known to be an ``exceptionally fine set of pistols,'' explained Harriet Collins, manager of the Myers home. ``Since John happened to be friends with both men, he was asked to send them as the neutral set.''
Historians never have been sure which pistols of the four actually were used in the duel, although Collins said many have speculated that the Myers set was the ``logical choice.''
During the murder-mystery evening, party-goers will get a chance to view the pistols and learn more about the historic duel. As an added ``treat'' after cocktails, a ``dead body'' will be found in the courtyard of the historic home, just as the party-goers move to the nearby St. Paul's church. Brennan explains that clues will be ``sprinkled around the murder scene'' so guests can figure out the identity of the ``murderer.''
Over a full-course dinner at the church, everyone will get a chance to discuss the case and confront the murderer. The culmination of the event will be a re-enactment, ``complete with blood packets,'' of Barron and Decatur's duel in the graveyard of the historic church.
``It should be a lot of fun and very informative, too,'' Brennan explained. ``There are a lot of latent historians out there, and this really allows them to come out in an informal setting and discuss events that actually happened. We chose this topic because we already had these pistols . . . and we thought it would make a nice connection.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo courtesy of THE CHRYSLER MUSEUM
These pistols are believed to be the ones that were used in an 1820
duel between naval officers Stephen Decatur and James Barron.
Photo courtesy of JANE HOPE BAKER
James Barron was disciplined for his actions while commanding the
USS Chesapeake in an 1807 incident with a British warship.
Graphic
TO PARTICIPATE
Cost of the meal and the evening's entertainment is $40 per
person. Members of the Friends of the Historic Houses get a $5
discount. Reservations are limited and must be made by Oct. 23. Call
664-6283 for reservations or more information.
by CNB