The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1826-12-13
DUELLlNG.
From Flat's Ten gears IN the Valley q
the Mississippi"

In the towns of the upper country on
The Mississippi, and especially in St.
I9qls, here is one species of barbarhm,
thai is but too common; | mean the
hoTsid practice of dueIling But be it
remembered, this il the baFbarisnl only
Of that small class that denominate
themselves "the gentlemen" 1t can
moi be matter Of aslonishment that these
are common here, when We recollect,
thai the fierce and adventurous spirits are
naturally attracted 10 these regions, and
that il is common proverb Of the pee
pie, tiat when we cross the Mississippi,
1--WE travel beytnd the Sabbath"
Many people without education and
character, who"er not gentlemen in
the circles why're they used TO move,
get accommodated here from the tailor
with something of the externals Of a
gentleman, ami al once set up in this
newly ASSUMED character. The short
est road TO sekle their preten:ions is to
fight duel Such are always ready
for the cohbat. Most of the duels
which tooB place while | was in the
country, originated in causes like these.
The superstition in which duellng
originated is most idle one for The
innocent and amiabIe are generally seen
TO fall. and the worthless TO survive
That they are not tests OF courage, has
been so often said and sung, that ii has
become as trite as it is true. | knew in
that region an officer that fell in this
way, wlo was universally supposed TO
be csvard he challenged bis man,
believig him TO be greater coward
than himself; but in this he mistook,
went OFT, and was slain. 1t is indeed
most disgusting 10 see these DULLES, who
lie evGy day, whose life 10 fact is a
standing lie, put people TO death for call
ing than liars, and Immediately lass
for mel of honor and truth.
One duel occurred on the Illinois side
Of the liver, and not far from ST. Louis,
at Bell;vue, which ought TO serve as a
sOlemnwarning against the jest Of trying
a man'acourage in this way.-A young
gentleman, respectable attorney, had
just commenced business 10 that place
He hadbeen bullied by man, who was
indeed in officer in rank, but man OF
dubious character.-The young gentle
man had been cautioned against being
drawn into the contest, and had been as
SnreJ. ih"t according 10 the orthodox
canons of honor, the character of the
man did not Justify fighting him. But an
idea was entertained, that he had not
sufficient nerve 10 stand a challenge.
1t was agreed by bis friends that The
mex. time the man insulted him, he
should send him challenge, and that
the seconds should load both the RI
1es-for they were TO fight with rifles,
with blank cartridges. The opposite
party was net to be in the secret, and
the joke was TO watch his eye, and see
if il did not bleDch. The challenge was
sent, and the seconds on both sides
made solemn contract with each 9TH
er, that both the guns should be loaded
with blank cartridges.-The young al
tomey went out to watch the eye Of bis
antagonist and TO enjoy the joke. The
parties met, discharged, and the attor-
ney fell with two rife.bulets through
bis heart. The wretch who WIS sec
onl for his antagonist, bad violated hi:
stipulation, and had loaded the rifle with
two bullets. An amia6le young woman
was left a widow with one orphan babe.
The wretches were both arrested, con.
fined, broke jail and 1ed,-the principaI
to the remote points of Red River
whence he returned after three years tc
Illinois, was arrested, and | hope exc.
cutad, though Lam ignorant of the fact