Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1829-11-12

I you irlSntea me, and a cool hand is a sood
| safeguard" 5oou
"A cool head is better" replied Bateman.
| coid heart may make it so. Mr.. Bate
man" retorted the knight, eand / leave Won
an ,'e oehent tiiat IS TO be derived from it,
Here one oil the country people standing
near WIN small bottle OF the .saatiYer in his
hand, to comfort him in the freshness of the
morning conceivins, | suppose, that Kilgob-
ON was complaining of the coldness of his
heart winch ne concluded was a very an
iuc'sy ieehng at such moment, with equal
simplicity and good nature. said. .Ah. tfen
dram?'' 'P VI
! chow can he, my good fellow" said Bate
man, don't you see he is out of spirits this
Iior7aing7''
Inns sally produced general laugh, not
withstandlng the seriousness OF the occasion:
Tor Fat, yon know, can't resist Joke, even
when the rope is about his neck fhe knight
looked ike thunder, and his old crony, Col.
| Cavanaugh, turning to Bateman, exclaimed.
wen, Beau, will do you the justice to say,
that you are as ready with your pun or your
pistol, as any man that ever stepped on the
Curragh of kildare."
] As challenger, the knight was to have the
FIRST shot; the signal was given, and he fired
without effect Bateman now received the
word, and instantly discharged his pistol the
ball striking the ground at his antagonists
feet The seconds now delivered another
pistol to each, the groups around hardly
breathing, so absorbed in the interest of the
scene.
Again the word was given, and, at the
same moment, Bateman's second cried out
to the knight, '.Stop, sir, you have advanced
pace on your ground" Kilgobbin, in
drawing back, said, 81 beg pardon, was not
aware OF it." Some body among the specta-
tors cried out, ''keep your ground, knight"
upon which he Immediately said, 81 am will
ling to waive my shot to atone for any irreg
ularityn
''By no means, answered Bateman) but if
kngobbm wishes to shorten the distance, let
him advance, have no objection"
"No, no, exclaimed the seconds,) keep
| your ground, gentlemen" The signal was
then repeated, the knight fired, and the ball
took of one the breast buttons of Bateman'a
coat.
"Ihat was well intended, Kngobbin, (said
Bateman,) and in your best style"
'.No, (said the forner,) my hand is out,
and have not my own pistols"
| Bateman then fired in his turn, his hall
passing through the sleeve of kiigobbin's shirt
without touching his arm.
''Come, that's not bad" said the knight.
| Some confusion seemed here to arise a.
mongst the crowd, and horseman appeared
at distance, galloping towards the ground:
| a cry was heard that the high sheriff of the
county was coming.
'By Jupiter! exclaimed his brother, who
was presently that is impossible, for | left
him in his bed yesterday, having been wound
ed in duel, the day before, with the clerk of
the peace" II was now discovered that the
horseman was kilgobbin's groom, with his
masters lavorite pistols, which he had sent
for to a considerable distance, and had not
arrived in time. The knight seemed much
| pleased to get them, and requested to have
them loaded instead OF those he had used.
Bateman's second objected to any change
OF pistols, unless his principal were allowed
! to take his choice of one of them.
kilgobbin agreed to this, but Bateman re-
| fused, saying, gaily, that he was too good a
carpenter to find fault with his tools. They
now resumed their stations, and the knight
having received one of his favorite weapons,
was called on TO fire, which he did, with more
deGberation and effect than before. Bateman
was seen to stasger back few PAGES, and
drop on one knee, the pistol, in his effort to
recover himself, fell from his hand and explo
ded, but without doing any mischief. He
was, however, Immediately on his ground
again, declaring he was but slightly hurt, and
calling for another pistol.
The seconds now interfered, asserting that
enough had been done to satisfy the honour OF
both parties; and the spectators eagerly join
ed in their opinion, crying out, NO more, no
more, gentlemen
Kilgobbin. observing the general sentiment.
said, The had no objection nosO to accept
proper Apology
What do you say, Mr.. Bateman? asked
young French, who seemed particularly anx-
ious to put an end to the affair.
Il say, SIR steadily, replied Bateman, that
am not man to make an apology at the
muzzel of a pistol on any occasion, but In the
present instance, to offer an apology would
edge an accident TO be an offence. an here
to satisfy the Knight OF Kilsobbin, but not to
humour him.sst
At this moment, up comes the King OF the
Curragh, as he was called, old SIR Toby
Tuite, whose word for half century, was
lconsidered in that part at the country, as the
law and the gospel In all matter OF dueiling'
horse-racing. and cock-fighting. As he was
acquainted with the case, the seconds appeal
ed to bin, and general silence took place
liminediaty, to hear the veterans decision,
which he delivered with great solemnity.
Gentlemen. said he, "a blow is the great
est indgnity which can be pnt upon man OF
honour and feeling. My friend, kiigobbin
has received one in public, under circumstan-
ces which might reasonably make a man OF
hieh spirit very reluctant to admit the excuse