Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1842-10-14

and took q cup Of strong coffee, and all
4 things being ready we got Toto the car
risge and set of for the field Of honor!
1t was a beautiful morning, The air was
pure and baIsamic- tho eastern sky was
sIreaked with orange Iinls, the mist was
fading from the hills, the birds were
singing, and the tell pines we're gently
waving in the morning b%reeze-Ihe
world never looked more beautiful.
!'The morn, in russell mantle clad,
Walked DER the dew Of yon high east
ern hill"
wa abou, 10 quit this world so fresh
and gay and bsautiful-in the season Of
youth with every bright and sncoursg
ing prospect before me; not by fell dis
ease or decay Of nature, or sudden Visi.
tation Of Pruvldsac e, but u victim TO
what was called honor. was either 10
kill a mar who had never wronged me,
or meet my death al his hands without
ever having wronged him. What mad
ness, folly, and lnlaIuaIloD! yet the
lyrant custom had stamped the impress
Of chiValry upon such appeals, and they
could not be evaded. ! pulled from me
SeVa raj heavy signs as these and similar
Thoughts passed through my mind. !
Ielt the same regret that | should have
felt Tor another person in my situation.
The carriage drove on rapidly, and my
friends regarded me with an interest
that was quite painful, and | wished
the affair was over. At length we rea-
cEed The appointed spot: it was a bsauli
tuI valley on a fine level piece Of ground
IN the n~eighborhood Of two or three cot
tages. Every thing looked green, and
fresh and beautiful Ga aIighting from
The carriage ! found a Iarge party Of
gentlemen present: ome had arrived 10
gigs, and some on horseback, and some
pedestrians, together With a few colored
gentlemen and many miscellaneous per
sous, drawn from the %nelghboring Gotta
yes, having understood that something
Of importance was going on,
In a lew minutes nv Antagonist and
his friends made their appearance, and
The necessary preparations commenced,
As | was the challenged person | had
the choice Of wespOns, distance aud pO-
)sition. | chose ten paces-the parties
TO stand back to back at that distance
and wheel and FIRE at the word. Ghost
this mode Tor several ~reasOns--it was ia
c~onSonance with the rules of honor,
which did DOT necessarily claim u VIC
lin by a direct and deadly aim; it also
gave a chance Tor both or either 10 escape,
besides | did not wish to incur tn
stern goze of my an~tagonist-a deadly
scowl. tossing off The hat, aud some meIC
dramatic action for effect, to throw ms
off my guard 0rshake nv nerves, as Mar
shall Tried IN the case Of W0bb Not SEE
ing my man until brought face to face BY
The word fire, and the sudden Wheeling
gave no advantage 10 either, and wa
deemed by all, considering The Sigh
cause Of offence, as proper aud expedlent
One oI my seconds stepped over thI
gIornd-he had short legs, and Imagin
I'D that ten PAGES had actually dwlndiet
down to six. Wa took our stand bacl
TO back, | looked round and found IN,
man was not on a direct line with me 4
moved a step TO The right 10 bring hin
on a level. All things we're ready -th,
. spectators looked on silently and anxi'
ously- the question was asked, "Gentle
. men, are you Teady?" We both answer
ed with a clear, strong voice, ready =
wheel and and fire." At the word,
, wheeled with an action and posltiO
j which would have done no discredit
;. Hamlet on seeing his fathers ghost; bol
+ pistols went off simultaneously.
wheeling had a broad front view of m
q man, before touching the trigger; ! lool
u ed al him-saw him reel and fail.
. was transixed TO the spot lost a
sense of my " danger-I had hAf
him! The blood Of the first Cain wa
:, on my head. awoke 10 a sense of m
) own condition., nv knees smote Ia
gplher, and | shuddered with horror
There was considerable hustle and ruI
mug among the spectators, who ha
crowded round the fallen man. wall
-, ed towards him, he lay on his back, vii
his eyes open; ard TO my great JOY an
satisfaction. | heard hun sny,"flI haN
another shot" lie was only wounded
thu ball entered below the knee, and per
!, lroled through the calf Of The left lei
# which vas bleeding coPiousIy. breatl
/, I'd freely | was not only unlnluIed my
"a self, but | had not killed my autegonIs
1 As he coulo not stand to take anolht
q shot, The affair was considered rs honora
N DIV ended. Ny surgeon extracted III
n ball, aud bound up The wound; loaue
II my carriage 10 the injured man; and N
conduct vas pronounced supertin
throughout. All doubts Of courage ha
I...h.t. G..,.I, o.l C,ae 1hnOly no md