Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1845-12-11
From the N. Y. Spirit of tho Times.
THE FAST DUEL:
proved.
OR THE MAN WHO FIRED TOO QUICK.

Some time in the fall of '39 or 40, the
French frigate La Belle Poule, then cruis-
ing in the American seas under the COM
mand of the Prince de Joinville, either for
the purpose of vctualing and watering, or
giving her officers and men short respite
from their duties, dropped her anchor in
the beautiful harbor of Pensacola. The
usual courtesies having been observed on
the part of the American men-ocwar, to-
wards the friendly stranger, their commenc-
ed series of balls and fetes in honor OF
her arrival, and in token of her welcome.
which were duly reciprocated by the gal
liant Frenchman. At one of these fetes
given on board La Belle Poule, there was.
among many other guests from the city, a
Mrs. Robbins, woman we'll calculated,
from the elegance of her person and beauty
of her manners, to take captive the heart
of a susceptible Frenchman. And so it
proVed-for the evening was not spent be-
fore Lieut.. Soulon, first officer of the ship.
was making most desperate love to the
aforesaid Mrs. r., who seemed to receive
his advances with no uncomfortable plea
sure. From that time Lieut.. Soulon was
the constant visitor of Mrs. Robbins, and
so devoted was his attentions, that finally
the jealousy Of Mr.. Robbins was aroused
and upon taking his wife to task upon the
subject, received such answers as to entire
ly confirm him in his suspicious. Being
determined to discover if there were any
reasons for his alarm, he feigned urgent and
pressing business in New Orleans, and in
formed his wife that he would probably be
detained from home a week. On the night
of the day of his pretended departure, he
returned to his house, and walking to the
window Of his wife's room, discovered 1t
Soulon on his knees before Mrs. Robbins
holding her hand, and gesticulating with all
the vehemence of an impassioned lover
Restraining his indignation, he walked into
the room, and coolly ordered the abashed
Lieutenant to leave the house, informing
him that he should hear from him in the
morning.
On the following morning Major Rush,
the friend of Robbins, waited on Lieutenant
Soulon with a challenge. 1t was accepted,
and they were to meet on the same eve
ming, with double barrelled guns at twenty
PAGES. Accordingly , at the appointed time,
they were on the ground which had been
selected Mr.. Robbins, with his second,
Major Rush; and Lieut.. Soulon, with his
friend Mr.. Belize, together with four mid
shipmen, and the surgeon of the shi p. The
ground having been measured and the par
ties placed, they were informed that they
were to ''fre between the words 'one' and
'three,'" and that if either party fred be-
fore the word 'one,' or after the word three,
that the second of the opposite party was
to shoot down the man so firing on the spot.
Every thing having been arranged, Major
Rush (who won the world asked if they
were ready d? and being answered in the af-
frmative, gave the word "6re ~ No sooner
had he said it, and before he could say 'one,'
eff went both barrels of Robbins gun, and
down dropped Lieut.. Soulon. Robbins, as
soon as the Lieutenant fell, recollecting the
terms of the combat and the penalty attach
ed tie shooting before or after the word,
dropped his gun and "broke." No sooner
had he started, than every man on the field,
his own second included, took after him,
and after running some hundred yards,
caught him, and brought him back to the
ground.
On being brought back, he protested most
against being shot, declaring