The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1847-10-30

We copy the following from the Raleigh
Register, Of North Carolina:

ESQ, a member of the last Legislature, from
Pitt county, was killed in duel, on Friday
morning list, al the Halfway House, on the
Dismal Swamp Canal, short distance within
the Virginia side Of the line, by r. G. Yell
low,y, Esq. OF the same county
Mr.. Harris was impetuous, il-disciplin-
ed. passionate man. lie was the Wing Repre-
sentative, last year. from his district. Mr..
YelIowly, who is amiabIe, yet rcsolute, opposed
his nomination. Harris was returned by only
ffleen majority, when the party could have Civ
en- him hundreds. Stung by the smailness Of
the return, he said, after the poll was over, to
Yeliowly-
"You damned scoundrel, you nre the cause
Of this IL you had not opposed my nomina'
ton, should have had the usual majority"
81 opposed your nomination. replied Yellow
ly, ''as had right to do, but supported you
at the balot-box."
Thereupon Harris struck him-they clinched
and were separated. Many supposed this
would end the matter. But Harris retired to
his room-armed himself with double-barrel
shoot him the first place he met him. The citi-
zens here interfered and bound both parties TO
keep the peace for twelve months.
But though the letter Of the law was kept, its
spirit was violated. Every day, and often by
moonlight, Harris was out practising, until he
had perfected himself When the year had ex-
PRED, the parties met, and the aggressor fell.
He dad by the hand of his brother, in the midst
of his long engendered and bitter hate! He
died, his last endsavor being to rob that brother
of his life. The dead sleepi the survivor, liv-
ing, though innocent az the duellist ever can be,
will mourn the blood he shed, and know peace
never more.
Is 1t not strange, that man should resort to so
savage and barbarous practice1 Is 1t not a
marvel tina, he should deliberately inflict double
murder-first upon his adversary, and, second,
a more terrible one upon himself And fer
what' Acknowledgment hastily or holly pour
ed out. This, honor says, must be atened for,
and the price is, blood, human blood, the life
God has given, and which none but God has the
ken--from the first conception to the last act of
the duel-not line penned--not an arrange
ment made-which is not marked by disbonor,
by meanness, by a species of trick and manage
ment which, elsewhere, and, under any other
circumstances, would be secuted as contemp-
tibe, and scorned as base. by all just-minded
men.
Trace the history Of duel.
A challenge passes. What IL the first step
which follows, as general ruler That the par
ties put themselves under immediate training.
They get the best pistols. Friends 90 out with
them; they take a sapling as mark; they fire at
that, until they can hit 1t easly--uptl they are
considered "a good or sure shot, The oPpo-
nents do not meet each other in the glow Of pas
sion, or the blood has cooled, and settle their
differences at once. The crack Of the pistol is not
the immediate consequence Of the insult offered,
or the injury done. But deliberately they 90 ~
work, and work hard and constantly, until they
can rim young tree no bigger round than "a
mans thumb. When this is accomplished they
nave taken the flrst step
The next is, TO accustom the nerves to the
shock OF firing man may fire well when he
is shooting alone! But the crack Of gun, shot
by another, may so stsrtle him, as to drive him
wide of the mark. To this crack he must
be thoroughly accustomed The first step is,
consequently. to use cork balls in the practice.
The graund Ia meaaurad. ,,ocE sacord. -. nm,
in proper places: a mock opponent stands OPP
positc; the word is given; and they fire. This
is kept up for days. II is kept up until the cool
observer, or the experienced trainer, and the
parties themselves, know that the eye and ear
are Familiarity accustomed TO every movement
which will be made on the field Of blood.
But this bracing the nerves, is an all-im-
portant matter, another course Of training is
resorted to, if the parties waver at all. Indeed,
it is rarely omitted by regular duellists. Four or
FIVE friends stand round the parties; some be-
fore, some back, some in front Of him; rs the
word is given-are you ready-prepare-hre-
they all blaze away, and generally before he
shoots. This is continued until the parties can
aim as well amid the confusion and noise as If
they Were alone. Sometimes. when fears are
entertained, that the nerves Of the parties are
not steady, muskeis, or heavily charged guns
are fired in their faces--and fired until they are
entirely unconcerned and firm. The physical
man is thus trained TO meet the emergency, train
ed to blunt--to deaden his sensibilities-so that
he, tab h. e al. nd
save his own.
When thus prepared, the parties meet. And
now comes an opportunity for the display of
cunning and trick.
First, there is a good deal in choice OPPOSITION.
The sun may affect the sight at one point; tree
may be near, so as to give line to the pistol; the
ground may be slightly rising, and If so the up
permost will be apt to overshoot-these, and
twenty other important, or material advantages
are to be examined into by seconds, and turned
to the best account by their principals.
Second, there is as much in giving the word
A principal gets accustomed to his seconds
voice-its pauses--the length of them-and
knows, after long practice, exactly what to do.
For instance. One second is slow--another
fast; or one begins deliberately, and quickens as
he goes on; if the party gets his own second, he
has an advantage equal sometimes to half, and,
at others, to a full count. This any one
may readily perceive by pronouncing the
usual .command-Are you rcady-prepare-
lire. One, two, three-in different tones, and
with slower or quicker movement.
Third, there is good deal in the dress. Every
object; such as button, or breast-pin, or any