Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1847-09-02


knew more generous man he was
wholly disinterested, and knew how to
sacrifice self with grace which won him
the love of friends, and the respect OF ac-
qualntances.
In an evil hour he was tempted, acting
upon false notions of honor, to peril his
life and the life Of another. His antago-
mist fell. From that hour he was an al
tered man he knew no peace and to
drown the bitter thought that he was Il
murderer, he sullied his soul still deeper
in crime by drinking to excess And i'll
early life he was taken from us, deba-
sed and sei-blighted man!
/ Yet how like h,m was the last act OF
his life. This little paragraph below, i'll
serted in newspapers without comment,
aud glanced at by the reader, possibly
without thought, tells, at once. the recti
tudc of his intentions, and his own estl-
nation Of the depth of his crime.
George G.. Dromgoole, in his will,
gave all his property TO the children OF
the individual who fell by his hand in a.
duel"
1t has fallen to our lot, in days when
we thought duelling no sin, five could be
s9id TO have thought about il at all. 10
meet with many, to know well some, who
had Killed their men. We never knew
one who lived in peace after the murder
we know onl two who survive, and they
are sots.
The first time we were called upon to Wit
ness a duel was in Augusta, Georgia, III
1899. We were Just entering manhood.
The parties were from our native state
We knew them both well. They were
stationed at their places, and at the word
promise and place, fell dead. We saw
him-saw his brother who gazed wildly
into his pale face, just now so full Of life
saw friends as they hurredly took up. his
body, and bore him onward to his home.
And we saw afterwards the grey haired
father as he bent over that body, hot tears
falling down his checks, fall as though one
struck with the palsy, for his prop, the
boy of his hopes, was taken away, and
there was no longer happiness on earth l.
But the survivor Business relations
brought us together we were his attor-
ncy and we had to see him at his home
and at our house. In company, we saw
no change in him; he was light-hcarted,
almost irolickaome in his gayety. lie
never spoke of the murder, by an unut.
tered but wcll-understood compact, land
how terribly did this describe the deed y
none ever referred to it. Soon after we
found he was fast becoming n drunkard,
and scarce three years had passed since
the duel, ere he was stricken down IN
early manhood, and laid near his antgg
mist i'll the earth.
But his death We were present at it.
never may we witness such another -
That subIect-so long kept sealed up Ivy
myseIf-so long untouched by family or
!riend-the murder of his school COM
panion and neighbor, was at last broken
by himself could not help it," said
he, us his eyes glared upon us, and hs
breathing became painful from it's quick
and audible action. We knew to what
he referred and endeavored to direct his
thoughts into other channels. In vain.
'' could not help it +; ! was forced into
it could help it :" And all this
was, in dueling sense, true. lie had
every excuse a man could have TO fight
out when so assured, he exclaimed Wild
y, " 1t will not do murdered him-I
sec him now have seen him as he ay
dead upon the field, ever since slew him.
My God My GodW And muttcring
hese, and like sentences, with a Shrek
such as never heard mortal utter, he
lied
Another instance. A young Scotch
nan came TO Charleston, 5. c., and set
led there He gave offence to a noted
lucllst, and was challenged fought aud
killed him. He removed afterwards 10
New Orleans was engaged in successful
business, and was regarded the merriest
cllow about. His intimate friends thought
he murder made no impression upoh4
iim not one Of his relatives believed lie
jared anything about it.
In 1884 or '35, he was cnrrgcd in
argc cotton speculation. News of rise
n price reached New Orleans, soon after
he had shipped large number Of bales
o New York II he could sell, or make
ome particular arrangement, he could
ealizc a fortune. But it was necessary
o 90 to New York. lie jumped or
BOARD n steamer, went to Montgomery.
Alabama, and pushed rapidly on by land
or Washington city. Over-eXcitement
brought Oh fever, aud he was obliged 10.
top in the interior Of South Carolina.
Full fifteen years had elapsed since be
lad killed his man. For the first time he
nv on bo of sickness lie had fever,
md dclirium with it, And ia that deli
ium, with terrible anguish and moniuc
ury, he spoke of his deed Of death II
made those of us who heard him shuddcr
5 we listened Was his laughter Ill u
Dng forced Had his mcrrlmcnt been
p deep of the intellect, and not of the
cart lie grew better, and his physi-
ians thought him convalescent. Now
nd then he would start in his sleep and
xclaim, "Takc him OF me don't tie
lis dead body TO me !" but the fever had