The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1847-08-27
From the Kentucky Examiner.
DuelliEg.

DuelliEg.
The death of George c. Dromgoole, of
Virginia, occaSioned deep regret among
large circle of friends.
We knew him in other days. He was
no ordinary man. His mind was unusually
clear and strong and, had no adverse cir
CumstanccS occurred, he would have been
an ornament TO society, and All honor TO the
nation.
I But il was in private life he charmed.
SO simple, so kind, so true We never
knew more generous man; he was wholly
disntercsted, and knew how TO sacrifice
self with a grace which won him the love
of friends and respect of acquaintance.
a4I UNII moi. H. " as tD.'.I.'-ig 49, e.
upon false notions of honor. To peril his life
and the life of another. His antagonist fell.
From that hour he was an altered man he
knew no peace; and to drown the bitter
thought that he was a murderer. he sullicd
his soul still deeper III crime by drinking TO
excess And in early life ne was taken
from us. a dcbaScd and self blightcd man.
Yet how Ike the man was the last act of
his life. This little paragraph below inScr-
ted in newspapers without comment. and
glanced at by the reader. possibly without
thought. tells at once the rcCtitudr Of his in
tentions, and his own estimation Of the
depth of his crime.
George c. Dromgoolc, in his will gave
all his property To the children OF the
individual who fell by his hand in duel
1t has fallen to our lot. in days when we
thought duellug no sin. if we could be said
, to have thought of it at all, TO meet with
many. TO know well some, who had killed
their men. We never knew one that lived
III peace after the murder: we know only
two who survive, and they are sOts.
The first time we were called upon TO
witness duel was in Augusta, Georgia. in
; 1929. We were Just entering manhood
The parties were from our native state
We knew them both well. They were sta
toned at their places, and at the word fire.
the elder of the two, man Of promise and
Of place, fell dead. We saw him. saw his
brother, who gazcd wildly into his pale
face, just now full Of life, saw friends as
/ they huncdly took up his body. hot tears
falling down his cheeks. fall as one struck
with the palsy, for his prop the boy of his
hopes. was taken away. and there was no
longer happiness for him on earth!
But his death we Were present at il. and
!, never may we witness such another! That
subiect-so long kept sealed up by himsif
, SO long untouched by family or friend
; the murder of his school companion and
neighbor. was at last broken by himself.
, Il could not help it, said he, as his eyes
t glarcd upon us, and his breathing became
painful from its quick and audible action.
| We knew to what he referred. and ondea-
vorcd to direct his thoughts into another
channel. In vain. Il could not help il: |
, was forced into it; could help it?' And
all this was in duelling sense, true. He
} had every excuse man could have TO fight;
r hut when so assured he exclaimed wildly,
) at will not do murdered him--I see him
/ now-I have seen him as he laid dead on
, the field, ever since | saw him. My God
, My God.' And muttering these and like
sentences, with n shrek, such as | never
heard mortal utter, he died
$ Another instance. \ young Scotchman
came To Charleston. :. c.. and settled there.
: He gave offence to n noted duelliSt, and
, was challenged; fought and killed him.
, lie removed afterwards to New Orleans
, was engaged in successful business, and
l was regarded the merrieSt fellow about.
His intimate friends thought the murder
{ had made no impression upon him: not one
! of his relatives believed he cared anything
| about it.
I In 1884 or '35, he was engaged in large
! cotton spCcuationS. News of a rise in price
r reached New Orleans, soon after he had
: shipped large number of bales TO New
I York. Irhe could sell, or make some par
, ticuar arrangement, he could realize for
, tunc.-l}nt it was necessary TO go TO New
York. He jumped on board n steamer.
r went to Montgomery, Alabama. and push
, ed rapidly on by land for Washington city.
' Over excitement brought on fever, and he
! was obliged to stop i'll the interior Of South
Carolina.
{ Full fifteen years, or more had elapsed
, since he had killed his man. For the first
=. time he lay on bed of sickness. He had
c fever and dclrium with it. And in that
4. dclirium, with terrible anguish and maniac
c fury, he spoke of this deed of death 1t
: made those of us who heard him. shuddcr
as we listened w rs his laughter all along
a forccdg Had his mcrriment been lip-dccp
. of the intellect and not of the heart He
g grew better, and his physician thought him
c convalcsccnt. Now and then he would
5 start in his sleep, cNclaim, "rakc him of
: me, don't tie his dead body to me-" but the
| fever had abatcd. and we all thought he
t would soon be well. He did grow better,
! but watching his opportunity. he went to n
CncNt oil drawers. as II Tor some cIotllng,
Y Stcalthily took from ii n razor aud drew it
+, rapidly across his throat! II was dreadful
5 cash that he made. and would have been
= fatal had not one who was near struck his
e elbow, rs he was making his attempt upon
: his life.
= Poor man! lie knew and had known no
, peace, ,incc the day he killed his opponent.
/, Whom lr Thought his end near, he made the
b. confession. "Hc felt" he said, "aS if he
, Twas murderer thoughno one charged him
J.. with the crime"
e And our belief is, that no man who kills
p. another over feels otherwise Tho mark oI