The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1847-10-21
ITO The Editor of The National Whig.I
The Duel.
ny EpWARp VAN NESS.

BY EDWARD VAN NESS.
Having met accidentally with an old College ac-
quaintance whom had not seen for many years, he
gave me the following thrilling sketch Of combat
in which he had been engaged since our last meeting
Having in the course of the year 49, managed to
escape for few weeks from the cares and tolls Of
business, in the course OF through the Western
part of Virginia stopped for few days at the prln-
cipal hotel in the town of W, on the Ohio, with
the expectation of passing my time in agreeable in
tercourse with the excellent society which that town
affords. | found the company at the hotel where
stopped generally pleasant and agreeable but il hap
pened that there was staying there nj the time a
young man who was notorious duellist and who
il was said had killed two men in dues and third
in street fight. He was the most perfect muster of
the pistol had ever seen; as i saw him repeatedly
hit wafer at the distance OF ten PAGES. He had a
splendid pair of English dueling pistols, running
thirytwo balls TO the pound and another pair made
by Constable of Philadelphia, of the same calibre
and, believe, in every respect equal to the others
both were double-sighted and hair-triggered and
when saw their owner, with one Of either pair ex-
ercise his amazing skill felt that he had some reason
for his boast that with one of those pistols in his
hand and with ten PAGES of ground between them,
he did not fear to meet any man living This young
man was naturally Of an overbearing and imperious
disposition, and his great skill in arms together with
the successful issue Of all his conflicts had increased
the natural ferociy Of his disposition to such de-
gree that II was impossible to remain In his company
Tor any length of time without quarrel unless by
practising the most AFFECT submission towards him.
For some time managed to keep on good terms
with him, BY avoiding much as possible all arg,i-
ment or discussion But one afternoon, lust after
dinner he came into the sitting room where was,
apparently determined on quarrel with somebody or
other. He accordingly approached me, and made
some remarks on the subject OF politics which he
knew were in opposition to my frequently expressed
sentiments and insulting to the party which pro-
iessed TO belong endeavored as much as possible,
TO avoid him but at last he pressed me hard that
was forced to reply, when he told me abruptly that
was liar and that none but scoundrel would make
use of such remarks, knew that his object was to
force me to challenge him when he would choose
pistols und ten PAGES and consequently should have
no chance with him, l accordingly determined to
throw the onus of challenging at once on him, and in
stanly knocked him down with my fist and gave him
two or three kicks, when left him, and went to my
ROOM The prompt manner in which had resented
his insult was greatly believe, to the surprise Of
himself as well the spectators, as from nv mild
ana unassuning department, had not been look
ed upon as much Of fighter. | had not been long
IN my room before received a challenge from my
late antagonist by the hands of sort of half gentle
man and hall blackleg, who had been for some time
hanging about him, and attempting to win his favor
ior the sake OF ultimately winning his money. |
promptly accepted the challenge, and told the indi
yidual who brought it that / would get a friend 10
meet him at my room at 6 o'clock in the evening.
for the purpose of arranging the terms Of combat. i
accordingly went to highly respectable gentleman
OF the place, Mr.. H. who happened to be present at
the time the difficulty took place. and requested him
to act as my second-teing him ut the same time
VINO was and showing him some letters Of intro
duchon from som&of our most distinguished public
men to some of the most influential and respectable
citizens Of Western Virginia. The gentleman to
whom applied, on seeing my letters at once agreed
10 act as my second; and on my telling him that
intended to fight with rifles, he asked whether was
skilled in the use of that weaponl And on my re-
plying that considered myself almost as great an
ADEPT In the use OF that weapon as my antagonist
WINS In the use OF the pistol. He expressed high
degree OF satisfaction and produced splendid rifle
OF his own, made by the celebrated Dickson of Ken
lucky, of which he offered me the USE had no soon
or cast my eyes on the gun than an exclamation of
pleasure escaped my lips at being furnished with SO
choice weapon. II was precisely the length OF
barrel, the weight, and calibre to which had been
accustomed, viz: three feet eight inches on the bar
rel weighing eleven pounds, stock and ALL and run
ming eighty balls to the pound. My friend propos-
ed that we should walk out short distance from the
house into the suburbs and take few shots, for the
sake Of renewing my practice, and becoming fami-
liar with the gun. We accordingly walked out, about
half mile; and, after coming to aproper place, X.
made cross with his penknte upon piece of shin
gle which he had brought with him for the purpose
and cutting out small piece Of white paper about
an inch square, he passed pin through the centre
OF the paper and then fired at in the intersection OF
the cross. The single was then set up at the dis
lance or thirty yards, that being the distance at
which had determined to fight. K then loaded
MS rifle, and handed it to me; when, on prasing
the piece, Its weight and balance seemed as ia
miliar to my hand as If had used 1t all nv life
accordingly brought up the gun naturally and east
ana AIMED so truly that my first ball cut the edge
'"' paper. Inc nne was then reloaded, and
hseu again. MY second ball cut out the intersection
OIL the cross new cross was made, and new pa
per placed upon the single, and again fred and
again cut out the intersection of the cross. This
proof OF skill was deemed sufficient. and we sena.
raed' my companion togo to his own house to clean
the rifle, and have all the ammunition and accoutre
ments IN complete order for the ensuing morning.
winch was the time had determined the duel should
come OIL, whilst returned to the hotel to pass The
Tune as comfortable as could Whilst sitting in the
puolic room, my antagonist came in and passed me
several tines gancing at me like an enraged tiger
nus counenance seemed to express at the same time
the most determined courage and the most blood
THIRSTY ieroeity But did not finch or cover be-
meath MS glance for knew that was to fight with
weapons with which was at least his equal and
once whilst his malignant gaze was fixed upon me
uttered, with smile OF derision, and as II sneak
ing to myself, the word rifles, when saw him start
and change color; this was evidently the first time
the Idea had struck him that was not to become a
helpless victim to his skill with the pistol. AT the
appointed time the seconds met to arrange the terms
Of the meeting The opposite second on being told
that rifles were the weapons to be used, objected
strongly, but was told peremptorily there could be
no change. My second had fixed upon eight o'clock
the following morning as the time for the meeting
but the opposite second demanded longer time in
order to get and try rife as he said he was unpre
pared with such weapon. He was told he miybt
have any time he wished. He, however, called on
my friend about an hour afterwards, and told him
that he would agree to the time first mentioned a.
ha had Ia