Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1848-11-09
Mr.. snrrH o,BRIEx.s DuELs.


some tn 90 MT hl0lSh' "a brleni whilst
conservative, felt himself insulted by Tom
Steele recently inlso distressing i light be-.
I fore the puhlic--aad sent him challenge
Steele. accepted it and met him. OiGorman
Mahon Ia well known frc-ealer now IN the
House, acting as Toms second. Steele was
. brave man, but the most nervoasly excita.
bic that ever lived, while O'Brien, on the
turf at least, was as cool as q statue. The
result of an exchange Of shots between two
such men was, that while Toms bullets went
of almost at right angles with his man, the
latter tore with bis first 'ire the breast of
Toms coat, and with his second portion Of
the collar, 0'Gorman Mahen, seeing this.
and fearing that, as practice makes perfect,
sOBrien's next ball nust be fatal to mere.
than broadcloth, sought 70 remove his man,
nraxun,ina ihna NJ o inrfr,. nnst tho,, ~
satisned put MI. usiSfieU 49, .en ), "
smoon-calf' stuck iu his throat, and he want.
ed to see if he could not stick something
else in Toms In return. hThen,n said Ma
hon, standing before his friend, IF Mr.. o..
Brien will have another shot, he must have
it at me- The descendant of Irish kings
was not particular whom he killed, and was
willing to accept a substitute but the second
matter ended. Ofthe two principals in that
business, one has since jumped over Water
loo bridge and the other lisa proclaimed rebel,
subject to be shot or hanged Not long af-
ter this, 0'Brien fought Mahon's brother,
The collision arose out of contested clcc-
ton for Clare. in which his brother, Sir Hu-
cius, was QUO Of the candidates,
Mr., YIN Mahon was making some charges
against s.the house of Dromolandn on the
hastings, when be was interrupted BY Smith
O'Brien, who addressed him in the following
words, with as much neatness, and calmness,
and courteous bearing, as though he were
paying him compliment: "As mcnber Of
tho house of Dromoland Sir, {bowingl have
but one reply to make to your aspcrsions, and
that reply, as a gentleman and man of
honor, you WILL l am sure, receive in the
spirit in which it is giyen--goa lie, SIR r.
blowing again) Mr., Mahon lifted his hat in
acknowledgement, Smith O'iSrien and he
leaving the court together, without the slight
est fuss, each accompanied by friend, who
rather followed instinctively than by invita-
ton, and without the least attempt at inter
ference on the part of the sheriff. In less
than an hour from this interchange Of ciyili1.
ties they were both standing within twelve
PAGES of each other, on the public ace-course,
| close to the town Of Ennis, while at least
thousand people we're present to witness tho
proceeding. s.. i
have heard the unfortunate outlaw call
| ed coward on several occasions within the
| last few weeks ~ our, courage should be as
keen, yet as polished as your sword = Turn
| ing up his right cuff as deliberately as if he
were about to wash his hands for dinner, lie
took the pistol from his second-the two
| friends retired couple Of PAGES the word
was giyen-both weapons were raised, and
only one went off, in fact, Smith O'Brien's
second had given him the pistol without
cooking it, and when the former pulled the
trigger, it, of course, refused to obey his fin
ger He handed back the still loaded pistol
| to his friend, saying with smile, MELON
nell, you only half did your work" Judg-
/ ing from O'Brien's self possession, perhaps
it was fortunate thing for his antagonist
1 who might, however, have stopped the bullet
without being greatly damaged, as one of his
legs was made of cork--Bfistot Ru2,sr.