Washington telegraph., 1850-10-16
THE LEFT-HANDED DUEL

THE LEFT-HANDED DUEL.
hNEcDoTE OF BRANCH T. ARCHER OF TEXAS,
In the fall of 1880, Mr.. Archer was a
young Virginia lawyer of Some uote
Gong to fowhattan Court House on
business. he accidently met GEN Crnmp,
small, sharp featured gentleman, with,
piercing dark eyes, thin hips, and a nose
IKE the eagles beak. was cool, sarcastic.
and singing as wasp. There might
| be read the history of dozen duels in
the sneer that writhed like snake in it's
coil around the corners Of his month. az
every separate word issued through his
teeth with sort of shriIl and menacing
hiss. lie never seemed to forget one
instant that he was the most famous
detd shct in Virginia. In conversina
with trump abont snit in which they
were opposing counsels, the latter made
some offensive remark, or insinuation. of
which Mr.. Archer desired an explanation.
Il have no explanation to MAKE" said
OrumP, and he set his keen eyes on the
other as i he would say him with
glance. The look was quasi murder.
Archer threw his entire soul into one
stern sentence-"Then l demand of you
70 ietract the insinuation you have made
against my motivesp'
u shall add fifty more of the kind be-
lore Fetract that" said Crump with a
sneer. aud. turning on his heel. he remark
ed-"l am going to my room at the hotel
TO wait tor your communication, if you
have any for me" s5f-.r.. '-.f,e' q.
Col. Archers friends gathered in clus-
ters around him, eptreating him that he
would not sacrifice his life TO the bullet
Of duellist whose aim was sure and
deadly. But he would not be persuaded
he would punish Crump. or perish in
the attempt. A formal challenge was
soon passed and accepted, and the meet.
ing was arranged to transpire at sunrise
the next morning, on the summit of a
high hill, two miles west of Powhattan
courthouse. At the time and place des-.
ignated, great throng collected to witt
ness the combat. Crump and Archer
had both arrived at daybreak, and saluted
each other cold!y through the pale haze
of twilight. With the first golden glimpse
OF the sun, the principals were stationed
in position by their seconds; and all hearts
in the multitude vibrated with strange
feeling, almost to fear, so determined and
deadly were the countenances of the two
foes, although the expressions on their
faces individually were very different.
Crumps visage were the seorching sneer
OF devil sure of his prey; but the blue
eyes of Archer seemed surcharged with
the lightning of manly wrath. The word
being given, the two pistols roared stimuli
taneonsly. Archer's bullet grazing
Crump's left temple, but his own right
arm fell shattered TO his side.
cha: have winged my game" cried
Cruinp, in tones of mocking triumph.
"Yes: but have still wing remaining
at your service, shouted Archer. shaking
his other arm in the face of his enemy,
and demanding an additional round.
Again the weapons of death were load
ed and the parties took their places.
Archer must have been suffering an agony
Of pain. Beads of cold water rolled from
MS forehead; the blood streamed down
from his wounded arm, and stood in
puddles about his feet; his features were
While as n1ar5le-so white shat he might
nave been mistaken for ghost; and in
deed there appeared every reason to sup
pose that he would really be ghost at the
next explosion of Crump's pistol. Yet
he gave No evidence Of fear. Looking
his antagonist resolutely in the face, he
excl neG- . FL
"Gtneral, you now have every advan-
tage. | am forced by necessity to use
my left hand, and if you were not a
coward, you would do the same"
Quick as thought Crump changed the
from the right hand to the left,
and Immediately the word to fire was re-
peated. AT the sound of the pistols both
enemies fell. Archer had tainted from
loss of blood, the effect Of his previous
but Crump was shot through
the heart. e,.r.- l74ffe.ii d