The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-01-09

"Under any circumstances, in any place
gentlemen" replied, sit is appropriate to pre-
vent murder; aud such, in the sight of God. is
the deed you are aiding. II must not he, gentle
men-in the name of.he law which prohibits
it-n the name of God who looks down upon
YOU in this solitary place, hrseech you pre-.
vent il at once; at least, wash your own hands
from the blood of these men. Retire from the
field and refuse 10 assist in their mutual mur
der"
Nv emphatic remonstrancc had a moncn-
,ary effect. They seemed not nd>poscd to
come to terms, if | could gel the concurrence Of
the principals.
passed Immediately to The 6ldcs, of them
tlls cnuntcnance became more rppul>ive as I
approached him. 1t was deeply pilted with the
small poy, and there was upon i, the most cold
l!oudcd lrcr ever saw on human face. He
had given the challenge. bcsought him by
every consideration Of humanity and morality
to recall it. Ireirrrcd to the youth and cx.
pcrience ofhs antagonist concilia,nry dis
position of the seconds-thc fearful conscaurn
ccs to his soul ifhe should fa and the wher.
ing remorse which must ever follow him if hc
should kill the young man. He evidently lhirs.
ted for the blood ofhis antagonist, but ohserv.
ing that his friend, and the surgeon seconded
my reasoning. he replied, with undissemblrd
reluctance, that he gave the challenge for
sufficient reasons, and that, il those reasons
were removed, he migh recall it, but not 9th.
erwise.
Ipasscd 10 the ohcr. ad:noni.hcd him Of
the sin he was about TO pctpcuate. re.
erred TO his probable domestic relations, nnd
the ausion touched his heart. lie suddenly
wiped tear from his eye. "Yes. sir" said hc,
"Ihrre are hearts which would break il they
knew was here" | referred to my convcr.
sation with The seconds and the other princi.
pal, and remarked that nothing was now nrccs.
sary to effect reconciliation but a rctraciion
of the language that had offended his anlago.
mist. "Sir," replied he. planting his foot finn
ly OIL the ground, and assuming look which
would have teen sublime in a better cause
"Sir, have uttered nothing but the truth re-
spcc,ing that man, and though sink into the
grave, | will not sanction his viainous char.
acter by retraciion."
reasoned with increased vchcmoncc, hut
no appeal TO his Judgment or his heart could
shake his desperate frmnrss, and left him
with tears which have no doubt he would have
shared under other circumstances. What
could do farther! ] appealed again to the
first principal, hut he spurned me with cool
smile. flew to the seconds, and entrcated
them on any terms 10 adjust the matter and
save the shedding Of blood. But they had al.
ready measured the ground aud were ready to
place the prnci pals. "Gcntemrn," said |,
''lhc blood ofthis dreadful deed be upon ynur
souls. have acquitted myself Of it," then
proceeded from the area towards my horse.
What were my emotions as turned away in
despair? What thoughts !, must the duel rro.
coed Is there no rxpcdirn! to prevent it?
In few minutes one or both oflhrsp men may
he in eternity accursrd forever with blood gull.
liness! Can not pluck them. as brands Fl ON
the burning My spirit was in tumult Of
anxiety; in moment, and just as the prnc.
pals were taking their pistols. was again on
the ground. Standing on the line between
them, exclaimed. "In the name of God, | ad-
Ii:c you To stop this murdcrois work. II must
moi. ii cannot proceed" "Knock him down."
,rird the elder du"llsr, with a fearful imprcca.
tion. "Sir," exclaimed the Younger, II apprc.
cialr your motives, but demand Of you to in
ler'r no more with our arrangements" The
seconds seized IN" by the arms and forced me
To retire. But | warned Them at every step.
Never before did | feel so deeply the value
and hazard of the human soul. Nv remarks
were without effect, except on one of the friends
of the younger principal. "'rhis is a horrible
place." said hr, Il cannn, endure it, and he
turned with me from the scene.
" Now then for it, cried one of the seconds,
as they returned. "Takc your places" Shud.
drringy ! hlsteu'd my pace To escape the re.
suit.
"Onr-two"-and the next sound was los,
in the explosions of the pistols "Oh, God"
shrirkcd voice of agony. lurncd round.
The young principal, with his hand to his face
shricked again, quivcrcd, and fell TO the ground!
rushed to him. With one hand he clung to
the earth, the fingers penetrating the sod. while
The other he grasp"d his left jaw. which was
shattered with a horrid wound. turned, with
tain,nrss from the sight The charge had pas.
s"d through the lcf, side of the mouth, crossing
The teeth. scvrrng the jugular and passing out
at the back part ofthc head, laying open entire.
ly one side of the face and neck. In this ghast.
ly wound, amid blood and shattered teeth, had
he fixed his grasp with a irnacy which could
not be moved. Bleeding proiilsrly and con.
vulsive with agony, he lay for several minutes,
the most fiigh'Gi spectacle had ever witness.
ed. The countenancc, of the spectators ex.
pressed conscious relief when it was announ.
IL. a. l. a.. l. / IL