The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1850-11-02
The Left.handcd Duel.

ANEcDoTE OF BRANCH T. ARCHER OF TEXAS
In the fall of 1880. Mr.. Archer was a young
Vlrginian lawyer of some note. Gong to
Powfatten Court House on business, he acci-
dentaly met Gen. Crump, small, sharp
featured gentleman, with piercing dark eyes,
thin lips, and ii nose like the eagles beak,
was cold, sarcastic, and singing as wasp
There might be read the history of dozen
duels IN the sneer that writhed like snake,
In Its coil around the corners of his mouth as
every separate wor'i issued through his teeth
with sort OF shril and menacing hiss. He
never seemed To forget instant that he
was the most famous dead shot in Virginia.
In conversing with Crump about a suit in
which they were opposing counsel, the latter
made some offensive remarks or insinua-
tions, of which Mr.. Archer desired an expla-
nation.
Il have no explanation to make said
Crump and lie set bis keen eyes on the other
us if he would slay him with a glance. The
look Was quasi murder.
Archer threw his entire soul into one stern
sentence. Then !. demand of you 10 retract
the insluation you have made against my
motives
Il shall add fifty more of the kind before
retract thatn said Crump with sheer, and
turning on his heel, he remarked-sI am 90
ing TO my room at the hotel to wait for your
communication, if you have any for me.'
Col. Archer's friends gathered ir clusters
around him, entreating that he would not sa-
cTi6ce his life to the bullet Of duellist whose
aim was sure and deadly. But he would not
be persuaded-he would punish Crump, or
die in the attempt. A formal challenge was
soon passed and accepted, and the meeting
was arranged TO transpire at sunrise the next
morning, on the summit Of high hill, two
miles west of Powhatten court house. At
the time and place designated. great throng
assembled to witness the combat. Crump
and Archer had both arrived at day-break
and saIuted each other coldly through the
pale haze of twilight. With the first golden
glimpse of the sun the principals were sta
toned in position by seconds and all hearts
in the multitude vibrated with strange feel
i ,g. almost of fear; 30 determined and deadly
were the countenances of the two foes, al
though the expressions on their faces indivi.
dualIy were very different. Crump's visage
wore the scorching sheer of devil sure Of
his prey; but the blue eyes cf Archer seen
ed surcharged with the lightning of manly
wrath. The word being given, The two pis-
tolls roared simultaneously. Archer's bulle,
grazed Crump's left temple. but his own arm
fell shattered to his side.
| 'Ha l have winged my game cried
Crump in tones Of hooking triumph.
| Yes; out have still wing at your ser
vice. shouted Archer, shaking his other arm
in the face OF his enemy, and demanding an
additional round.
| Again the weapons of death were loaded
and the parties took their places. Archer
must have been suffering an agony of pain
Beads Of cold sweat rolled from his forehead I;
the blood streamed down from his wounded
arm, and stood in puddIes about his feet; his
features were white as marble-so white that
he might have been mistaken for ghost in
deed there was every reason to suppose that
he would really be ghost at the next explo-
sion of Crump's pistol. Yet he gave no evil
dence of fear. Looking his antagonist reso-
lutely in the face, he exclaimed
General you now have every advantage
| am forced by necessity to use my left hand,
and, i you are not coward. you will do the
same
Quick as thought Crump changed the
weapon from the right hand to the left, and
Immediately the word fire repeated. AT
the sound of the pistols both enemies FELL
Archer had tainted from loss of blood, the eff
feet of his previous wound. but Crump was
shot through the heart /!