The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1851-06-19

"THE LEFT-HANDED DUEL"
An Anecdote of Branch T. Archer, oi
Texas.
CLAIBORNE COUNTY, Miss, May 5, 81.
To the Editors of ths Crescent.
! Ia The Weekly Crescent Of April I9,
find under the head Of the g Left-handed
Duel Anecdote Of Branch II. Archer, of
Texas" what purports to be an account of
duel between DIR. b. T. Archer, and
"General Crnmp." As l know not that
DIR. Archer will ever see or hear Of this fan
cifui anecdote, |, his near relation, cannot
permit 1t TO 60 uncorrected. DIR. Archer is
one Of the most benevolent and humane of
man, free from vindictiveness, and TOO truly
brave to make display of courage. He
never sought a duel with Otway Crump,
nor with any other person. He never was
wounded in any duel. In 1926, he was
forced into . duel with Mr.. Otway Crump,
whom he ha,l known from early childhood
(their fathers lived in the same neighbor-
hood, in Powhattan county, Va.,) and TO
whom lie had no hostile or unkiud feeling,
and which duel DIR. Archer made every en-
deavOr to avoid.
AZ an act Of justice, will give brief
statement Of all the facts, Ito the best of
frail memory,) as they were detailed to me,
Ivy DR.. Archer himself. will premise that
at the time this duel was fought, Mr.. Sam
uel Swami, of Powhattan, was under in
dictment, on charge Of assault to kill Col.
onel James Clarke, Of P0whattan, whose
daughter be had married. DR.. Archer and
MIR. Otway Crupp had married nicces of
Col. Clarke-Dr. Archer, a daughter of
Col. John Clarke, and Mr.. Otway Cru,np
daughter Of Mr.. William Clarke. Great
exertions had been made to excite the pub
lie mind against Mr.. Swami, and Dr. Arch
T-who was very popular in Powhauan,
and believed that Swami had been greatly
outraged, and was not guilty-wshed that
he should have fair trial. Crump, who
had just returned to Powhattan from Ala
bama, where he had acquired the reputa-
ton OF dueilist-was poor, and had large
family, aud his uncle, Colonel James Clarke,
was very kind to him. This, it was SUP.
posed, was the real cause of Crump's chal-
enge TO DR.. Archer to fight him. DR..
Archer asked to know the grievance, and
assured MIR. Crump that he would make
atonement if he had wronged him. His re-
ply was that he had injured him, and that
was sufficient. DIR. Archer then reminded
him thar they were both poor, and had large
familes-assured him that he had sympa-
thised in all his misfortunes; and again pro-
fessed his readiness to make atonenent if
informed wherein he had injured him. lie
still refused the information, and insisted on
the duel. They were at this time alone in
the garden. DR.. Archer called his atten-
tion to the severity Of the anti-duelling laws
of Virginia, and said. "Iknow you are arm
ed; too am armed" [Dr. Archer had
small pistol in his pantaloon' pocket. l.
"Let us fight here, it nothing but fyh,
will satisfy you." Crump replied that he
was gentleman, and would fight in the
regular way. They then returned to the
hotel, in the village Of Scottsville, Powhat-
tan ourt-house,) and OH the way met
'Crump's son, whom Dr.. Archer had not
seen since he was a child. Crump intro
duced them, and invited the doctor to ioin
them in drink. He accepted the invita-
ton, and they drank together as friends.
TO avoid the challenge, DR.. Archer then
repaired to the Jail. & sat with Mr.. Swami.
While sitting in Jail. through the window
he saw Colonel James Clarke take Mr..
Crump aside, and they held an animated
conference. Immediately after, DR.. Arch
er received from Crump perenptory chal-
lenge.
us dCCtVtcu, uIlu, unWlI-
ling to involve any friend in the serjous con-
sequences of duel, requested his nephew.
Chastain Saunders, then only IS wears of
age. to act as his second They repaired
immediately to thicket of underw ood,
within few hundred yards of the court
house, (the court then sitting,) and prepar-
alton was made for the fight DR.. Arcber,s
nephew wished him to practice shooting,
but he declined, though it had been many
years since he had fired a pistol While
loading, trump looked on with apparent in
terest. Dr. Archcr's second won choice of
pistols, there was but one pair,) and on
making choice, Crump Expressed his pref
erence for the pistol selected. DIR. Archer
told him to take it. He then conceded
Crump the privilege of having the word
given by his friend, and then asked him TO
fix the distance. This last Crump refused
to do, saying Archer had already conceded
so much, that he was ashamed to accent
other privileges. DR.. Archer stated 10 me
that if Crump bad fixed the distance SO re-
mote that he (Archer) could have hoped to
escape, he would not have shot him. Or.
Archer appointed the ordinary distance of
ten PAGES. When they took their stands,
DIR. Archer again appealed to him not to in
sist upon fight, and assured him he would
make atonement, if informed wherein he
had injured him. Crump made the same
reply. DR.. Archer then, for the first time,
became exasperated, and told him, "You
have received your wages, and you shall
earn them-l will shoot you through the
heart" Crump replied, 81 suppose you
will, if you ca0." DR.. Archer replied,
"Yes, by God ! will shoot you through
the heart" Crump placed his left hand or on
his right side, opposite the hsart--the ring
finger and little finger touching, and the |
middle and forefnger also touching, with
space between the middle and ring fingers.
This presented mark. DR.. Archer fred
when the word was given, cutting the mid
die and ring fingers, but breaking no bone
and his ball passed through Crump's
heart. Crump's ball grazed the doctors
breast, and carried away part of his flannel
undershirt. Crump sprang forward and ex-
claimed, 81 am dead man 7" aud fell
dead. ~ 48
DR.. Archer Immediately walked into
court, and surrendered himself. The re-
port of the pistols was heard by the court.
He was pat on trial next day; and, though
Crump's body was displayed before the pub
lie, and his wife and children present in vi.