Arkansas democratic banner., 1851-04-01
The Leit-IIanded Duel.

ANEcDoTE OF BRANCH T. ARCHER, OF TEXAS.
 In the Fall of lS4n. Mr. Archer was a young Virginia lawyer of some note. Going to PoygAatan Court house on business he accidentally met f,sn Crump, small, sharp-featured gentleman, with piercing dark eyes, thin lips, and a nose ike an eagles heak, was cool, sarcastic and stingng as a wasp. There might be read the history of dozen duels m the sheer that wrthed like a snake in its coi around the corners of his mouth as every sep arate word issued through hls teeth with sbrill and menaeing hiss. He never seemed to fgget one instant that he was the most famous dead shot m VlIslnia. In conversation with Crump about a Suit m which they were opposing eounSelS, the latter made offensive remarks, or insinuaiions of which Mr. Archer eesired an explanation
 " have no explanation to make" said Crump, and he set his keen eyes upon the other, as if he would slay him with d glance. The look was Qst9si murder.
 Archer threw his entire soul into one stern sen- tencc--
 ' Then demand of you to retraet the insinua- tons you have made against my motver'
 ''l shall add fifty more of the kind before re- tract that!' said CrGmp, with sheer, and turn ing on his heel, he remarked, ' l anu going to my room at the hotel to watt fer your communication II you have any for me-"
 Col. AreherS friends gathered in cInster around him, eutEesing him that he wouid not sac nice his life to the bullet of q duelst whose aim was sure and deadly. But he would not be per Q attempt. formal challenge was soon passed and accepted, and the meeting wss arranged to trans pIe al suni1se the next morning, on the summit If Llll two mics west of Pow whatan Court house. Al the tnne and place designated, great thr0ng collected 10 witness the combat Crtmp and AT. cher had both, arrived at daybreak and saluted each other coldiy through the pale haze of twilight With the golden glimpse of the sun, the prinei- pals were stationed in position by their seconds; and all hearts ln the multitude ybrated with r-strange feelings, almost fear, so determined and dead were the eountenances Of the two foes, al- though the expressions on their faces, individually, were very different Crump's yisage wore the scorchlng sheer of devil of his prey but the. blue eyes of Archer seemed surehareed with Inc lightning Of manly wrath. The words being sivea the two ptStols rUaTed simultaneously; AIchers bullet grazed Crdmp's left temple, but his own rght arm fell shattered to his side.
 Ha have winged my galneg' cried Cgnup Tn tones of mocking triumph.
 :" Yesi but have still wing remaining at your Seryicee' shouted Archer, shaking his other arm in the face of his enemy, and demanding an addi- tonai round
 Again the weapons of death were loaded, and the parties took their places. Archer must have been snfer,ng an agony of pain. Beads of cold water rolled from his forehead; the blood streaned down from his wounded arm, and stood m puddles about his feet: his features were white as marble; so white that he might hare been mistaken for a ghoSt and. indeed, there appeared every reason to suppose that he would really be ghost at the next expicsioa of CTumps pistol. Yet he gave TO evidence of fear. Looking hts antagonist Ieso- hteiy III the face, he sxelaMned
 General, you now have every advantage am foreed by necessity, to use ny left hand and II you were not coward. you would do inc same ''
 Quick as thought. Crump ehsaged the weapon tiom the neht hand io the Jeff. and immediately the woad 70 hFe was repeated. it tle sound of the pistols, both fell Archer had fainte iron, loss of heod the effect of his prev ous wound, but Cratap VI Us shot through the heaIsi