Fremont weekly freeman. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1850-1853, 1851-03-15
A Journalist Duel.

States and. on his return to England, publish
ed work disapproving of their institutions, I
favored the public with true account of his
hfcs generally beginning by stating that his
father was hung for forgery. In this way
grew in the esteem Of my fellow-eitizens, as
well as III wealth, and was soon in a position
10 despise the calnmnies and lies of Levi the
rival editor. He said what he pleased of me.
but took ncnotice of his impotent malice
A length. ons morning. my eyes fell upon a
passage il his paper, which banished the col
o. from my cheeks. Ii was as follows:
Extraordinary disclosurel BY a most sin
rular Conscience, We have been put ID. .pos-
session Of fact Of the early life Of the caitiHr
editor vs. II appears that the misere-
ant bigamisti The whole particulars
connected with himself and his first wife are
known 10 Us alone. but win appear in our next
When the circumstances become noised abroad
the william may expect visit from the officers
Of Justice The rascal had, by some means
OF other. got possession Of the fact of my mar
fiagel Jane was perhaps. at that moment IN
America. The thought was distraction The
laws of the country are severe against biga-
my; I should be condemned to a heightened
term Of Imprisonment. or spend half my for
tune in bribing the Governor and Judge 10 let
me ont again There was but one course to
pursue. and one OF The other Of US must full.
Wrath and despair aerved mo to the task
7 ran down The street as hard as could, and
pulled the other editors nose. He kicked me.
The affair was arranged to take place that
same afternoon. in wood near the town.
After partaking of an early dinner, though il
must be confessed did not eat much, / stroll
led down street. with my rifle over mY shoul-
der, and my second Col Ticker. beside me.
We met several people BY the way, and
amongst others the Mayor, all Of whom stop
ped politely and asked US where we were
about to esettls our difficulty J" for the news
OF our approaching fight was. by this time,
known To evelv man woman and child, in the
town. The Col replied that he had select
ed the Bowie Wood. at a distance Of half a
miles That's right. Judge!' said they to me.
must tell you that bad been elected a
Judge only short time before, by on over
Whclnsing majority over Levi That's right
Judge. shoot him down, shoot him down.
Alas! I thought that be might have had ad-
vice ofthe same kind given 70 him, and would
be equally ready to follow it Our seconds
selected two trees, which faced each other, al
a distance Of about forty PAGES, without an in,
tersening obstacle. Behind one they placed
Levi, and behind the other they placed me
such being the mode of dazzling prevalent ia
thar part Of the country. They then left US tc
ourselves IN the middle Of the wood, there be-
ing no particular law of honor in this kind o.
single combat. which from its very constitution
requires nothing more than that you should
shoot one another& &s you can This is not SC
easily done, however: for both being esconeo
behind trees, with rifles in their hands, neither
IS willing 10 be the first 20 move, and to ex
pose himself as a clear mark TO his opponent
There IS hesitation, too about being the frs
10 shoot, which is only natural seeing that, j
you miss your friendly antagonist, you are
yourself left without defence. In this way
Levi and E-eontinued for whole hour to peer
round the sides Of the trees at one another
each Withdrawing bis head as soon as he per
eeixsd the other doing the same. At the enc
cf that time tremendous shower of rair
come down, deluging me TO the skin, and, il
despite Of all I could do, wetling the powder
In my gun, and rendering It useless
Levip bawled out at the top of my voice
IS your powder wet?
No be replied.
Mines not returned, Its beautifully
dryl'
But this subterfuge would not DO saw
Lsu advance calmly from his hiding place
with his rife ready to level to his shoulde
and wearing diabolical air of triumph Thert
was yet one hope.
sstop!' exclaimed, lay down that inferna
instrument. and les US have a party for mo
ments
Agreed he replied.
Levi said ], you are devilish good fel
Low, after all. Suppose. instead of you shoes
ing me, we 60 into partnership togrtherP
with al my heart he returned Her,
give me your word of honor, that. if dom
shoot you you viii take me into partnership.
give You my oath
All right theni let US move homeward:
again
The fact was said + that as you plainly
perceive my gun was wet, and wouldn't &c
OF
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