The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-03-17
Our New Orleans Correspondence.

Our New Orleans Correspondence
New ORLEANS, March 8, 1851.
Duels ~ tie Crescent Ctty- The Carwiual- Great
Fve-Jen~y LIND, &c.
The chivalric days Of duelling seem to have re-
viyed with us again, Notwithstanding the law
which dlsenfranchised citizens of this State, if they
night with each other Oar constitution provides,
however, that citizen may fight with foreigner,
or citizen Of another State. An affair of honor
came oil on the "a inst, between two young Gre
o!es of this city, named Boul,gay and Dupere-
The cause of the quarrel was old family mat
ter, which previously had led to meeting between
the parties On this occasion, they met at ball,
at the Armory Hall, on the previous night, when
he cause of the difficulty was renewed, and it re-
eulted in Bouiigny slapping Dupere's face.
challenge passed on the spot, aud the parties met
next morning Sunday. They fought at 40 yards,
with double barreled shot guns At the first fire,
Dupere was shot through the left arm, below the
elbow, the ball breaking the bones in two places,
passing through his breast, across his ribs, and
lodging in his right side. Bouligny was not hurt.
The parties are consequently disenfranchsed;
but creole chvalry little fer that, high is
their false estimation Of honor. One of the parties
has honor enough, as Jack Falstatf would say, to
last him for the balance of his natural life for,
most probably, his arm will have 10 be amputated.
But few nights previous TO this affair, two
young creole bloods met IN back street in the
First Municipality, at IL O'clock at night and
Fought BY the light of gas lamp. The duel was
quite romantic. pretty glrl was the cause, the
weapons small swords, and the result was, that
the challenger received thrust through his sword
arm from his antagonist. who was also slghtly
wounded In the breast. This made the affair IN
terestiGg, and no doubt, the young beauty felt
herself TO be If decidedly more importance, on her
lover Dresking the news 10 her, that she had been
the cause of duel, and rewarded him accord
inely.
of two more terrible steamboat ex 1losions-that of
the steamer Oregon, Capt Montgomery, while on
her way from Louisville 10 this cay, and The Terry
boat at ST. Louis. When il is taken INTO consider
alton, the immense number of steamboats, which
are continually ascending ard descending the Mis-
ssssippi Ohio, Illinois, and Missouri rivers, 10 say
nothing of the smaller tributary streams, IL Is not
20 be wondered al that explosions should OCCASION
ally take place. Their too frequent occurrence,
however, has. of late, DESTROYED public confidence,
and the result has been 10 iu,imidate passengers,
and prevent them from travelling 90 STEAMBOATS,,
only when they are absolutely Obliged To. Tne
law OF CoBgr ss on the subject, making the otii-
GERS OF boats guilty of ma laughter for their care
sessDess IN case OF explosions, dead letter; for,
so fer, no conviction under il his yet been had
IL IL extremely difficult 10 make law so as 10 PEE
vent the occurrence OF these sad disasters, or to
Bring the guilty parties In justice la the most OF
cases, they result from causes which caunot be
explained or accounted for. l. the case OF the
Anglo Norman, her machinery was entirely new,
and supposed 10 have been the mcet perfect ever
made. That this explosion took place ffoin sheer
carelcssness and neglect, caunot h. doubted and,
think, the matter deserves the further consliera-
zion ot Congress, and some determined action on
the subject.
Yesterday was great gala day with us. /, was
che eni of the carnival, being Shroye ruesnay,
or Mardi GrGs ss well as beiag toe anniversary
Of the Fire Department Tne weather was
delightful, and more brilliant display
have seldom seen in our streets The nre DEPART
gnent Of our city h composed OF tweaw-one hre
companies, ana Il is estimated that S,dO iremen
were in the procession; which ~ ABOUT two-thlrds
of the actual force. The engines were mggnli-
Gently decorated. some of which were drawn by
eight korsef; music and banners preceded The
companies, and the whole presented magnificent
Dageanuy. The whole CRY took holiday, the
streets were throDged with promenaders, and the
balconies and verandahs filled with beautiful
iadies. In the First Municipality, an ATTEMPT was
made 20 carry out the masking frocs OF Mardi
Gras," OF Fat Tuesday, called because Il Il the
Ses day previous to Lent, aud H. devoted TO feast
sbg, dancing, &c, when the rtisgieuses are supposed
20 lay IN sufficient store OF the good things OF this
ie TO last them 10 the end Of the forty days OF fast
ing A number OF men of low order, disguised in
masks, and some 10 the Labilments of women,
rode IN carriages, while Others paraded on horse
back IN proiesque costames. Those who had the
semerty 10 assoil them wlh their jeers ana iauns,
as the makers passed through the crowded streets,
evere cure 10 receive doucew IN the way OF
handful of flour, thrown on their persons The
xiarkies appe ared TO be their especial aim, and
many luckless negro changed his ssoty color TO
snowy white, hy coming IN search OF them, when
a
nt the singular metamorphose. The ATTEMPT at a
renewal Of the old custom was decided failure,
and Of late years, on account OF the recent rows
which have occurred by the custom drgeneratng
Snto rowdy and vulgar displays. it hiss been totally
abandoned by the higher classes. Some ten or
fhcen years ago, however, this day was celebrated
hy msskers, after the manner OF the carnival OF
Venice. Ladies' aud gentlemen turned out IN mos
magnificent and splendid costumes, carrying with
them bon bons, love letters, and presents. which
they would throw into the carriages Of each other
III. - thANy
Tecognzed their friends, and thus great spor, pre-
vailed amid the best Of good feeling and order.
But. alas,
When bride by the lance or ths spear may be won"
And 20, too, have passed away the good old days
of celebrating "Msrdi Gras," OF the end of the
carnival.
Al night, balls and parties prevailed through the
city, among all classes OF society Go where you
would, IN every street was heard music aud dane
eng The mask balls at tee HIsrionic and Armory
halls, were splendid affairs. There was magni-
iiceni display OF the ces,umes OF all nations, and
periods and the ladies' PLAYED their paris WELL and
never looked more bewitchng Inc diherent hre
companies also gave several balls, aud al midnight
the whole city seemed 10 he occupied in dancing,
when the fire bells sounded an alarmi Ihe wa'cn,
men sprang their rattes and the cry OF hre echced
through the streets Then ensuet scene ot con.
fusion in many a ball. The gallant hremen cut
short their unfinished love speeches, released the
waists OF their partners Ia the POLKA and, des"rng
ahe dance, rushed to the rescue. The Gre occur.
red at the foot Of Com nOn street. towards the
awamp, and destroyed seven frame buildings The
iher balls, however, DID not break up unrl near
xayliphi; and cannot htlp bat think what a sorry
ortISsi many a maid Of beauty ri last night pre-
sents this morning 10 her dshahr, a. shs reflects,
Eerhbpa, on the many conqvests che made, or on
the unsuccessful attempt 70 capture some gly
Lothario, aed somes ~ the conclusion Of dis ID.
continent, that al Is vani y and vcxaton 0f
fptit"
No withrandtnv the er6re destruction Of the
f',aletin Office, the nsht before LIST BY fire, It
uadc its ep.eafhncc this morning ag ain. look ng
ss.htipht us ever Col seymour deserves great
oseaii for his energy ia promptly issuing his