Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1851-11-11
A Duel

1t was late one afternoon, in the
fall of 1874, that a p phrty of officers
belonging to the British Regiments
posted ia Upper Canada, were col
lected in the principal tavern in the
town of Toronto. There were several
other persons present. with only one
of whom have We noF to do. This
individual was seated In a corner Of
the apartment, enti1 1ely alone. A
small table was placed before him,
duly furnished with brandy and the
"lixins,' and from this exhilarating
stimulant he frequently helped him
self without appearing 6 to notice the
conversation going Oh around him
At glance it was evident that be
4 was an American. Thin, wirey, but
muscular, with keen glittering eye,
long black hair, and d swallow COM
plexion, he had the genuine air Of
complete indifference which marks
nephews of Uncle Sam among for
eigners,
The conversation among the Off
GERS, at first relating to events in
Canada, and the @Fillbusters" Of
that dayAfnally reverted to the in
cidents Of the last war with the Uni
ted States: and here the national an
tipathies, especially Of the English,
were expressed in remarks by DO
means complimentary I'd the yalor Of
our countrymen.
AT length one young officer, went
SO far as to intimate that neither the
American people nor their army pos
Isessed courage enough to look a
British Regiment in the face.
At this the Amer can, deliber-
ately setting down his glass, said:
Even if such be the fact, sir-and |
must confess the Americans have
seen more of the backs than Of the
faces Of your soldier$-there are
enough Americans able to look any
Englishman in the face
Had a she'll fallen ih their midst
the astonishment Of the party would
not have been greater, than was oc-
casioned by this remark uttered IN a
clear, firm, ringing voice.
| There was an immense uproar, and
cries of turn him out!' pitch the
id yankee into the street, with
imprecations and ekdlamations re-
sounded from all parts Of the apart
ment.
/ In the midst. Of all this excite
ment, the American hs on his feet
1ourishi1g the bottle in one hand
and a tuInbler in tile other, in a man
ner which proved him master Of the
use of these formidable weapons Of
offence
At laB st an Irish officer whose
lbronzed complexion and hair touched
With grey told of lopg service step
ped forward
.1Aisy, now, aisy, bpysl By the
powers the yankee must have fan
play! sure, amt he only standing uE
for his own country, and placing
himself between the American and
his infariated oHpo onfnts he com.
manded silence. AS he had not par
; ticipated in the prdyioq Is conversation
and as his rank and services com
manded respect, SO me degree Of qulet
was at last restored.
sNoF thin,' he ntinued with {
strong Irish accent, will some one o
+. you tel me, what all this botheratiol
is about FIJI
F, Befbre any one elsd could inter
pose a reply, the American, whos'
bloodless face showed no sign of ex
citement but whose eyes fairly
cleaned with the intensity Of hi.
passions, pointing to t be young y 0lli
Ger who had used the offensive re
mark, replied;
Nothing: only that pitlful cox
comb there insulted my country, ano
| answered HIM
This unexpected response renewed
the uproar; and severn officers i'm
mediately surrounded and endeavor
ed 70 restrain the Englishman, wh'
was now frantic with rage.
Let me gol Ma4W ell Let M
col He called me a coxcomp
lD-n him, let me at him!
III In the meantime the American
had entirely recoverdd d his coolnes
. and was once more seated at the ia
r bic, s;nping his brandy.
! BY fhis time several persons N
terp5sed. and as the language whic
had passed was considered too oiieh