Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-08-04


elbow, and Immediately returned to his
own room unobserved by any one, to
watch the result.
All was silent for about half an hour,
when the fearful cry of murder muir
derP was heard in the captains ROOM
The landlord and British officers, and the
various dodgers in the house, in their night
dresses, with such arms as they could lay
hold ofin the hurry, rushed to the scene
of the outcry, where they found no muir
der, but the captain with his elbow in the
bear trap, groaning with pain and voeif-
Grating yengence on honest Jake, who he
swore had tried to kill him. He was i'm.
mediately released from the trap, and on
examination it was found that no bones
were broken. though his arm was badly
bruised by the trap. The captain was as
mad as March hare, and vowed he would
be revenged on Jake for the injury he had
sustained.
The landlord repaired TO Jake's room.
where to all appearance he was sleeping
as quietly as though nothing had happen
ed. No one had seen Jake leave his
room, consequently there was no proof
against him |; and he was left to finish
his sleep as best he could. But before he
started for Dreamland again, he got up
and carefully fastened his door to prevent
| all further intrusion into his room. In
the morning, Jake was waited upon by a
person wearing the British uniform, with
a challenge to meet him. and give honora-
BILE satisfaction. Jake showed the letter to
his friends, who strongly advised him not
to accept it, as it would be sure death to
him to meet the captain. Jake. however
determined to except the challenge. and
informed the captain that he would meet
him the next morning at sunrise, and
would be prepared with his arms and Sec
ond. The captain sent him back word
that he was glad he was so ready to repair
the injury he had done him, and advised
Jake that he had better get his coffin
made, and bring surgeon with him, as
they would surely be wanted. 1t was
soon rumorcd about the city that Captain
B., and the Green Mountain Boy were to
fight duel on the morrow, and great
preparations were made for the same.
The friends of Jake tried in every way
to persuade him not to fight the captain,
but he had made up his mind as to the
matter, and selecting one of his friends
to serve him as his second, a. sunrise on
the followingday, they were on the ground
appointed for the combat. Early as it
was, thousands of people were there as
sembled to witness lie fight. Jake had
been OH the ground but few moments
when the captain with his second arrived.
The captains arm was in sling. and his
face was flushed with anger, as he shook
Jake by the hand, preparatory to ecm
mencing the work of death.
/" Are you ready ?" inquired the cap
tain.
Il am, replied lake.
"Have you provided yourself with a
surgeon and coffin 90 inquired the captain.
" No." replied Jake, for do not cal
culste to need them but if you wish it,
will agree that you shall be dccently bu-
ried."
"If you have the courage to fight,
where is your second ?" inquired the cap
tain.
Jake made motion with his finger to
his friend.
"And your arms ?" asked the captain.
Jake made a motion to his friend, who
instantly came forward. dragging cou-
pie of bear-trsps. Jake pointed to them
and said:
"Thcre they are captain. 1. being the
challenged party, have a right to select
my weapons. You may take your choice
as l believe they are evenly matched"
do you mean TO insult me % cried
the captain. "No gentleman fights with
such weapons as these"
"Why not?" said Jake "thc object
Of duelling is to hurt and injuro the other
party and you captain, can we'll attest
10 the efficacy of traps. So make your
selection. and lets us begin the fight"
Twill not fight with these traps !"
said the captain. They are not tit for
gentlemen to fight with. If you will Sc
lect some weapon used by the soldier, /
will fight with you. If not. call you a
coward, who wishes to take advantage of
his superior strength, and who has two
arms 10 use, while one of mine is useless. p"
"If wish to take advantage of my
strength. !" said Jake. "do not you wish
to take advantage of your skill with sword
and pistols. things which l never used
And am any more of coward for TAX
ing advantage Of my superior strength,
than you to take advantage Of your supe-
rior skill in arms, the result of years Of
practice? But to convince you that am
no coward, will select other weapons
If you insist upon it. the weapons used By
the soldier. Though / have the right q
insist on the weapons choose. and to
call you coward, if you refuse to fght
me- with them"
The bystandeSs By this time began to
call loudly on the esptsin to 6ght the
! YaUkap ny cry eYavan
al insist. :" said the captain. "'that you
shall select other weapons. Name any
used by the soldier, and Twill 6ght to
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