Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1852-10-16
Nd COUNTY Pa, SATURDAY OCTOBER re ,sro
A DUEL IN THE DARK.

| uo 1oi NuUcH iuT lIS tTnlHiNlUeSS, Dnt rive II
as we find il in The New York Sunday Des.
pdch--to which ii was furnished by a cor.
respondent
Accounts of dues at the Yves, and in
California terminating in ragedies-totwilh.
standing The humauising influences daily
developing Themselves TO be rapidly
on The increase. There appears TO be fas
cination in The code ducllo that mpels The
weaker minds of the community 10 revive,
with all lis historic barbarity, "A custom as
venal as cowardly, and which even our an
ces'ors, rude as they were in those courtesies
which form the true gentleman, looked upon
with disgust. The ducllo is the braggau's
argnmeni-ihe cowards refuge. No true
man, unless forced by overw hemiug PUBLIC
sentiment, would dare lif his hard against
a fellow mortal, and for iriling insult, or
words uttered in the heat Of alteration, de.
prve him of that which he cannot reiuin.-
The press is equally culpabe with those Of
low mental organization. Ii is the first 10
sneer and pciut the Gpger of scoru al The
man who has hardihood sufficient 10 refuse
challenge : aud 10 prove its consistency, il
also is the first 10 denounce with all the
epithes Of public Indignation, those who are
unfortunately itduccd 10 set their lives on
mere chimera. But the other day, two
Creoes, during drunken broi in one of
drinking shops ia New Oleaus, ouarreled
about a person who cared for neilher-lhe
Queen OF Spain One said she vas "a wo-
man ''pnre and holy as the virgin" The
other denied this, and retor,ed by declaring
her Elewd debauch G." A challenge was
accepted, aud next mording two fools met in
deadly combat The challenger was taken
oil the ground corr Sc. A conservaror of
public morals. an eX Xmember OF Congress,
man repuled an anna Bile and worthy ciii
zen OF California, lost his life in Sacrament
TO- two months ago, in duel originating in
certain political structures which he wrote
and published in jourra' over which he had
supreme control. Many other incidents of
recent Transportation mie h be alluded 10 but
the purpose with which we sal out was to
relate the incidents of tragedy which trans
plred in this city about 6fy years ago. We
DO not believe the history of this fatal affair
has ever reached the public before but, as
many of the relatives of the principals are
yet living and az they would not coun,enance
The publication of their pIogeniors' names,
we are forced TO introduce Them 10 The read
er under fciicious ones We shall adhere
as nearly as possible 10 literal recital of the
facts as they were related 10 US. The reader
may rely on the general truth of the state
ment although the names, fer the reason as
signed, are suppressed,
In Broadway, where now stands one Of
those stately buildings erected Of late years
to the purposes OF commerce, stood rather
antiqualed dwelling. house, which, before its
demolition, was converted into a sort of half
hotel, where a heterogeneous assemblage
from all the walks in life were in The habit
OF gathering. Among, those who visited this
hotel were two gentlemen Of middle age
one, named Wilkins, uovial sort of man,
who had accumulated, by successful trade,
snug fotlune Of twenty thousand dolars-a
respectable sum of money 10 be repuled The
possessor of in those days. The other, whom
we shall name S,nillson, was a retired Bit.
i,h officer, living lesurely ON his half pay,
and small palgimony he possessed in Eng
land. This SmiIhson was a rr. judced cho-
leric parsonage, who on every occasion in
truded his comparisons between this and his
own country. Apart from bis prejudices, he
was good sort Of gentleman enough, and,
although his auditors were often netlled al
his remarks, yet they good naluredly winked
d his biting jibes, in consideration of his
other traits.
On one particular night in December, Will
kins and The rascble Enellshman, found
themselves 'alone in the back room of the
second story-used as smoking aud drinks
ing room. They had been for some weeks
on terms Of enmily; and hasing Oh this oc-
casion drunk sufficient 10 render themselves
oblivons of consequences, mutually abused
each other on their naiionaliiies. Wilkins
alluded 10 certain lriumphs Of The American
arms over the British during the Revolutions
AIRY war, which irritatcd The Euelishman 10
obSh NtSSANS 'h"h no H'bi'HiiSSh
"American people, without an exception, a
race OF cowards-ihe bastard spawn of The
crayens Of The eanh.n Wilkins usually a
good tempered man, losl bis self-conirol al
this, walked up 10 his opponent, struck him
in The face, and at the same lime called him
dliar ~ This double insult, instead oil
forcing the Major 10 the utteIanee OF further
irritating and injurious epilheis, had The con-
,rary effect. His bronzed face became OF an
ashy hue; and bis excitement, by powerful
effort, WAS subJued. Deliberately getting
up, he walked 10 lhe door and locked il ana
then, approaching Wilkins, buskily Told him
that he must have saisfaclion, and that i'm
media,ely. Wilkins, under the Influence OF
the wine which he had drunk, laughed, and
told the Englishman that, "in addition to The
word liar, he fell il incumbent on him 10 call
him fool!n el
ave shall see,n said the Major "For
this, either you or shall be carried ont ot
this room corpse iu less than hall an
| hour faeits tfis s1l
uNonsanse :, renlied wilkins al am not