Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1853-10-28

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Mr.. DAILY, TO fight him early the ensuing
morning. l never had spoken a word
20 him in my life, and scarcely OF him,
and no possible cause Of quarrel that |
could guess existed between us: howev-
er. il being then a decided opinion that
q first overture OF that nature could new
or be declined, accepted the invitation
without any inquiry; writing in reply,
that % to place, chose the field Of
Denny brook-fair, as the fittest spot for
all sorts Of encounters. had then to
look out for a second, and res0rtcd 10 q
person with whom was very intimate,
and who, as he was curious character,
may be worth noticing. He was brother
20 the unfortunate Sir Edward Crosby,
bart, who was murdered by court-inar-
tial at Carlow, May, 1898. My friend
was afterward called "Balloon Crosby"
being the first seronaut who constructed
q Hibernian balloon, and ventured to
take journey into the sky from Ireland.
Crosby was of immense stature, being
above six feet three inches high; he had
q comely-looking, fat, rudy face, and
genious mechanic ever knew. He had
. smattering Of all sciences, and there
was scarcely an art or trade Of which he
had not some practical knowledge
His chambers at college were general
workshop for all kinds Of artisans. He
was very good tempered, exceedingly
strong, and as brave as n lion, but as
logged as a mule; nothing could change
q resolution OF his when once made, and
nothing could check or resist his perse-
vcrance to carry II into execution. He
highly approved ofmy promptncss In ac-
ccpting Days invitation, but told him
that unlnckily had no pistols, and did
not know where to procure any against
next morning. This puzzled him: but
ON recollection, he said he had no COM
plcts pistols neither; but he had some
old Dcks, barrels aud stocks, which rs
they did not originally belong 10 each
other. he should find Il very difficult to
make anything OF: nevertheless, he
would fall TO work directly. lie kept
me up tlI late ut night In his chambers,
TO help him In fling the old locks and
barrels. aud endeavoring TO patch up two
or three OF them 20 at 10 20 or and an.
swer that indy dual Job. Various trials
were made; much Hing, drilling, aud
scanning, were necessary. However,
BY two o'clock In the morning, we had
completed three entire pistols, which
though certainly Of various lengths, and
OF the most ludlcrous workmanship,
struck their fire right we'll, and that was
ell we wanted OF them-symmetry, ne he
remarked, being Of no great value upon
these occasions. II was before seven
o'clock on the goth of March. with q
cold wind and sleeiy atmosphere, that we
Get ont on foot Ior the field OF Donnys
brook.falr, after having taken some good
chocolate, and plentiful drnugbt Of
cherry brandy, 10 keep the cold wind out.
On arriving, we saw my antagonist aud
hIs friend, Jack Patterson, nephew 90
the chief Justice, already on The ground,
I shall never forget Days figure. lilo
Was very fine looking young fellow,
bot with such n nqulni that II was total.
ly impossible 10 say what 40 looked al,
except bis nose, OF which he never Lost
sIght. lie dress tlhey had come Ia a
coach) made NE ashamed of my own ha
wore pea.Rfeen coat, a large tucker
with a diamond brooch stuck IN ltl n
ihfes.eoched hat with gold buil0nloOp
and tasseis, end sllk si0cklnasl and n
soiteau.du.chasse hung gracefully dang.
ling from bic thigh, IN fact, he looked,
g. II already standing In y state Of trl.
umph, alter having vanqulahed and tram.
Piled on bic antagonist, did not hall
like his steady position, snowy surface,
and mysterious Egulntl aud certainly
would rather have exchanged two shots
with HE slovenly friend, Jack Patterson,
than one with 80 magnificent aud over
bearing 40 adversary My friend cros.
by. without, any sort Of saluiallon 0l
prologue, immediately cried out, "0reund
genllemenl ground, gfoundl damn meas
ufementl" aud placing me on bis select
cd spot, whispered into my ear "Medio
tatisslmus ihls=neyer look ~ the head
o. heels-h'p the maeafonil The hip fol
ever. my boy hlpl hIpl-whea my anlag'
ehlst's second, advancing and aeeostinn
nine, said Mr. DAILY could not think e
going any farther with the business, thai
he found u was totally mistake on hii
psIt, originating through mlsrepresenlar
tlen. and that he begged 10 say he wa.
extremely sorry for having given MF
harrington and his friend tho trouble o
eomIng out, hoping they would excused
and shake hands with him, TO this ar
rangement certainly had no sort OF OBJ
jeeiionl but Crosby, without hesitation
saidi 1--WE cannot do that yet, slF, I'll
show you We ean'l (takinga little man,
usehpt book oul Of his breeches-poeket,)
there's the rules!-look at that sir con,
tnued he, "see No. ~ No apology car
be received alter the parties meet, with
out a iire.' You see, there's the rule
pursued Crosby, with Infinite sell.satis-
faction; "and young man on his firsl
blood cannot break rule, particularly
with gentleman so used 10 the sport as
Mr., DAILY. Come, gentlemen, proce d.
proceed!" DAILY appeared much displeas-
cd, but took his ground, without speaking
swoid, about nine PAGES from me. He
presented his pistol instantly, but gave
me most CALAMITY full front.
II being, as Crosby said, my first
blood, lost no time, but let lily without
asingle second Of delay, aud without Ia,
king aim. DAILY staggard back two OF
three steps; put his hand to his breast
cried, "I'm hit sir!" and did not fire.
Crosby gave me slap on the back which
staggard me, and squeeze Of the hant
which nearly crushed my fingers. We
got round him, bis waistcoat was opened
and black spot, about the size Of ,
crown piece, with little blood, appear.
ed directly on his breast-bone. | wa,
greatly shocked. fortunately, however
the ball had not penetrated; but hi.
brooch had been broken, and piece o
the setting was sticking fast in the bone
Crosby stamped, cursed the damp DOW
der or undertaking, and calmly pulled
out the brooch. DAILY said not word
put his cambria handkerchief, doubled
10 his breast, and bowed. returned
the salute extremely glad to get out o.
the scraPe, and so we parted without
conversation or ceremony; save thal
swhenl expressed my wish 10 know the
cause OF his challenging me; DAILY re
piled that he would now give no sucl
explanation, and his frien1 then produ