The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1854-09-30
An Irish Duel.

Magazine:
And now my third duel--tl,e last saw
in Cork-rcmaii:s to be told. would
could induce myself to pass !! over; but i
it were only as q lesson 10 young men, cs
pccialiy military lncn, cannot forego the
benefit may, perhaps, cause 10 some whose
circumstances may be- similar. Would
had written t?,is some years hac,-, w:,::l
first was lionorel with pcrinis:: IN 10 tax, =
place amongst the contributors to this sror-
ting periodical; it might have caught the
eye Of one or other Of two noble fellows,
brotl.cysin-!;iw and brother officers, in The
and one Of whom fell by Tie hand
Of the other, and it might have prevented =
catastrophe which brought misery into The
hearths OF many happy home. But pro-
| coed -
Licutcn::nts Herbert and Welsh bo,h resi-
ded i'll Cork, one (\Fe!sh} llaii.pay in the
! army, the other (lIe:bcrt) in the navy they
were dear, nay bosom friends: not i day
passed that they did not meet Or spend the
day one with the other. The following" was
the cause of this unhappy quarrel, rs well
as can rccoi!cct; and am sure there are
some alive ROW in Cork who will rccollect
tify TO the truth Of my narrative.
at the time I speak of, it WAS the custom
Tor young gentlcmen TO walk i'll the evenings
OH the Grand Parade and South Mall in
Cork, with peculiar dresscs-largo hats, high
shirt collars, carried to an cxtravagant size !;
fact, caricaturcs Of the then fashions. Lieu
tenant Welsh invited his friend Herbert and
wife to take tea OH q certain evening, and
that after tea they would, accompanied by
their wives, 60 out to see the " "dandics" 1t
was stated at the time, tv those who knew
the cause Of the quarrel, that Lieutenant
w. said, "Be with us at seven o'clock, and
after that we will go out; now mind, Her
bert, we will not wait for you after seven"
However, seven O'Clock came, and they
waited until eight o'clock, when finding
Herbert and his wife dilnot arrive, they took
tea, and left about half past eight. at nine,
Lieutenant Herbert and his lady arrived,
and were informed that Lieutenant w.
and his lady had taken their tea and cono
out. 1t was the rumor that upon Mrs. Her
bert's suggestion, her husband immediately
proceeded in search of his friend to demand
satislaction.-Nould, for the sake of human
nature, could believe otherwise but do
believe that the fatal business was caused
by the iinprudcncc of tho lady.
Herbert sent home his wife, went imme-
diately and purchased a whip, and meeting
his friend Welsh and wife in Gillin's fruit
shop on the Grand Parade, proceeded to
lay on the horscwhip. Welsh, being the
more powerful Of the two, wrcnchetl tho
whip from his antagonist, and laid on him
soundly. | was passing at the timc-saw
the whole transaction, the exchange Of cards,
Sc, and never ceased enquiry until l was
acquainted with tho time and place for the
arrangement of the difference
The next day, at two o'clock, in the spot
aclcctcd-a field on the Borccnmana road,
be .wcen tho Blackrock and Passage roads
il was a painful circumstance to notice that
Lieutenant Herbert's house was in view of
the spot selected for the duel, and still more
extraordinary and more painful the fact that
Mrs. II. viewed the fatal scene from her bed
room window.
There was no time lost after tho parties
took tho ground; the pistols were loaded,
and each was handed the deadly weapon.
Lieutenant Welsh said, before he was placed,
81 have no cause of quarrel with my friend
except his horse-whipping mo; but as he
supposed my absence from home, when he
was invited, was m insult, and ono premedi-
tated, to him, which here solemnly deny,
l will not fire at him."
Herbert, who was brave man, but who
suffered from bad wound in the head, re-
ceiyed i'll battle, which, when he was excited,
caused him to act more like madman than
one incarcerated in alunatie asylum, swore
out tremendous oath that" he came there
for satisfaction, and that nothing but blood
would satisfy him." Imust confess my feel
ings at the time were the excess of nervous
hess and horror at the oath and sentiment;
trcmbled from head to foot. In reference
to the state of my feelings, often since
thought ".coming events cast their shadows
before"
The seconds finding it useless to interfere
calculated that Welsh's firing in tho air
would satisfy his opponent, but in this they
were mistaken. The words present-fre'
were given quickly Herbert took deadly
aim at his antagonist who fired in the air
But Welsh was untouched. An endeagol
was thea inade Ito affangs matters, bu1
wholly in vain. Welsh willing to dc
anything that @as honorHt butbis oppo
nent's obstinacyA wfls NOT to be overcome
lItwas awful; Isuse tho word 4 awful be
cause he more than once swore fearfally ,ant
\ only few moments before Lis, death, by hi
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