The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1855-08-22
Joe Lattit,s Duel

the ship, and after some consultation, said man
was received by the captain as a sort of steward
he having agreed to work for his passage and
board, and some slight consideration besides,
His name was Joe Lattit, and he was a regular
specimen of the strolling yankee, but he
dressed well land was remarkably good looking,
though there was in his face a peculiar look
which indicated that he preferred fun to sound
sense, allow, that the fun had some sense in it.
The moment placed my eyes upon the man,
knew had seen him before, and when had an
opportunity to speak with him, found that he
had been performer of legerdemain and ven
trioquism in the United States, and there I
had seen him. He had travelled through Eng
land, France, and part of Spain, with his i'm
plements of deception, and had just brought up
at Gibraltar when our ship came in. He
brought his whole kit on board in large chest
and got permission to stow it in the bread-room
where it would be kept perfectly dry. Hehad
quite ''pile'' of money, which he placed in
the purser's hands for safe keeping, but he
would tell none of US how much. But he was
liberal and open hearted, and it was not long
before the crew blessed the hour that brought
him on board, for he was the very soul of wit
and humor.
At length our ship went to Port Mahon, and
here our yankee tars were at home. One plea
SAINT morning party of us went to Port Mahon,
AND Joe Lattlt was among our number Joe
was dressed in perfect shore going rio. and
appeared as gentleman of consequence. Near
the middle Of the forenoon few of us entered
cafe, and the only occupant, besides the keeper
was Spanish officer, evidently an infantry
captain from his dress. We called for wine,
and had 1t served upon table next to the one
at which the officer sat, Joe seating himself so
that his back came against the back Of the
Spanlard, but he did not notice, when he sat
down, how close he would be-
Our laugh and jest ran high, and just as Joe
said something more than usually funny, he
threw himself back, and thereby bit the Span
lard with such force as to cause him to spill
glass of wine upon his bosom. The fellow
leaped to his feet, but before Joe could bee par
don for the unintentonal mishap,he commenced
torrent OF oaths and invective, partly in Span
ish and partly in broken English His Ian
guage was SO abusive that Joc's temper was
up in moment and instead of asking pardon,
as he had intended he surveyed the raving
man from head to foot and then said:
"Go on, sir. Your language is beautiful
very beautiful for gentleman
'Ah! you call me no gentleman, eh?'' ut
tered the officer, in a towering passion.
eff were going to call you, should call
you jackass!" calmly and contemptuously
uttered Joe.
"Aha-ah?' half growled the Spaniard, roll
ing his black eyes wildly and furiously. ''Now
by Santa Marie, you shall answer for that l
am gentleman But you-you-one leetle
cursed puppy! Ah-aa-h! Now you shall
fght!'
Joe would have laughed the matter off, but
he found that the captain was determined to
fight, and at length he resolved to accommo-
date him. The keeper of the cafe called me to
one side, and informed me that the officer was
captain Antonio Bizar, one of the most noto-
rious duelists in that place-that he was al
ways quaTelsome when under the influence of
liquor, and that his companions always left
him alone, rather than have fuss with him.
''Not five minutes before you came in,' ad-
ded the keeper, ''four of his fellow officers left
him because they saw he was ripe for fuss.
So you had better get your friend away
pulled Joe away, and told him all that had
just been told me, but he only smiled, and as
sured me that there was nothing to fear Ifelt
sure that at once, from his very manner that
he had some safe fun in his head, and let him
go.
my name is Joseph Lattit, sir-a citizen of
the United States, and general of the order of
sublime Darkness" said Joe, pompously, turn
ing to the Spaniard. "Your name, sir?''
'Antonio Bizar, captain in her most catholic
majesty's seventh regiment of infantry. But
your office, sir? I don't comprehend"
ooh, you wouldn't know if l would tell you.
am simply general of a body of men who
have sold themselves to the gentleman who
burns sinners and heretics, down here.'' And !
Joe pointed most mysteriously down toward
he floor as he spoke.
The Spaniard smiled very bitter, sarcastic
smile, and thereupon Joe took up two large
inives which lay upon the bar, and tossed them
me after another, down his throat, making sew
raj wry faces as they took their passage down
yard. The fellow had evidently never seen
my thing of the kind done, for he was astoun-
led. " -
"Now, sir" said Joe, making one or two
nore grmances, as though he still felt the
nlyes somewhere in the region of the dia-
hragm, ''you will wait here until 60 and
ring my pistols, and you shall have satisfac ;;
on. Will you wait?''
i can procure pistols,' said the officer, for
citing his astonishmcnt, and coming back to
is anger.
4 shall fight with my own. If you are a
you will wait here t
Joe turned to US and bade us wait for him. h
'Here here! O cried!'' cried the keeper, +
where my knives?'' '
"pll pay you for 'em when ] came back" h
nd Joe, and then he beckoned for me to come
1T. L did so, and he took the knives-one ;.
ON his bosom and the other from his sleeve! IL
ID told me to keep them until he returned. Il Il
1t seems that Joe found boat ready to take -
m of to the shpa at once, for he was not gone -
er three quarters of an hour, and when he 8
me back he had two superbly mounted pis- %
Is with him. He loaded them with powder a. a.
the presence of a Spaniard, and then ham y, ~
ohm ball asked him if he would mark it, s.
he would know it again. The fellow hesitated y. -,
hrst, but at length he took it, with a mad ~
sture, and bit between his teeth. raga :"
Il shall know that" he said, tsunless it is u: 10
tered against your bones -. ..-.. r., y.
81. - r