Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-06-05
EV ENING STAR.
EXTRAORDINARY DUEL.


Dean Swift, has recorded an account Of
very singular character, who lived in
the town of Tipperary. The name of
this gentleman was Mathew; after
long residence abroad he returned to
Dublin at the latter end of Queen Anne's
reign.
AT that time party spirit ran high, but
ragged nowhere with such violence as in
that city, insomuch that duels were eyery
day fought there on that score.
There happened to be at that time two
gentlemen In London, who valued them
selves highly on their skill in fencing
the name of one was Pack, the other
Creed-the former q major, the latter q
captain in the army.
Hearing of these daily exploits in Dub
lin, they resolved, like two knights.er-
rant, to 90 over in quest of adventures
Upon inquiry he found that Mr.. Mathew
had the character Of being one of the
finest swordsmen in Europe.
Pack rejoiced to find an antagonist
worthy of him; and meeting him as he
was carried along the street in his chair,
jostled the fore-chairman.
vi this Mathew took no notice, sup
posing it to be accidental. But Pack af.
terwards boasted of it in the public coffee
house, saying that he had purposely Of
fered this insult to that gentleman, who
had not the spirit to resent it. There
happened to be present a particular
friend of MIR. Mathew, of the name of
Mcnamara, a man of good courage, and
reputed the best fencer in Ireland.
He Immediately took up the quarrel,
for he was sure Mr.. Mathew did not sup
pose the afffont intended, otherwise he
would have chastised him on the spot !;
and If the major would let him know
where ne was to be found he should be
waited upon Immediately after his
friend s return, who was to dine tina
day little way out of town.
The major said he would be at the
tavern over the way, where he and his
companion would await their commands
Immediately on bis arrival Mathew
being made acquainted with what had
passed, went from the coffee. house to
the tavern, accompanied by Macna-
mara.
Being shown into the room where the
gentlemen were, Mathew and Pack drew
their swords; but Macnamara stopped
them by saying he had something to pro-
pose.
He said in cases of this nature he never
could to be cool spectator.
So, sir, addressing himself to Greed,
if you please, shall have the honor
of entertaining you in the same man.
ner."
Greed, who desired no better sport.
made no other reply than that Of in
stantly drawing his sword; to work the
four cha npions fell, with the same COM
posure as if it were only fencing match
with foils.
The conflict was of some durstion, and
was maintained with great obstinacy by
the two officers, Notwithstanding the
great efusion of blood from the many
wounds they had received.
At length, quite exhausted, they both
fell, and yielded the victory to the supe-
rior skill of their antagonists.
Upon this occasion Mathew gave a re-
markable proof of the perfect composure
of his mind during the action.
Greed had fallen first, upon which Pack
exclaimed:
"Ah, poor Greed! are you gone7"
"Yes, said Mathew very composedly,
and you shall pack after him, at the
same time making a nome-thrust quite
through his body, which threw him to
the ground. This was the more remark
able, as he was never in his life. eithsr
before or after, known to have aimed st
pun.
The number of wounds received by
the vanqulshed parties was very great
and, what seems almost miraculous, their
Opponents were untouched.
Thesurgeons, seeing the desperate state
Of their patients, could not suffer them tc
be removed out of the room where they
fought, but had beds Immediately con-
veyed into it, on which they lay many
hours in state of inssnsibility.
When they came to themselves, and
saw where they were, Pack, in q feeble
voice, said to his companion:
sCreed, l think we are conauerors, fol-
We have kept the field of battle"
For long time they were despaired of;
but to the astonishment of every one they
both recovered.
When they were able to see company
Mathew and his friend visited them daily,
and close intimacy afterwards ensued,
as they found them to be men of probity,
and Of the best dispositions, except in
this Quixotic idea of duelling, whereof
they were now perfectly cured.
A RUSSIAN HRRoINK.-The following
| is related i'm a letter from Ksmiesb in tho