Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1855-10-17
9n ynteresting storp,
The Juggler's Duel.
A NAVAL SKETCH.

While the old frigate Brandywine lay
at Gibfater, the American consul, Mr.
| Sprague, came on board with man who
wished to join the ship; after some con
| sultation, said man was received hv the
! Captain as sort Of steward, he having
agreed to work for his passage aud board
and some slight consideration besides
His name was Joe Lattit, and he was a
regular specimen of the strolling Yankee:
but he dressed WE'LL and was remarkably
good looking, though there was in his
face a peculiar look, which indicated that
he preferred fun to sound sense, allowing
that however, that the fun had some
sense. The moment | placed my eyes
upon the man, knew | had seen him be-
fore, and when | had an opportunity to
speak with him, | found that he had been
a performer Of ledgerdemain and ven
triloquism in the United States, and there
| had seen him.
He had travelled through England,
France, and a part of Spain with his i'm
plements of deception, and had Just
brought up at Gibralter, when our ship
came in. He had brought his whole kit
on board in large chest, which he got
permission to stow in the bed room, where
it would be kept perfectly dry.
He had quite a 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 very 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 Ma
hon, and here our Yankee tars were at
home. One pleasant morning party Of
US went ashore. and Joe Lattit was among
our number. Joe was dressed in a per-
feet shore going rig. and appeared gen
tleman of consequence. Near the middle
of the forenoon, few of US entered a cafe
or drinking saloon, and the only occu-
pant, besides the keeper, was Spanish
officer, evidently an infantry captain from
his dress. We called for wine. and had
it served upon table next. to the one at
WHICH he sat, Joe seating himself so that
his back came against the back of the
Spaniard; 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 unusually funny,
he threw himself back, and thereby hit
the Spaniard with such force as to cause
him to spill glass of wine upon his bo-
som. The fellow leaped to his feet. and
before Joe could beg pardon for the I'M
intentional mishap, he commenced tor
rent of oaths and invectives, partly in
Spanish and partly in broken English
His language was SO abusive, that Joe's
temper was up in moment, and instead
of asking pardon, as he had intended, he
surveyed the man from head to foot, and
then said -
:" Go on, sir. Your language is beauti-
ful-very beautiful for gentleman"
ALL you call me no gentleman, ell p
said the officer in towering passion.
"If I were to call you, should call
you jackassl' calmly and contemptu-
ously uttered Joe.
Aha ahal' half growled the Spaniard,
rolling his black eyes wildly and furious.
ly. Now by Santa Maria, you shall an
swer for that | am a gentleman! But
-you-little cursed ruppy! Ah-a-a-
alb now you shall fight p
Joe would have laughed the matter off
but he found that the captain was deter.
mined to fight. and at length he resolved
to accommodate him. The keeper of the
cafe called me aside and informed me that
the officer was Captain Antonio Bizar, one
of the most notorious duelists in the
hot bo oil I'll
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,
added the keeper, four of his fellow off
GERS left him, because they saw he was
ripe fora 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 assured mesthat there was
nothing to fear. | feltsure at once from
his very manner that he had some safe fur
in his head, and | let him go.
My name is JosepIfM attit, sir, a citi
zen of the United States and General o
the Order Of Sublime " said Joe
very pompously, turning to the Spaniard
Y our name sir?
6 Antonio Bizar, captain in Her Most
Catholic Majesty's seventh regiment o
infantry. But your office, Sir, dom
comprehend"
Oh, you wouldn't know if I shoult
tell you. / am simply general of body
of men who have sold themselves to thu
gentleman who burns sinners and heretic
down here" And Joe pointed most mys
teriously down towards the floor as hi
spoke.
The spsniardl smiled very bitter sar
| castle smile, and tbereupon Joe took d