Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1855-12-06

}. they alleged, did not admit Of an
! such implement Of destruction. I
-lthis the Americans, replied that I'd
j. combat gwitb guns had long. bee
sanctioned, andseyen by immemoris
custom all over western States, IN
therefore it was rendered hoa0raJh
lat leastby prescription; and as Smiil
Eswore that he would not, fight viii
apyt thing. but rifles, aud aciuall,
Threatened to repeat, the eaastise
meht which he bad inflicted upol
Villere, the Frenchgparsy vas fnally
obliged to submit, or run the risk 0
!. being rdonbly disgraced. = :
I Accordingly, at sunrise the succeed
Ting morn, an immense concourse O.
spectators assembled, to witness the
mortal issneeabout to be decided. :
This wastb moperemarkable, as the
| day broke amidst thick, volpmed mas.
ses of gloomy clouds, through the
riffede edges of which quick light.
Mugs occasionally twinkled, and far
behind which distant thunder rolled
at intervals with a heavy jarriDg
sound That seemed to shake the solid
globe over a eirctiit of many milas,
as ifitI had issued out, firthe earth
instead, Of the. sky. The unpromi,
sing state Of the weather, however,
did not even retard the appearance
Of the principals and seconds on the
ground. They arrived very nearly
at the same instant; and after pre-
pairing their arms, and measuring etf
the space agreed upon, they assamed
their appropriate stations, and stood
waiting for the fatal word, which, IN
al human probability, vas to be the
last thatone or both Of them should
ever hear, until called out Of their
graves by the voice of God at the
day of final fire! re
But, at the moment the clouds
bad thiekened and blackened almost
to thsadarkness of a tempest, SO that
it seemed impossible for the foes to
take aim with any sort of accuracy.
1t WAS indeed an awful time for broth.
ers of the same exalted kind, en-
lowed with reasoning souls and hearts
capable Of infinite affections, 20, she'd
deliberately each others blood.
However, no such thoughts oc-
,urred to them. They only cursed
Internally the unexpected darkness,
which diminished the vchances Of
,ringingthe combat to speedy close. !
AT length, the word was given:
Gentlemen, are you ready?, |
sReadyl'
'Fire-one-- -i'." D.
The remainder of. the sentence,
Usual in such cases, was not compile
ed, for at the last intonatiop Of tue
crm fire. both rifles went off to-
sether. But no one heard either re-
,ort. Each was drowned utterly by
simultaneous peal Of thunder loud
nongh to wake the dead, while the
ntire atmosphere appeared to be-
ome one vast sea of electric fire
me illinlitable, binding blaze Of
ight, such as a sun might be imag-
ned to yield should it explode!
When the spectators recovered the
lse Of their eyes and saGcient pres
nee Of mind to glance at the battle
ield, they beheld Louis Villere
tretched on the earth a corpse, with
stream of Blood running from the
10 his brease while his adj
-ersary stood erectand uhharmed.-
rhe latter. Immediately approached
nd leisufely Scrutinized bis victim,
.xelaiming, as he perceived the 10.
ality Of the wound4'What a very
,sd shot! | aimed at the head, and
lit the heart. That fash of light
ling may, perhaps, account for it.
Several instances have lately been