The Nevada journal., 1856-02-29
CHALLENGING TO MORTAL COMBAT.

since, to person who had challenged him
while on business visit at Little Rock,
Arkansas, has been much commented up:
on by the public press North and South.
In that reply Mr.. Prentice said:
"Presuming that your notes are written
to me with view to duel, may as well
say here, that have not the least thought
of accepting a challenge from you. There
are many persons to whom my life is val
liable and however little or much value
| may attach to it, on my own account, |
do not see fit at present to put it volun-
tarily against yours. don't want your
blood ON my hands, and don't want mine
upon any body's. | have not the least de-
sire to kill you, or to harm a hair of your
head, and am not conscious of having
done anything that you should wish to kill
me,' etc.
When we first saw this correspondence
in the daily newspapers, we called to mind
very laughable circumstance said to have
occurred in Albany, during session OF
the Legislature at the Capitol, several
years ago-of course before the prohibi-
tion of dueling by statute in this State.
1t was an exciting political time, and
owing to some words spoken in de bate, y
by heated member during heated term
touching somewhat upon the public char
acter of brother member, a challenge was
forthwith despatched to the offending mem,
Der by ''lriend, as such a messenger is
called in the language ofthe code of honor
he challenge was at once accepted.
Pleased with this promptness, the Sec
ohd said
"W hen can we expect your friend ?"
"Don't want any friend" said the chal-
lenged party. II waive all such advanta-
ges. He can have dozen if he wishes. -
"Ihis is magnanimous, but it is not &C.
cording to the 'code;' Well, sir, ifI am
to treat with you directly-what weap.
ons %
'Broad-swords
''The time 2"
"Day after tomorrow at twelve o'clock
precisely
"At what place 2"
cat o., on the St. Lawrence. Your
principal shall stand on one side of the
river and | will stand on the other, and we
will fight it out p
The second" frowned: This is nc
jesting matter, Sir. You are not seri
Gus ~
''Why, yes am too Hasn't the chal
lenged party right to the choice of weap-
ons and place %
'W Well-yes-Sir but not to unusual
weapons in unusual places"
''Very well pistols will not be objec,
ted to, of course 2"
".Assuredly not: the gentleman's weap.
on
every good, then. We will meet to-
morrow in the little village of 3, and
at II o'clock, precisely, We will fight on
the top of 'Sugar-loaf Hill ; standing back
to back, marching ten PAGES, then turning
and firing. Will that arrangement be sat
isfactory ?"
SIT will. We shall be there"
And the parties separated. Now 'Su!
gar-loaf Hill" "at the place aforesaid, u
was exactly what its name purports a
sharp, conical pillar of ground, remarka.
bic all the immediate country round for
its peculiar formation.
The time arrived, and "the parties ap-
pear on the ground but the state of the
case "leaked OUT very quick.
SIR !" said the second, as he arrived
with his almost breathless principal" at
the apex of the Sugar-loaf, and surveyed
the ground-'Sir this is another subter-
fuge! What Kind ola place is Misr for a
duel with pistols, back to back. and a for
ward march of ten PAGES ? Why, Sir,
both parties would be out of sight at eight
PAGES, let alone ten; and in turning to fire
you must fire into the side-hill,'
$50 much the better for both of us p
answered the party of the second part -
I'VE are on terms of perfect equality. then,
which is not always the case IN modern
duels.''
Outspake the challenging aprincipal''
then, in words too plain to be misunder-
stood
SIR J" he said, to the second "princi-
Pal, at the same time looking daggers at
him: ''SIR-R-Rl you are co,card!"
"Well sposin' lam You knew
was, or you would not have challenged
me !"
"They do say" that the two s'partfes"
that went down the steep sides of Sugar
loaf HUI, on that memorable occasion, were
as difficult of reconciliation as when they
aseended its sides and, moreover, that
they were as different in temper as posi-
Die. One party was laughing, and the
other 7" breathing out threatening and
slaughter = but nothing came of it after
all. This was the last of that duel.
And, thoughtfally regarded, it seems to
us that is really something of lesson in
it, ''indifferently well'' as we have set the
actual occurrence before the reader.