Mariposa Democrat., 1857-10-01
A Terrible Due1.

A Terrible Duel.
few days since, SAYS the st. Louis Leader,
as a New England gentleman, whose name we
shall call Brown, was passing few days at a
hotel in one of our western cities he had the
misfortune, unintentionally, to offend the sus-
ceptible honor of Militia Colonel who was one
of his fellow boarders. His apologies not be.
ing satisfactory, challenge was sent him,
which, however, he declined upon conscien-
tious scruples The Colonel, who by the way,
had won in two or three encounters quite n
reputation as n duelist, at once conceived the
idea that his opponent was coward, and re-
solved to disgrace him in the face of all the
wisdom of the house Accordingly, the next
day, at dinner time, in marched the duellest,
armed with cowhidc and, advancing to
Browns chair, proceeded to dust his Jacket
for him in the most approved style Brown
was astonished. Luckily, he had been Lieu
tenant Of the Militia in his native State, and
he knew the importance Of incommoding his
enemy by diversion. SO, seizing a gravy
tureen he tossed the contents into the face Of
the belligcrent Colonel, and before he could
recover from the drowning sensation thus oc-
casioned, he sprang upon the table and began
to shower upon him with liberal hand the
contents of the dishes around.
"You are an Internal"
"Cowardl" the Colonel was about to say,
but at that moment plate of green's struck
full upon his mouth, and the word was block
ed-lost forever.
"Ha!" cried the New Engander, whose
blood was now up, fond of greens, are youg
Take potato, too?" and he hurled telling
volley of hard potatoes at him.
Excellent eggs here; capital, with calves
head" and crash! came plate of soft boiled
eggs against the side of his Uranium.
The blows Of the cowhidc, which had hith-
erto descended upon the Yankees head and
shoulders now began TO fall more weekly and
mildly, and it became evident that the assail-
ant, half stunned, chokcd, and partially blind
ed, was getting the worst of it, His courage
was oozng cut.
"1'akc turkey?" shouted Brown, as no.
bic old gobler descended fairly upon the Colo
nel's head, and bursting, filed his hair and
eyes with delicious looking stuff; "hcrc's the
fxings," he continued, as the squash and jelly
followed after.
By this time the Colonel was irretrievably
defeated; and as his merciless opponent seized
huge plum pudding, steaming hot and seem
ed about TO bury him beneath it, he quailed
in terror, and throwing down his cowhide,
turned about and made rush for the door.
"Stop for the pudding, Colonel; stop for
the pudding shouted Brown.
Pudding, Colonel; pudding, puddingl :"
screamed all his fellow boarders, amid convul-
sions of laughter. But the Colonel was too
terrified, and did not cease running until he
had locked himself into his room.
But although the Colonel escaped from the
pudding, he did not escape from the ridiculc
which the affair occasoned. lie subsequently,
challenged four persons, against whom his ire
was particularly excited and they all consent
ed TO fight, but avaing themselves of the
privilege of the challenged party, named pud-
ding bags for their weapons. At length, the
unhappy ducllist, finding no one who was will
ling to shoot or be shot at, was obliged to quit
the State.