The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1857-11-04
Srlertra Sturu.
"A. Duel Up North.
Br CLARA AUGUSTA.

Jonas Whitcomb and Silas Jones had
quarrel about the boot jack, on the 23d
day Of May A. d., 1856. The circum-
stances were briefly these:
Jonas purchased a patent boot jack Of
ra,e'hng agent, and SiIas Protested
against the purchase as u piece Of IL, l.
less extravaganza, asserting that the pa
tent Jack MAS no better than one he had
which was manufactured by himself OF a
mhtc pine backlog. SIIss' foot was nou.
Of your Chimr., affairs, but regular out
and outer oi bohemoth fitted by boots
No. lG, aud boo, jack No. -, back 10y !
Jonas took offence at S,as plan speak
iag aud rcrorI.d bitterly, and the war of
words ran high. At length SiIas, who
had be'n reading the proceedings "f Con
gsess, challenged Jonas " tight u duel,
and threatened 10 call him by the title Of
boot jack Whitcomb forever, and thrasl.
him IN tho bargain, il he refused 10 fight.
Jonas thought the matter over, aud alter
duo delIberation concluded lie had rather
be shot than be dubbed kight Of the
Bool Jack. So y meeting VA, agreed
upon, to take place the following moru.
ing, in Deacon Reeds ia,er patch being
somewhat removed from tie highway,
and therefore favorable for the transac
tion OF An affair most pre-em,orily forbid.
den by the laws Of our State.
The weapons were TO bo the bellige.
rents own guns, two very curious and
original articles 10y the way, which with.
out doubt dated back 10 the times Tubal
Cain. &hey were TO have no second, for
fear OF betrayal, aud afterwards term Of
years in the gray lone palace at CONCORD
The preiinlnarles being arranged, both
parties went home TO prepare themselves
for tie very comfortable prospect Of n
breakfast Of lead bullets on the ensuing
morning.
Somehow, Mrs. Whi,comb go, wind
Of the business, and she (being woman
OF spiriI called Immediately on Mrs. Jones
and revealed all.
Mrs. Jones was church member, in
good standing with the brethren aud sis
ters, aud, Of course, she felt dreadiuIlv Ut
the idea Of being the wife OF a duelist (!
So the two women put their heads TO-
gether, and between them quite I.tls
plot Was coHcoc,ed ---slmpst equal In ia.
gunpow,ler plot celebrated ia English lis.
tory.
il was proposed that each lady should
empty the conteD,s of their husbands
powder horn into the river, and substitute
black sand for tue powder. This was ac.
cordingly done, after which they awaited
the result OF the mornings rencontre with
anxious hearts.
Nine o'clock found the combatants up
on Deacon Reeds later lot, each with bis
powder horn along on his shoulder, and
his gun in his hand. The distance was
measured off--lhe men solemny shook
hsnds.aDd then respectively assume their
positions. Alta precoucerted signal, each
ralsed bis weapon to his shoulder and
tried TO fire. But the obstinate things
wouldn't go offi Jones gave hearty
tug At bis shooting ircn, but il only snap.
ped sulkily, as much as TO say it would
do - II had a mind TO and no thanks to
any body. Silas' gun was Of the same
opinion. and :he mems chances OF being
shot seemed rather dubious. Jonas, after
little while, got iTritsled. and squatling
down on the ground, he pounded the
barrel for fifteen minutes or so with a
shsrp rock. but without producing any
fleet worth mentioning. Then Jonas rose
up, and fiinging the gun as he could over
the hedge. he cried out, spitefully--
'Dsmnstion selze tho thing / sish il
wss 10 F,asber,f