Weekly Trinity journal., 1857-02-28
From Flush Times in .qlaJGmo and Mississippi
Au Affair of Honor.

in the Flush Times, there were several re-
sorts for the refreshment of the weary travel
Ter, and for allaying of the chronic thirst Of
more than one of the inhabitants of the
place and the county adjacent. They are
closed now, as are the gaping portals of
those who were wont in the wild days, to
indulge in exciting beverages. A staid,
quiet, moral and intelligent community have
supplied the place of many Of the early set
tiers who left their country for their coun-
try's good : ana churches, school-houses
and Lodges now are prominent where the
doggery' made wild work with the peace
and dignity of the State and the respecta-
bility and decency Of particular individuals.
In the old times there cape to the village
Of Saturday evening company more
promscuous than select, who gathered, like
bees at the mouth of hive, around the
doors Of the grocery. On one of these oc-
casions a scene occurred, which / think
worthy of commemoraton and it may be
relied upon as authentic, in the main, as it
came regularly before the Court as a part of
the proceedings of a trial in State case.
Jonas Sykes was a very valiant man
when in liquor But Jonas, like a good
many other valiant men, was moro valiant
in peace than in war, He was a very Sam
son in fght-but, like Samson he liked to
do battle with that description of weapon
which so scattered the Philistine hosts-that
iaw-bone-one Of which Nature had furnish
cd Jonas with. Jonas was prodigaI in the
jaw-work and wind-work of fight and he
could outswcar our army in Flanders lie
always knew, or thought he knew how much
a man would stand before he commenced
abusing him, and his wrath grew the fercer
according as the patience Of his enemy grew
greater, and lie was more ferce-like bull
dog chaincd-as he was the more held off.
Jonas had picked a quarrel with quiet,
demure fellow Of the name Of Samuel Moon
ey, and lavished upon that gentleman's liver,
soul and eyes, many expressions much more
feryid than polite or kind. Sam stood it
for some time, but at length, like q terrapin
with Goals on his back, even his sluggish
spirit could stand it no longer lie began
to retOrt on Jonas some Of the inverted COM
pliments with which Jonas had beSprnked
him. Whereupon Jonas felt his chiyalry so
moved there0t, that he challenged him TO
mortal combat.
Now Jonas, as most Iullies did at that
time, went armed Samuel had no Uecpjas
as he called those dangerous implements,
and gave that fact as an apology for not
accepting JonaS's kind invitation Bat
Jonas would not hear to- any such patry
excuse he denounced Sam, for a white
liyered poltroOn, WHO would insult o gentle
man (thcrcby meaning himself, and then
refuse him satisfaction, and sworc he would
post him up all over town rcgretting that
he did not have the chance of blowing a
hole through his carcass with lis Dcrrugcr'
that buIl-bat could fly through without
fetching airy wing and giving his solemn
word Of honor that if lie lSanL) would
only fight him, (Jonas, he, (Jonas, wonldn't
hit him, (Sam.) an inch above his ldr-bonc
which certainly was encouraging.
Sam still protested lie was Wcaponless
Well said Jonas you shan't have that
excuse any longer. I've got two as good
pistols rs ever was bought at OHcCES, and
you may have your choice And pulling one
out Of either side pocket, he produced two
pistols very much alike, and, advancing to
Sam, put his hanGs behind him and Stuffed
them from hand to hand a moment or two.
and then held them forWard-ouc rather in
advance of the othcr-towar,lS Sam, telling
him to take which he chose Sam took the
one nearest to him, and Jonas called out to
BOB Dobbs, who stood by, TO put them
through in fair duel, and called thc crowd
to witness that he done to the rascal
accordin' to law Bob willingly accepted
the honorable position assigned him com
manded order made the crowd stand back;
measured off the ground-ton paces-and
stationed the combatantS sidcwise in duelling
position Bob then armed himself with a
scytho blade, and nourishing it in the air
swore death and destruction to all who
should interfere by word look, or sign.
Bob took his position at right angles be-
tween the two, and gave ont in a loud sono.
rous voice the programme Of proceedings
Gentlemen the rules are as follows -
the parties are to be asked Gentlemen
are you ready answering Yes, |, as mutual
second will then pronounce the words slow
ly, Fire One-two-three : the parties
to fire as they choose between the words
Fire and three and if either fires before or
after the time, | shall proceed to put him to
death without quarter, bail or main prize
Micajah T., lawyer present, suggested,
or benefit of clergy Yes said Bob,
or the bneft Of clergyman
Bob then proceeded to give the words
out. At the word tolo Jonas's pistol snap
ped, but Sans went of, the ball striking a
button on Jonas's drawers and cutting off
little Of the skin Jonas felI--his legs flying
up in the air and shouting, Murder ?
Murder! he's knocked off all the lower part
of my abdomen. Send for a doctor quick
quick Oh Lordy oh Lordy Pm a
dead man the other fellow got the--wrong
pistol = (And SO he had for on exam
ining Jonass pistol, it was found to have
had no load in it. Jonas, by mistake in
shufling, having given the the loaded one to
Sam and kept the empty one himself.)
The testimony in the case was related with
such comic humOr by one of the witnesses,