The Placer herald., 1857-09-19
A Terrible Duel.

A few years since, as a New England
gentleman, whose name we shall call Brown,
was passing few days at hotel in one
of our. Western cities, he had the mistor-
tune unintentionally to offend the srscep-
tible honor Of tall militia colonel, who
was one Of his felow-boarders His apol-
ogies not being satisfactory, challenge
was sent to him, which, however he de-
clined upon conscientious scruples. The
colonel, who, by the way, had won in
two or three encounters quite reputation
as a dueist, at once conceived the idea
that his opponent was coward, and re-
solved to disgrace him in the face Of all
the assembled wisdom Of the house. Ac
cordngly the next day at dinnertime, in
marched the duelist, armed with a COW
hide, aud, advancing to Browns clair, pro-
ceeded to dust his jacket for MIN in the
most approved style. Brown was aston
ished. Luckily, he had been. lieutenant
of. militia in Lis native State, and he knew
The Importance Of incommoding his enemy
ly diversion. So, seizng gravy tureen,
lie tossed the contents into the face of the
bellioerent colonel, and before he could
recover from the drowning sensation thus
occasioned, be sprang upon the table and
beean to shower upon him with liberal
Land the contents Of the dishes around
you are an Internal"
Coward" the colonel was about to saY,
but at that moment plate of greens struck
full upon his mouth, and the word block
aled-lost forever,
"Ha" cried the New Englander, whose
blood was row UP, fond of greens are
you' Take a potato tool" and he hurled
telling volley of hard potatoes at him.
Excellent eggs here-captal with calves
heal;" and crash came plate of soft
b; lied eggs against the side Of lis Uranium,
The blows of the cowhide, which had
hitherto descended upon the Yankees head
and shoulders, now began to fall more
weakly and wildly, and it became evident
that the assaiant, half-stunned, choked,
and partially blinded was getting the worst
Of it. His courage was oozing out.
Take turkey" shouted Brown, as a
noble old gober descended fairly upon the
coonel's head, and bursting, filed his hair
and eyes with delicious-ooking stuf'ing;
"here's the fixngs" be continued, as the
squash ana jelly followed after.
BY this time the colonel WIS irretriev-
ably defeated and as his merciess opponent
seized huge plum pudding, steaning hot,
and holding it above his head wi both
hands, seemed to bury him beneath it, lie
oualed in terror, and throwing down his
cowhide, turned about and made rush for
the door.
Stop for the pudding, colonel, stop for
the pudding" screamed adj his fellow board
e.s, amid convulsons Of laughter. But the
colonel was too terrified, and did not cease
lunnng until he had locked himself into
his room.
But, although the colonel escaped from
the puddings, he did not escape from the
ridicule which the affair occasioned He
subsequently challenged tour persons, against
whom his ire was particularly excited, and
they all consented to fight, but avaing
themselves Of the privilege of the challenged
party, appointed pudding bags for their
weapons. At length the unhappy duel
ist finding no one who was willing to shoot
or be shot at, was obliged to quit the
State.