American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1858-03-12

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property. This little preliminary ar
ranged, the parties resumed their Jour-
ney, and at FIVE o'clock precisely the
men were at their places--the deadly
weapons in their hands, and intent on
taking satisfaction, the one on the 9TH
er, for the insults that had passed be-
tween them.
The merchant cut quite strange
figure as he stood facing his antagon-
ist. Both his coats had been taken of
and with his shirt sleeves rolled up, he
stood waiting for the word. Steam
boat was stripped to his shirt, likewise
and the appearance of both as they
thus stood in the bleak park, was as
novel as it was singular. At length
the seconds announce that all is ready
and the umpire, who, by tho way cx-
hlblted very nervous sort of anxiety
to keep out ofthe way, gave the words,
''One! Two! Three! TurR and fre!"--
The men turned, and snapped their pis-
tolls simultaneously, but neither explo.
ded. They were put in position again
and again did the umpire repeat the O.
minous words. This time there was
no mistake, and the object Of the meet
ing was accomplished. The steamboat
gentleman fell, and the blood which
streamed down his face told the success
of his adversary.
The merchant now saw, for the first
time perhaps, the consequence Of his
folly. His first impulae--an impulse
te which, we may add, his second offer.
cd no opposition-was to leave the
ground. Selling his coat, lie hurried
to gate in the vicinity; and cndeav-
ored to cross it, his second close behind
him; but taking another notion, he re-
turned, and feeling satisfied that his
adversary was wounded, exclaimed,
"Oh God, i knew | was q dead shot.
What shall do? have killed him,
and without waiting any longer, ran
| OF, leaving his coat, which by the way
is still missing, behind him. He hurri.
eel to the city, and calling at the May
or's Office, desired to give himself up
but the Mayor not being in at the time
he was let OF on promising to appear
for examination to-day. 1T may be
satisfactory however, for him to know
that unless the authorities prosecute
for violation of the act prohibiting
duelling in the State, no proceedings
will be instituted against him. The
river gentleman was attended to by his
seconds, and the party soon after arri-
ed in the city.
What we have given above we had
to-day from the mouth of one who wit
messed the whole affair. it may there
fore be relied on as correct, though
there are some little circumstances yet
to be told which materially change tic
character of the meeting. 1t appears
that the seconds Of both parties had
had private understanding between
themselves that there should be mo
blood and made their arrangements ac-
cordingly. Providing themselves with
a bottle containing a solution of vcrmil-
lion, carefully prepared by Mr.. Long,
of Third street, they on the road in.
formed the steamboat man Of the joke
that was intended, and it is said, with
what truth wc don't pretend to say,
that the news relieved him not little.
: lie was instructed to fall after the
pistols, which contained powder simply,
exploded, and lis second applying the
vermillion when raising him, gave him
that CORY appearance which the mcr,
chant imagined the result Of his being
a "dcad shot," and which had nearly
frightened him into a European tour,
or some such desperate act
But he was not the only one sold.
a staid old gentleman, who lives in the
neighborhood, was passing at the time
of the meeting, and scoing the bcllig-
ercnts stripped in the Park, inquired
of the driver who watched the scene
from the carriage. box, what they were
shooting AT? The driver replied they
are shooting ut each other" and then
related what he know of the affair."
At this moment the pistols went of,
and the steamboat man falling, the old
gentleman became convinced that a
murder had been committed, and rush.
cd to the ground in brcathIess haste.
lie was permitted to lie under his
mistake until tho merchant had de.
campcd, and. felt not a little cheap
when he saw the dead man got up and
laugh with zcst that showed how deep.
ly the joke amused him. The whole
affair was indeed a rich one, and when
next the combatants meet, we pray in
the language Of the poet which made
John GiIpin famous,
| May we be there 10 seep
~