Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1859-08-04
The Defeated Duellist.
REMINIsCENCE OF BOB JOHNSON, OF ARKANs.

A hEMlNlSCENCE Ot BOB JOhNSON, OF ARKANSAS.
Some twenty years ago, the raging excite
ment of politics, and the burning bitterness of
party spirit, were at the climax of their inten-
Sity in the state of Arkansas, and far trans
cended, anything ever before known, recorded
or even imagined in the annals of American
factions. The democrats, it is true, had a
heavy numerical ajority, welltrained, and CON-
manded by leaders of DISTINGUISHED capacity
But to counterbalance this otherwise decisive
advantage, the wings could boast Of the most
famous fighters and dexterous duelists in all
the great west, while their chosen champions
had come off victorious 10 every grand conflict
On the doubtful field of honor, Crttenden had
killed Conway Fent holland had vanquished
the chivalrous young Pope and Ashley and
Woodruff had been put hOrS du combat by
backing out, because forced by fear to the
craven cry, peccar1.
AS many naturally be supposed, the whg
heroes became insOlent and intOlerably over
bearing, and too hastily adopted the system Of
carrying everything by storm and violence
Their presses teemed with lbeouS vitupera.
tion and menace but at the slightest personal
attack or even insination, by way of reply, the
imprudent editor was called to immediate &C.
count in bloody payment by summons un-
der the paramount authority of the sangunary
code of honor-a tribunal, then, of the last
resort, and of general jurisdiction throughout
all Arkansas
Among the most eminent OF the belligerent
corps of wings was one William Cummings a
learned and very eloquent lawyer, and equally
Sklful in the use of pen and pistol, as prompt
. fro bnIIot n han, Of nd tbo NJ, nOCt
as deadly as the other !; for the former always
stretched the body Of his victim in the dust,
the latter never failed to annhlate his charac
ter as if blasted by lightning. Indeed such
was the notOrety of his powers and uuerring
art as markSman, that few desperadoeS could
be found willing to grant him the accommoda-
tiol of hostile interview, which he seemed to
regard as the highest possible favor. Nor did
this political barbarian confue his assaults up
on reputation to the actual chiefs of the Op-
poSte party but, in the true spirit of savage
warfare, he extended his hostihties to all their
friends and rctanerS of both sexes without
mercy or discrimination, dragging into the light
every family secret, and crucifying every char
acter of the living or the dead on the point Of
his poisoned pen.
For the purpose of wounding Colonel
Ambrose III. Sewer, then the popular principal
of the democracy in Arkansas, he made ter
rible onslaught, through the columns of the whig
journal against his father in-aw, Judge Johnson
a gentleman of the highest respectaUility, and
of stainless reputation, as well as q profeSSed
Christian, and therefore a man of peace. The
day after the publication of the libel, the mar
tial calumniator prepared his weapons and sal
lied forth into the streets of Little Rock, in
eager anticipation of a collision with some
friend or relative of his illuStriOus victim. And
he was very soon gratified by a combat, but in
a totally different manner from what he had so
confidently expected.
! AS the duelst was passing across the public
square, he saw a youth of some twenty sum
mers approaching him in front, with rapid yet
! quiet steps His was slender, elastic figure,
with pale radiant face, almost feminine in the
delicate beauty of its outlines, with vivid blue
! eyes, and a profuson OF golden hair The
/ slight snowy fingers of the right hand, jeweled
with rich rings, hourshed an ominous horse
whip and the fnely-chiseed mouth wore a
smile, but such a smile as causes towards to
/ tremble and brave men to make ready for bat
| tle-a smile Of fire as lurid as the red light of
forge at midnight.
is your name Cummings ~ inquired the
! boy who with obeisaDce of bitter mockery, as
he came within three PAGES.
1t is" answered the other pauSng, aston
iShed at the youths tone and bearing.
William Cummings ~ repeated the boy
with a silver ringing laugh.
At your service" replied the lawyer, with
a furious imprecaton.
And mine is Bob johnson. | arrived at
home last night from the University of Vir,
| inia," said the juvenile voice
Then | trust you are the first of the
Johnson family to get safely over the pons
assiaorum, aud hope you will stay over" re-
mared the duelIist in tones of wtherng
sarcasm.
have learned at least one useful art-the
m0duS 0perandI of administering proper punish
ment to the magant sanderer of my father
and | will now proceed to indoctrinate you il
the very first lesson" rctorted young Johnson
still smiling, and lie struck a blow with his
whip as sudden as lightning across the others
! face.
Cummings uttered fearful yell of mingled
pain and rage, and, snatching a small revolver
from the side pocket of his coat, aimed at his
enemy's heart But the latter, with the agility
of cat, sprang upon the desperate, and be-
fore he could fire, wrested the weapon of death
from his hands, and hurled it off to the diStence
of hundred feet, where it fell with a loud eX-
ploSion, to the horror of numerous spectators
who were rushing from all directions to the
scene.
The duellist then drew his bowie-knife, and
the bystanders gave wild cry of pity and
terror for the bloody doom of the farhaired
boy appeared to be sealed irrevocably. Indeed
he had only single chance for his life, and
that seemed awful as the pangs of death itself
But, without moments hesitation, he bravely
embraced it-grasped the keen blade of the
knife with both his hands, aud, although the