The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1859-09-27
From the New Orleans Delta, August 10.
A Sham Duel.


, The colossal joke of tho season was per.
polratcd in Carrollton, last evening, in tho
way of sham duel. The victim selected
was young gentleman of excellent social
parts, and perhaps very brave fellow in
his way, if no knew himself to be in a
gool causc-though he showed himself to
be little nervous yesterday.
a difficulty had been arranged between
him and another young gentleman of the
opposite side OF tho river and he was in
duccd to send challenge which was of
course accepted. Last evening was The
time for the meeting to take place, and
10th principals appeared on the ground
with their seconds and a surgeon. Double.
barroled shot guns we're in readiness, Load
ed with heavy charges Of powder and
wadding. The stiffness of death prevailed
as the seconds went through most unus.
uallJ long series of ccremonious prepara-
tions, 10 all of which our hero was blank
wi,noss-his face wearing the hue Of linen
just from the hands of the laundress.
Everything bong prepared, our hero's
second took him aside, to whisper a few
hints in his ear. at will be, doubtless,
impossible for you to obtain deliberate
aim at your opponent between the words"
said he, $50 have hit upon a capital en-
ped'cnt to give you dead shot. shall
drop your hat ri ght on the line, and few
steps in front of you. When you stand,
hold your gun pointing directly at the hat,
and as soon as You hear t. o word fire, raise
it on line and fire, without losing a sec.
ond"
Our hero was delighted with this bril-
liant conception, and readily allowed his
hat, which was one he had just bought in
this city, and took much pride in, to be
used in the manner indicated by his Sec
on. Tie took his position, thirty PAGES
from that of his adversary. and held his
gun with the muzzle onl V n few inches from
the crown of his new head piece.
"Arc YOU ready!" cried one Of the sec
onds. Before an answer could be given,
bang went our hcro's gun, the wadding
in it blowing his hat to pieces. A cry
came f om his opponent at the same time,
and looking towards him, he saw him fall
to the ground, pressing his hand on his
left side. The fallen mans second shout
ed, "foul play! that shot WAS fired before
the word" At the same time drawing an
empty pistol from his pocket, and lcvclIins
1t upon onr hero, who, horrifcJ at this un-
expected arr v Of circumstances, throw up
his hands, and called to his second "Save
me, save mop Some one on the ground
shon"d, ''rrn" and of our hero put, at
a pace ihat would have done credit TO a
professional pedestrian.
re constable. who had lncn watching
the fun from behind the fence, now tart.
cd after the fugitive, and number Joined
IN the chase. Our hero made for the
woods, AMI so d>tanccd his pursuers as t.
secure hiding place among tie brush that
zone could discover At length, as the
was about dcsisting from t @
search, he hrard II low whisper of 40.
N'to'r. "!i"iloa where arc you?" he re-
tur"l 20, Steve; won't you protect
me If | come out?' "Certainly." answer ,
'd the constable. II am an officer of the
law, AMI bound to do so." Our hero then ,
made his appearance. aud under the pro-
lection of tho constable retunel to the ,
field.
Here was a scene to have m Itci the :
'tcrncst heat. Stretched upon the grass,
md lcebIy moaning, was our hero's antag
'nist. A bundle Of cloth, saturated with
rod ink, was tied around his waist. The
Doctor motioncd for the approaching par
y to stand back, that the poor fellow was
breathing his last. Our hero saw that he !
lad no more immediate danger to antici-
pate, and Immediately observed, eyes, [
'lmcd straight for his heart "IIow came
'on to blow your Lat 10 pieces, then? ?" in
lurcd some one. This hint seemed to
'rIng new light to tho mind Of our hero, !
'ni he perhaps would have smelt II rat of
luge dimensions had not his second OBJ.
'erved, "lour shot struck the ground, and )
,ile." n
Measured, our hero now seized upon
his view Of the matter to explain why he d
lad not exactly hit the spot he aimed It, /
lis antagonists heart "l am afraid this v
will prove gallows matter to you," OBJ. v
ervcd the constable. At this remark, our
zero became suddenly faint; so much so
hat he found himself unable to walk into n
own una sisted. They got a wagon for \
lis accommodation, and amused themselves II
With his fears for an hour before they let C
nm into the joke. The best part of it all r.
:, that when they told him how matters Il
eally was, and all parties were brought q
ogether, the victim took it in excellent is
'art, and forgave them all for the trial to a
which they had objected his feelings. t,
h