The Kenosha telegraph and tribune. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1859-1860, 1859-09-29
From the New Orleans DELTA.
A HAM DUEL.

A SHAM DUEL.
The colossal joke of the season was perpetua.
ted in Corrollton, last evening, in the way of a
sham duel. The victim selected was a young
gentleman of excellent social parts, and perhaps
very brave fellow in his way if he knew him
sell 10 be IN good cause-though he showed
himself to be a little nervous yesterday.
A difficulty had been arranged between him
and another young gentleman of the opposite
side of the river, and he was induced to send a
challenge, which was of course accented. Last
evening was the time for the meeting to take
place, and both principals appeared on the
ground with their seconds and surgeon. Doub.
iebarreled shot-guns were in readiness, loaded
with heavy charges of powder and-wadding.
The stiffness of death prevailed as the seconds
went through most unusually long series Of
ceremoEious preparations, to all of which our
hero was a blank witness-his face wearing the
hue Of linen just from the hands of the laund
Iess.
Everything being prepared our hero's second
TOOK him aside, to whisper a few hints in his
ear p" 1t will be, doubtless, impossible for you
to obtain deliberate aim at your opponent be-
tween the words, said he, $50 have hit upou
capital expedient to give you dead shot. I
shall drop your hat right 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 the word fire, raise it on a line
and fire, without losing second.'
Our hero was delighted with this brilliant con-
eepton, 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 indics-
ted by his second. He took his position thirty
PAGES from that of his adversary, and held his
gun with the muzzle only few inches from the
crown of his new head-piece.
Are you ready ~ cried one of the seconds.
Before an answer could be given, bang went
our hero's gun, the wadding in it blowing his
nat to pieces. A cry came from his opponent at
the same time, and looking towards him, he saw
MN tall to the ground. pressing his hand on his
left side. The fallen mans second shouted,
4" Foul play! that shot was fred before the
word" AT the same time drawing an empty
pistol from his pocket, and dwelling it upon our
hero, who, Mortified at this unexpected array of
circumstances, threw up his hands, and called
to his second, Save me, save me !" Some one
on the ground shouted, 'run !" and off our hero
put, at pace that would have done credit to q
professional pedestrian.
The constable, who had been watching the
Jun from behind the fence, now started after the
fugitive, and number joined in the chase. Our
nero made for the woods, and so dstanced his
pursuers as to secure a hiding place among the
brush that none could discover. At length, as
the constable was about desisting from the
search, he heard low whisper of go, Steve %
: Helloa, where are you 2" he returned. ooh,
Steve won't you protect me if I come out?"
Certainly" answered the constable. 81 am
an officer of Tho law, and bound to do So" Our
nero then made his appearance and under the
protection of the constable returned to the field
Here was a scene to have melted the sternest
heart. Stretched upon the grass, and feebly
moaning,was our hero's antagonist. bundle
OF cloth, saturated with red ink was tied around
his waist. The Doctor motoned for the APP
party to stand back, that the poor fell
low was breathing his last. Our hero saw that
ne had no immediate danger to anticipate, and
observed, "Yes, aimed straight
Tor his heart" How came you to blow your
eat to pieces, Them" inquired some one. This
hint seemed to bring new light to the mind of
our hero, and he perhaps would have smelt rat
OF huge dimensions had not his second observed,
: Your shot struck the ground, and CHANGING up,
struck your opponent in his side"
Treasured, our hero now seized upon this
view of the matter to explain why he had not
exactly hit the spot he aimed at, his antagonists
heart. s. am afraid this will prove gallows
matter to you," observed the constable. Atthis
remark, our hero became suddenly faint SO
much so that he found himself unable to walk
into town unassistsd. They got a wagon for
bis accommodation, and amused themselves with
his fears for an hour before they let him into the
joke. The best part of it all is. that when they
told him how the matter really was, and all
parties were brought together, the victim took
1T IN excellent part and forgave them all for the
trial to which they had subjected his feelings.