New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1860-05-28
THE MrDsHIpMAN's DUEL.
BY JACK BRACE.

And that's all they got OF wine
THE MTDSHIPMAN's DUEL.
BY JACK BRACE.
In the DAYS when sailed,n the requirements
of the acode Of bonor . were exacting, and the
disposition to resort to its arEitrament amounted
to absolute folly. Many of my readers have no
doubt pursued that spirited little sketch, written
by an old shipInate Of my own, about the !. White
and Black Hogs in Tuscany ~ for those who have
not, i will relate the incident briefly. It was, and
may be TO this day, u Inseany, ne custom e
stance: one may 60 all day and meet nothing but
droves Of white hogs; whereas. on different oc.
casion, you may encounter nothing but black
swine. On one of our frigates that was lying OF
Leghorn, during the period Of which ] write, al
friendly and s0ciabte conversation was going in
the midshipmanis mess, relative to what they had
| respectively seen on shore.
I. How strange said one, a fine. Young lad,
| e that they have nothing but white hogs in Tus-
4 cany.''
!" Yon are mistaken, my dear fellow. " said one
of his messmates, they are all black ~
u am not mistaken, I replied the first speaker,
rather sharply, they are all white ~
| .sAnd say retorted the other, with equal en-
| phasis, &. they are all black ~ 9s
| - Do you mean to contradict me, dir RI
{ That's inst as you please say the hogs u
Very well, sir, yon shall hear from me Y ex-a
/ claimed number one. @S N
| The result was duel, in which number one was
| severely wounded. The same carriage conveyed
| both combatants to the field of honor, and on its
return was delayed few minutes in 2 narrow road
| by drove of swine. The wounded lad looking
out Of the window, discovered TO hia dismay, that
i they were all black!
BLACK hogs il Tuscany he exclaimed. z. Ny
/ dear fellow, how glad am ! didn't hurt you.n =
.sAnd what q fool Ii was to DO 50 stubborn y said
Il the other with painful regret. i8 nv 4
1t was doubtless a life lesson for them both end
can only soy Of the story as the Italians do--you
al fY,I Ia.
erero, ben trordto If it is not Ene it swell got
ten mp, and will serve most admirably TO point q
| moral.
Il There was another practice Id my day, which,
4 like good mary other matters, both Of discipline
and habit, was copied from the British service, hut
u which would have been more honored in the breach
than IN shs observance and that We NJ Gsto "A
rough, practical jokes. Pngilism had not, and
trust never will, become an acknoW inetitu-
tion among American gentlemen. especially Of the
army and navy; and therefore, when these Iberr
ties were carried too far, the affair could not be
settled by forming a ring and taking square
knock down, such as Marryatt describes IN some OF
Il his scenes from the British navy. They not I'M
frequently resulted, however, in hostile meetings,
I which, In more than one instance, were followed
by sad catastrophe, as in the case am about to
relate.
| ii was on my first cruise. We had only been
/ two DAYS out and several Of the younger midship-
men were lounging on the lockers in the steerage,
Frustrated by the inepient qnans OF sea sickness,
"Come, youngsters, haze out of this ! On deck
with YOU and get some of the land smell blown
off, said the bluff voice Of jolly old REFER who
had Just come down from his watch and, suiting
the action to the word, he commenced pulling the
/ nearest to him from their snug nests.
& Most of US took his conduct kindly, as it was
meant, and one or two erawled to the companion
i way, while some managed to escape forward on
the berth-deck, and laugh at him. There was o
i youth among MS, however, mature beyond his
years, and OF naughty, selfsnficient disposition.
4 Poor Frank B.! he was at heart honorable and
generous. but had been spoiled with too great an
idea Of his own Importance, and had his temper
| ruined by indulgence.
When Dick F. thus attempted to break us out, "
sheer on his lip.
Il say, youngster, do you hears On deck with
you 70 exclaimed Dick.
Eyes, i hear,, said Frank, sarcastieally; q and
if you are speaking to me you will please address
me as q gentleman and an ofiicer.h
.tPheW what long tail our cats got! " ex-
claimed Dick.
Hsir, you are blackguardn yociferated The
I For an instant q bright spot burned on the check
of the elder midshipman, and there was o fearful
menace in his eye. Frank blanched not, however.
but seemed rather satisfied at the impending storm
which lie Ind raised A moments reflection,
however, restored the equanimty of the oldster,o
and he turned on his heel with
4 Pshaw! you are a boy, who deserves switch
rather than a man to be seriously angry with
20 am man enough for you, coward r exclaimed
J Frank, as the other went on deck
Whether he heard it or not was uncertain
hoped not, for had been witness, and, luckily,
as tiien thought, the only one to the interview.
Among our elder midshipmen was one who was
the very type of od.time chiyalrY-brave, accom-
plished and generous, kind and gentle as woman,
hut fearless and daring as cheyaer Of the aaoiea
noblesse If Jack Olney (the name of course is
fiictitious) had one fault, it was his too great
regard for the q code of honor" He looked upon
gentlemen umanizing and civilizing-and had no
respect for any one who condemned it.
E Now, it happened that Jack was very much at
! taehed to Frank B. They were from the Same
, place, and even warmer sentiment than the mere
fact that they were townsmen cemented their mu-
tnal regard-Jaek loved and was beloved by,
Franks sister. knew this fact and felt eonside,
rable uneasiness lest the misunderstanding between
the latter and Dick F. might reach Jack IN such
: shape as to create serious breach between the
. two oldsters.n While was satisfied Master
: Dick would not take serious notice of what b.
considered boyish petulanee, 4 knew him to b
brave and loyal as he was rough and good hearted
and felt some apprehension about bis coming i
collision with Jack 0ney on so ticklish subject
therefore returned to the steerage, ana sought
!. paeify Frank.
5 e. Much obliged, Brace, for your good intentions
2 but am man enough to take care of myself. !
) you gentlemen choose to be driven around lik
q negroes, don't.f
: i But you know, Frank, it's the custom of tn
Q service for the old midshipmen to run the Young
ster. and that it is not meant unkindy, especiall
by LICK L .szz# z....,.
AZ shall not submit TO an insulting and ungentle
s manly CUSTOM, was his reply.
Finding that his temper did not improve by a hss
1, eonI5 and vent on deck to find Jack 0ney. whose
Ie name had not Of course. dared to mention 70
Frank Il his watch on the or ana y
ne ~ ~ me- fiattered myself that used CON
siderable diplomacy in the communication but fell
the utmost aisay when a he r spas This ,o.n;,.
,onnesters is an nnaentlemanly custom, and ought
: 10 be promptly resisted. never permitted It my
J. self and never indulge in it.
n But Dick meant nothing, 0lney: for, though
ronph he is kindhearted. y azzzsz
THAT may be all very true; but | am glad
: nevertheless, that Frank resented it.n
Y " am sorry said anything about It TO you.p
L han