Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1860-04-27
THE BOWIE KNIFE DUEL.

The Correspondence IN the Pryor and Potter
Game of the Bully.
The first document is from Mr.. Pryor to
Mr.. Potter, thus
VIII YOU have the kindness to designate
place outside the District of Columbia, and the
time when and where there may be further cor
respondence between us? l have the honor to be,
very respectfully"
Mr. Potter responds as follows:
"Your note invites correspondence to be
hereafter conducted outside of the District of Co.
lumbia, evidently to avoid on your part certain
pena ties imposed by law. | reply that the Con-
stitution of Wisconsin allows me no escape from
the consequences of such correspondence as
you seem to contemplate, wherever it may be con-
Quoted. therefore inform you that such further
correspondence as you may wish to make, may be
delivered to my friend, Col F. W. Lander
Mr.. Pryor seeks more light as follows
In order to be assured that do not misappre-
bend the precise import of your note by Mr.. Lam
der, 1 beg to inquire if you will accept challenge
from me in the District Of Columbia
Mr.. Potter
q beg to say that I will answer the inquiry
contained in your note when a challenge shall
reach me-"
Mr.. Pryor goes over into Virginia, and
issues the next bulletin
IL demand the satisfaction usual among gentle
men for the personal afront you offered me in de-
bate, and for which you were pleased to avow your
responsibility.
Mr.. Potter refers Mr.. Pryor to Col. F. W.
Lander q to make the necessary arrange
ments,'' thus accepting the challenge accord
ing to the code And now Col. Lander
comes into action Though a Massachusetts,
born man, he is a duelist, believes in the
code. and goes in for a fight freely whenever
there is a temptation. He writes, therefore,
with evident relish to Mr.. Chisman, the
friend of Mr.. Prior
al have to state that that my principal,
Hon. John Potter, disclaiming the partic
ular rules of the code. will fight Hon.
Roger A. Prior, with the common Bowie
knife at such place, private room or open AR,
in this district, may agree upon, at a time
TO be fixed within the next twelve hours, by you
and myself. Distance four feet at the commence
ment of the engagement Two seconds to be
present to each principal Seconds restricted TO
one navy revolver each. Knives of principals OF
eohal weight and length of blade. Fight to com
mence at the word "three." The calling of the
be decided by turning piece of money"
This "takes them down. evidently, and
Mr.. Chisman replies for Mr.. Pryor -
"In response to the demand of my friend Mr..
PRYOR for othe satisfaction usual among gentle
men," from your friend Mr.. Potter, you state that
vour principal, 'disclaiming the particular rules
of the code, will fight Hon. Roger A. Prior with
the common bowie knife, etc, etc" Not recog-
Aorb rnbn fnA mo
of settling difficulties as either usual among gen.
temen or consistent with the notions Of civilized
society, I must, without referring your communi-
cation to my principal or even seeing him, en-
phatically refuse to allow him to engage IN it
Whenever your principal will reply to Mr. Pry-
or's demand in such way as may seem TO me con-
sistent with any fair and even most liberal con-
struction Of the rules of the CODE whether partic
uIar or general, l shall be most happy to commu-
nicate to my principal such response
Whereupon Col Lander, dating his note
at3A NJ, restates the case, and, accord
ing to the code, offers himself on any
terms -
oYour note is Just received. Without reply
| ing TO the terms of indignation which seem TO
pervade it, 1 will simply say that my principal
| detests and abhors the barbarous and inhumsn
| mode of settling difficulties usual among gentle
| men, termed dueling. He represents his consti-
| tuents in the following manner He asserts ana
maintains his right to present on the floor OF Con-
| gress within parliamentary rules, any matter
| which he believes to be correct Called upon by
note 10 reply to your principal, he has made his
| statement As his friend, | have presented II.
You object to the terms. They were such as
would alone enable my principal, VINO was uh
acquainted with the usual weapons OF duells1s' to
| meet YOUR friend on equal terms. lie Will not &c
ont Of the district to fight duel. He waIves the
af tha
that he will defend himself whenever assalled. ne
| sven goes so far as to name time, place ano
| weaDen. When at this stage Of the ahalr you
anpea to the strict terms of the code, and express
| vourself dissatisfied, there is but one result
| discIaim any of the scruples which have actuatec
| 49,, fr;and Mr. Potter Differing with him Al
much as a man can in politics, believe with mn
that every American citizen is entitled to the ful
| EXPRESSION of his opinions. l therefore presen
| myself in his place without restrictions
Mr.. Chisman continues very much dis
gusted -
HNeither nv friend Mr. Pryor nor myself nav
any personal quarrel with you. l cannot tnere
fore permit him or myself TO take any is au'
- conrteous offer TO substitute yourself /
| NJ potter,s plsce As Mr. Potter, is, as yo
tate Gunacnuainted with the usual weapons
dneIi,ts' cannot meet my friend ION equal terms
in the District of Columbia, except with the com
mon bowie knife, which mode OF hghtlng nav
. refused to accede to- and as he will not 60 oat
this District to fight a duel, and, moreover 'walV
es the usuaI last resort of the non-duellst, IN
assertion that he will defend himself whenever a.
sailed, must terminate this correspondence VIII
the expression of my regret tnat we nave pee
n unable to adjust the matter between our prime
pals, in the manner usual among gentlemen
which manner, though your principal detests an
abhors it as barbarous and inhuman, would seer
TO men of plain sense not more so than hght VIII
bowie knives
Col. Lander makes some personal explar
! ations of the affair closes
. az received your last note at "a o'clock tn
morning. In it you reiterate your assertion thi
your principal shall not meet Mr.. Potter WI
2 bowie knives, making assurance doubly sure.
d have to correct an impressi on have apparentl
q conveyed in my last letter-an expression also r
. | ferred to in your note. 1t appears that my stat
ment that "Mr. Potter valves the usual last reso
of the non -duelist, the assertion that he will d
/ fend himself whenever assailed, has led you
believe that he will not defend himself if sssaul
: ed. This is a mistake. If for the time he waiv
the mere assertion, and placed himself so far as
could at the disposal of Mr.. Pryor in regard to
. n.rsonal combat, by no means believe that he W
70 not defend himself. beg to assure you, witho
consulting with my principal, that he will prote
e himself with honor whenever sssailed. 1t also
= comes my duty to inform you that Hon. John r.
:, ter did not know of my offer to appear for hi
e The further remarks of your letter being mere {
, pressions of opinion, upon a mode of adjusti
difsculties, the propriety of which we are not d
L cussing, have nothing to offer in reply"
= Here ended the correspondence. But
"A order to break the force of his fall, Mr.. .Pry
n nroduces two bunkum letters, from hims
directly to Mr.. Potter.-one waving
ID previous declination and agreeing to fig
AZ with bowie knives, and the other PROPOSE
e. a street fight. These letters Pryor's secoI
" found it convenient not to deliver to Mr.. r
r ter, and they only turn up when the corr
l. ponde nee is made public.
ne -------
as The Boston Courier says that many cho