The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1861-01-05
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ed to, when young man from the South
began to dec!aim against the Administration,
and to denouee with peculiar warmth the
Burlite just referred tor
Sir, said the War clerk, eff YOU feel It =
necessary to speak in that way, 1 will think
you to speak in a lower tone. The gentle
man whom you are abusing is friend Of
mime"
II don't care a--who's your friend
shall say what please of the scoundreI,
and as loud as please
The clerk flew at the young Southerner:
but the bystanders intsrfered before much
damage was done. In few minutes. an
officer of the army presented to the clerk a
challenge from the young gentleman. which
the clerk accepted He asked me 10 be his
second. knew just as much of the duel
ing science az he did, which was nothing at
all !; nor did l think il proper for an en-
ployee of the government to bring discredit
upon 1t by engaging in an affair of that kind.
| declined peremptorily and advised him
to procure the assistance of military man
who understood such things. He started in
pursuit of the only officer with whom he
had exchanged a syllable in Washington, =
captain to whom he had been casually in.
troduced the evening before in a bar-room.
He found his man and induced him to
serve.
"What are your weapons 90 asked the
the second. You have the choice, you
know" .s
Have 90 exclsimed the clerk. ..By
Heaven, then, have him on the hin. I
choose small swords Time, tomorrow
morning at sunrise ICES
The second reconstructed. The principal
| insisted. The second of the Southerner
protested. The clerk was inlexible. A
postponement was asked, that weapons might
be procured, and the young gentleman in
structed in their use. But, no; the next
morning at the rising OF the sun was the
only time the clerk would hear of. Late in
| the evening, after many hours of negotia-
ton and the interchange of notes innumer-
able, the second of the Southerner, formal
ly declined the meeting. The next morn
ing the clerk posted the Young man as
coward on all the walls of Washington
In the course of the day met the victori-
GUS clerk and asked him where he had learn
ed the use Of the small sword.
"Small sword 90 said he, # never had
one in my hand. don't know Whist it is.
And knew he didn't"
He gained great eclat by this proceeding.
He WAS regarded as champion of the adj
ministration and the president, who could
no mere, help sympathizing with fight
than duck can help liking water, was in
tensely gratifed. The same day news camo
that an important vacancy had occurred in
remote territory. and my lighting friend saw /.
that his hour had come. He Immediately
wrote resignation of his cIerkship. dating
it on the day of the challenge. and present.
ed it to the chief Of his department with
these words:
"Of course, sir. before accepting the
challenge yesterday, resigned my place in
the department. am not the man to con-
ueot the administration with duel. Here
it is, sir, dated as you viii perceive. yester-
day.
The Secretary was delighted. The Pres
dent was completely won. Rather than not
reward partisan who had fought for him.
or who had shown willingness to sight, he
would almost have resigned his own Office
in favor of the champion. lie gave the ex-
clerk the vacant place. He gave him nine,
letters of introduction to personal friends
in the territory. Shortly after. that terri.
tory was admitted into the Union as a SOW
ereign State, and my lighting friend come
back to Washington as one of its Senator'S.
He served out his whole term without once
revising the State be represented. and then
retired 10 private life. . -E.