Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1865-10-07

Yankee, asked MIN ii he was VIKING &c
fight with swords. eff So" said he
81 believe we can suit you. We have
brought with us the small sword, a neal
gentlemanly weapon-the cut-and
thrust, good in a melee, and which
will answer indiferently well In due
land the broadsword or cutlass which
is often preferred by those who are de-
ficient in skill in the use of arms. My
friend, Capt. Bigbee, is equally expert
in either. You have only to choose.
As the challenged party, you have an
undoubted right to select your arms.
s'Of that privilege / am well aware. >
replied Capt. Lovett, ''and mean to
avail myself of it. / should not fight
W th swords.
''Iexpected as much, resumed Lient.
James, s.and have brought with me q
beautiful pair of duelling pistols, with
long barrels, rifle bores and hair trig-
gers. What distance shall / measure
off?'
Eight PAGES"
"Only eight paces" cried Lieutenant
James, little surprised. ''Very well. y
He then measured off, and placed his
man at his post. Then advancing to-
ward Capt. Lovett, he presented him
with pistol.
81 do not fight with pistolsr'
"Not fight with pistols-after re-
fusing to fight with swords! What
brought you here, then?"
$40 fight" shouted Lovett in thun-
dering voice, which made the British
officer start, 81 am the challenged
party, and have a right to choose my
weapons according to the laws of the
,fuelio, all the world over, and you may
rely upon it shall not select weapons
with which 1 am not familiar, and with
which my antagonist has been practis-
ing all his life. Such a proceeding on
my part, is not only not required by the
rules of honor, which after all is mere
chimera, but would be contrary to all
the dictates of common sense. No. /
shall fight with the weapons of honor
able warfare, with which j have
ever been accustomed. Swords and
pistols, indeed !"
''Bnt, my dear SIR" cried the aston
ished Lieutenant, eve must proceed ac-
cording to rule in this business. What
weapons have you fixed upon?"
Doubtless in fancy's eye he beheld
before him huge blunderbusses, loaded
with buckshot.
Capt. Lovett said nothing, but beck
oned to Starbuck, who approached him
with great alacrity, bearing the two har-
poems. He seized one of the formid-
able weapons, and thrust il into the
hands of Bigbee, who seemed absolute
ly paralyzed with astonishment.
SHY weapon" said he, sis the iave-
lin-such as the Grecian and Roman
knights often fought with in olden
times, weapon which no man who
challenges another can refuse to fight
with at the present day, unless he pos
sesses a mean and craven spirit.
Tins saying, he took the station as
signed him, at eight PAGES distant from
his startled antagonist. He coolly bsred
his sinewy arm-grasped the harpoon
and placed himself in attitude. 'I1l
bet, J." said he, casting triumphant look
upon his friends, "a smoked herring
against sperm whale, that I'll drive
the harpoon through that fellows mid
riff the first throw, and will finish him
without the aid of a lance. Mr.. Star
buck," fiercely continued Capt. Lovett,
IN loud and rough voice, such as is
seldom heard except on board a Nan
tucket whaling vessel, when shoal of
whales is in sight, 'fStand by to haul
the fellow In.
The mate gIasped the end of the
line, his eyes beaming with as much ex-
pectation aud delight, as if he was
steering g, boats low on to an eighty
barrel whale, while Capt. Lovett poised
his harpoon with both his hands, keen
ly eyed the British Captain-shouted in
a tremendous voice, snow for it, and
drew back his arm as If in the act of
throwing the fatal iron.
The Englishman was a brave man
which is not always the case with bull
lies-and he had often marched without
fiinching up to the mouth of cannon.
Ana if he had been in single combat
with an adversary armed with sword
or pistol. or even dagger, or a queens
arm, he would have borne him elf man.
fully. Indeed, he had already uncnvi-
able notoriety as a duelist, and had
killed his man. But the harpoon was
a weapon with which he was altogether
unacquainted-and the loud and ex-
ulting tones of the Yankee Captain s
voice sounded like a summons to his
grave. And when he saw the stalwart
Yankee raise the polished iron, and
pause for moment, as if concentrating
all his strength to give the fatal blow, a
panic terror seized him; his limbs
trembled; his features were of ghast-
ly pa or, and the cold sweat stood in
1artra irons ~, his forahaad He ba1
not strength to raise his weapon; and
when his grim opponent shouted snow
for it, and shook his deadly spear, the
British officer, forgetting his vows of
chivalry, his reputation as an officer,
and his honor as a duelist, threw his
harpoon on the ground, fairly turned
his back to the enemy, and like fright
ened coHrser, fed the field, amid the
ieers and jibes, and the hurrahs of the
multitude assembled by this time on
the spot. AZ
Captain Bigbee's duelling days were
over. No man would fight with him
after his adventure with the Yankee.
He was overwhelmed with insult and
ridicule, and soon found it advisable to
change into another regiment. But his
story got there before him, aud he was
soon sent to Coventry as disgraced
man. He was compelled, although with
great reluctance, to quit the service,
aud it may with great truth be said
that he never forgot the lesson he had
received from the veteran whaler, sc
long as his name was Bigbee.
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