The New York herald., 1870-02-15
A DUEL BY GASLIGHT.
Exciting Sword Combat n
This City.
Fight Between Cuban and an Enghshman-
Tho Battle Ground Fashionable House
Up Town They Fight With sabros-.
10th Non Wounded

duel duel Away with clubs and slungshots,
sneaking murder and vile dens. dark and rceking
with their hide0us crimes, tnGt make night sorry
and the eyes OF tho street. Aurora dim with tears
Good old times have come again--the times OF the
gallant cavaliers who would not brook word OF
insult unless tho aggreSsor answered with hn
sword. etttsN s4
Another duel and that, too In New YORK, and
fair play, deep cuts and wrongs redressed and
friends made better and hrmer STILL II isa novelty
to be sure, but tho age u nothing without its fun
and frollc, fights and nsticurs. Like fashion, tue
customs OF former days may como again. Who
knows but that the Legislature In It's kind
indulgence may generously proclaim the wearing
OF rapiers upon the thighf Out upon your pistol.
1t Is tempting weapon that courts the owner 10 be
employed. often perhaps with justice, yet seldom
with satisfaction. Tybalt had no 1rearm, yet tho
bravo Mercuti0 was disposed OF, whlie Ia turn the
0verbearing Tybalt met his doom, no foul shot beng
fired. Again, but for the treachery OF the Danish
royalty. young Hamlet and Laertcs might, after o
pleasant tlt have shaken hands and drank together
Bur OF the duel last night. Mark well the fact 1t
was not In Paris, bur In this great and rising me.
troposa rousing, rafting affair, vigorous ana de-
c!siye earnest ana determined. Devoid OF braegart
charactcIstlcs, It o genuine encounter. iLs.i-
gated by insult and rcyenged by PATRIOTS victory
THE DURLLIsVS.
Tie name OF Francisco dc Porto L. wen KNOWN.
lie ~ Cuban, anu mas already proved his love OF
country Young, his age being twenty-cight mus
cular, though lltho and active and OF ordinary
height De Porto handsome, dashlng fellow,
with brilliant black eye denosing Are and energy.
Ii appearancca form any criterion he is modest ana
unprotendng. lie has already disp;ayed his prowcss
as u duess at tho noidelDerg University, where he
was some Years q student, but more recently Ia
Cauaca where last summer ne met IN mortal CON-
bat De Couio the editor OF the Spanish journal Et
Cf0atsta, WHO, 1t appeared, had cast some asper'
s.on6 upon his reputation. The parties con-
necIed with that AFFAIR met In q secluded grove
on the Canadian side, between four ana
Eve O'Clock IN tho morning. Ihe cuei
was fought with pistols ana terminated In DO Porto
beng severely wounded III both thighs, the Spanish
editor narrowly escaping. 1t may be mentioned
taat De Porto has already figured prominently IN the
Cuban war. and since ll5 return TO this -city haj
taken IA active part IN the Affairs or thc Cuban
Juutn. HIS latest opponent was Mr.. George
Prouac, an Engsnnau, not very disslmtar IN ettner
aae or appearance to his antagonist. II anything
he might be said TO be more powerful though ho
lacked the fiery aspect " De Porto. lroude IL SAID
to be q gentleman OF some pretension as well a. OF
moderate nisaDs and rcspectaoilty. But the phys
c capabilities Of the conbarauts not being just 50
pgoaress OF the encounter last nlgnt, we forDear
iur r.ner reference to gneir DhysiTse.
WHAT CAUSED TIE QUARREL.
That the mclnbers Of the Cuban Junta Mve re-
Gently been subjected severe criticism f0r the
ALLEGED tardiness of their actions has heretofore
fully oeen explained. Moreover, the Oubaiis IN this
city, those ut least ever seemingly al XlouS about
expeditions, have rom time TO time been subjected
20 censure from some cause which even their critics
could not clearly define. Ii was alleged IorsoCtn
that The JGnta Intended nothing practcabic. tbas
the young Cupan9 were disportng them around the
city, wishing Ut the same Tune that men OF other
nalioniie should GO forth and light for theiy free
dom. NOr did those with bu5y mouths hesitate TO
reclining ia osun c,sns aigattte intent on harvest
Ing the funds and disposing OF them for other
purposes thau was generally supposed: Suca ike
ruuiors were abroad, with what effect II Is needless
observe. 1neir truth Or falslty has loAg been
determined. HoUbet, such insinuations were not
calculated 20 act Ilyoraoiy on the minds CT the
| brave Cubans Who had so nobY banded together to
support their gallant cause Besides, Cuoan, with
+, his proud associations. s not the one 10 listen
calmly TO stories affecting h,s honor. moro espe-
| cialy when the derogatory expressions emanato
| being an Englsaman, ard considering the conduct
OF lis own countrymen in the late rebellion 1t was
natural infer thaG MS extreme sympathy did nos
| entirely rest with the slaves OF Cuba.
DE PORTO AND PaoUDE wEsE FRIENDS.
For months they iau known each other, and II ap-
| pears that mutual feeling OK REGARD sprung up be-
tween then. Latery, however, the friendship began
duiged In bitter taunts frequently accompanied by
cutting sarcasm sDout the action OF the CupanS IN
upon his anondan friend to dssst from ex-
pressing himself 50 reckiossly and unwarrantably
about the Jansa. Matters went on In tins way for .
week or two, when nt length the seeds OF enMlty
| which had quickly ripened bloonod forth In
| anger on SATURDAY night by design or accident
the partles met III certain hotel up town. The Old
| quarrel was renewed. Word3 were spent freely
until at length characteristic observation by
Ing kick-placed DC Porto fever heat tho result oi
spAr ~ Bls OPPONENTS FACE.
There was crowd preselt ana the issue was up
parent. The circumstance created considerable
| ctSement-the dGel was az hand. BOILING with indg.
nation, Prouue immediately rendered the challenge
! TO mortal coinDal--a challenge which at once
accepted. and o feeling OF contentmcnt was there
upou displayed BY all. With great promptness tic
preliminary arrangements were proceeded with, tho
discussion being marked by much cociness, notwith-
standing that tho previous Wrash!ul debate had Just
| concluded. THe seconds were not far away, and,
after little consultation there was chosen Oh benali
Of De Porto MIR, Alfred Neil, and iof proude, Mr,
| Charles Pitrman. The compacS WAS then agreed to-
\ the ONLY question 20 he disposed CT was Us to
THE WEAPONS AND THE HArfLIs GROUND.
Jha coinoataDts were determined TO hgn Both
| we're good swordsmeD; both had wrongs-the
| cuban TO avenga the SANDER or bis counirymen his
opponenl 70 wipe out TIE stain ia. lne defiant ex-
pccorauon OF DC Porto had innicted. Win what
| weapons should they nghts Pistols no; for, said
tley, amy foo cen shoot II taxes swoldsnan co
fgit duel" and SWORDS were the weapons.
| DE Porto insisted on toils, but Prou9e de.
alred the ordinary sabre used by cavalry.
| wranglng, but finally DE Porto consented, and
| so iar matters Afforded mutual satisfaction. All
this occurred up town, near The house "a CON-
mon friend, and fashionable one at that IN West
| Nineteenth street.
10 that house then, the parties aceompaniea by
| was no noise, unusual sound To disturb tue
quietudc Of the pace. Few were aware that within
1 an hour oEe OF TWO human beings might probably
1 breathe hia hast TIE preparations were made Ia
silence ana the hour OF two O'Clock yesterday
| Ing was awaited with anxiety. Tne edges OF The
| seen blades were carefully examined and for .
| heightened period scarcely q WORD was spoken
| STRIprIHU FOR IHE FIAY.
Ding, donG-it was TWO O'Clock. III the spacious
BACK palor Of the house question the
l parCles assembled ere the echo or toe chimes
bad died out. Both combaiants ssfippeI for the
| contest the seconds and then whispering
something 70 those about 70 engage. Only half
dozen persons were present. each one OF whom was
thrilled by nervous excitement. splendid
chandelier shed nood OF iigat around the room,
though Otherwise the place was excessively cold,
80 cold indeed, as 10 necesSitate the wearing OF
| thin walking coas BY each OF tne dnests, both or
whom were attfred IN tight pantaloons, all under
! clothing ueinH entirely dispensed villa. All ehe
| arrangements having been completed the COM
! bosants announced thox readiness 10 proceed
( A DEAD SILENCE
cusned, whiia an ashy palenes5 seemed to be tho
prevalent complexion OF every man In the room.
The word was given and the duests crossed swords,