The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1871-06-15
The Lake-Chambe Duel.
From the Memphis Appeal.
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We have often heard it asserted that Col
Chambers suffered great remorse on account
of his dnel with Col. VIM. A. Lake, of Mis-
sissippi This we know 10 be untrue. The
writer of this was the friend of Col. Cham
bers in the unfortunate affair which lost
Col. Lake his life. In cur last conversation
with him. only few months before his
death, we asked him If 1t were true that his
irregularities were occasioned BY the feeling
of remorse attributed to him. His reply
WIS, 4" You know the necessity under which
| acted" He calmly, repeatedly and un-
hesitatingly. expressed regret for what he
regarded as the necessity under which he
acted, but he spoke lightly and scornfully
of the idea Of his feeling the remorse attrib-
uted to him. In the same conversation he
spoke In terms of admiration for the courage
and high honor of the man he had slain, and
his praise was just tribute, for the history
of the world cannot furnish a duel fought
upon higher and more honorable principles,
or where more true courage was shown than
was displayed in the duel between Colonel
William A. Lake and Col. III. G.. Cham
bers. Colonel Lake had been MEM
Der of the United States Congress and was
a candidate for the Confederate Congress In
opposition to Col. Chambers. They had
some disagreement about list of joint
appointments which resulted in collision
at Greenwood, Mississippi. Lake struck
Chambers with a loaded pistol, which re-
where a challenge was passed. The parties
met in Arkansas Immediately opposite Fort
| Pickering. Colonel Lakewas the challenged
party and selected rifles, the distance forty
yards, the rifles to be cooked, triggers
sprung, the words to be, '-Gentlemen are
answer ready" and the second winning
| the word to continue, "Fire-one-tw0-
three-stop!" neither party to fire before
| the word fire" nor alter the word 'Astop,"
1
sition. Each party was allowed six friends
on the ground besides the second and sur
geon. Colonel Chambers reached the ground
at daylight with his friends. The morning
was cool and large fire was built. 1t was
his intention to practice until ten O'Clock.
the hour of meeting, but he declared upon
the ground that he had made good shots the
day before, was sanguine as to
the result, and bad shots would
cause him to lose confidence in himself
The opposite party did not arrive on the
ground until few minutes before the hour
for meeting. Col. Lake was dressed in ex-
quisite taste, wore black kid gloves. As he
strobe by he blandly saluted the opposite
party. He weighed about two hundred
pounds and his bearing was that of Il high
toned, chivalrous gentleman of the old
school. His whole demeanor was according
10 his high breeding and the decorum which
should govern such occasions. The rifles
were loaded by the seconds and the parties
took their respective positions. AT the word
fire, Col. Chambers discharged his weapon,
the ball passing three or four feet over the
head of his antagonist. Colonel Lake ham
died his gun as III it were a cOrn-stalk, and
at the word three he fired, the ball graz
ing Col. Chambers chin. Colonel Chambers
gave an involuntary shrug of the head, and
il was thought he was wounded, but being
asked, he said that the ball seemed like a
big fly about his face After pause the
rifles were again loaded. the word given,
and the firing was nearly Simultaneous
Lakes ball threw the dirt upon Col Cham
bers' foot and C.'s ball passed immedi-
ately in front of Lakes breast. All parties
made an effort to adjust the difficulty. Two
hours were thus occupied, and Colonel
Chambers friends made several propositions
all of which were rejected, Colonel
Chambers was advised of the proposed
terms for settlement, and he said he had
thought seriously and earnestly about the
matter that the terms proposed were such
as he had reVolved in his own mind, and
since they had been rejected, he could only
say: Load up the guns-I can hazard my
! life no longer" The weapons were again
prepared, and Lake fired at the word two,
Chambers at the word three, when the rifle
was seen to fall from Colonel Lakes hands,
and he Immediately fell MORALLY wounded,
the ball having passed through his head.
Thus ended one of the bloodiest and most
chivalrous duels ever fought in the United
States. The feeling OF the antagonists
seemed to increase with each successive fire,
and the earnest appeals of friends to recon-
ellie the matters at varience were unavailing
This was deplored by all, for the honesty,
courage and high devotion to principle
which both parties exhibited, won the ad-
miration of all alike.