Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-10-24
EVENING STAR.
The Duel In Atlanta.
TWO POOLS FIsHTrNe-osI SERIOUSLY In
JCRED.

TWO POOLS FIsHIrNe-osI SERIOUSLY In
Yesterday the entire Community wss startled
by report that Mr.. Houston T. Force and Mr..
q. II. Townsend had fought duel, and that the
first named gentlemen had been seriously If not
fatally wounded. The rumor spread like Wild
fire throughout the city, Assuming thousand
forms. AT one time Il was said that Mr.. Town
send had been instantly killed, ct smother s thai
and at a third that he Was only slightly hurt.
Below we givefu and authentic particulars of
the case
So far pc can be gathered from the msss of
conflicting statements which have been placed
before Us, il appears that on Monday evening,
while AZ the Episcopal Bazaar, Mr.. Wallace Has,
kell, OF this city, in playfal manner, and
doubtless without meaning to give offence,
slightly pinched the arm of q young lady well
known and very popular IN Aus .i soG ;"',,-
offence he might have been, the act was GER
tainly reprehensible, and naturally gave tne
lady much modification and chsgflh. ohe
promptly Informed a gentleman OF her &C
quaintance that she had been insulted, and he
with equal promptness sought Mr. Haskell Ter
the purpose OF demanding an explanation aud
ON Tuesday morning. about 10 O'Clock, Mr..
Haskell, I'm company with Mr.. George Force, a
brother of Mr. Houston Force. was walking up
whitehall street As the pair came abreast of
the drugstore OF II. G. Pepe, Mr.. Houston Force
sailed on. armed with a stick in one hand and
revolver in the other. and began beating Mr..
Haskell. who retreated into the icwelry store of
Mr.. FLOYD. followed BY the assailant. The en-
its continuance.
Haskell then sent challenge to Force, who
declined II receive II, and Haskell then pub
Eshed card. denOuncing Force 10 be ga mis-
cradle Sc uHdrel and pOlt soon.' Mr.. Townsend,
Mr.. Hasksll's second, then sent a challenge to
Mr.. Force, and this induced Force to fight, and
the weapons agreed upon were dOuble-barreled
shOt guns, and the distance forty PAGES
MIR. W and Mr.. c. measured out the
stipulated distance of forty PAGES, loaded the
guns, and placed their principals back to back.
A brief pause eDsued after the principals took
their places. Ii seemed as IL Mr.. W., one of the
seconds, hesitated and paused for awhile, but
finally the words came out:
.. Are you ready, gentlemen?'
An Affirmative reply was given.
Zone, two, threSf''
AS the numerals were uttered Mr.. Force
promptly faced his antagonist and leveling his
gun fred Either because he was ignorant of
the rules OF the CODE or because he did not hear
the sword" Mr.. Townsend failed II turn in
tine. He was Just In the act Of turning when
he received three of the eight buck-shot in his
lett elbow and Just beneath his left shoulder
blade. He, however, turned completely round
and fred, instinctively, but wildly, he fell to
the ground, seriously wounded.
Ne sooner did Mr.. Townsend fall than Mr..
Force threw down his gun and ran over to him
as did the other gentlemen present. An affect
ing reconciliation took place between the two.
they shaking hands and expressing renewed
friendship. Mr.. Townsend declared himself
satisfied with the manner in which his opponent
had acted, while Mr.. Force expressed the deep
estPessibie regret at having been compelled to
Eghth'm
The wounded young man was placed in the
carriage. and, accompanied by the surgeon and
Mr. F1rce, wss rapidly conveyed to his fathers
residence in this city. He seemed much ex-
h9usted. and complained of pain in the back.
tn entering the house, Mr.. Force, who assisted
Mr.. IOwT~erd IN, repeated his declaration of
sorrow for whal had occurred and asked the
family not 10 entertain any unkind feelings
tows-ds him for II, at the same time Offering
them lis hand--AtlGHtd Ca Hsrdld.