The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1872-05-03
Eccentric Duels.

History narrdteS aIIalrs OF nOEoF III
which the weapons employed, or the CIR
cumstances surrounding the encounters
certainly render them worthy to be class
flied under the general head. Eccentrlc
Duels." THERE'S on record an instance
where two champions got into a punch,
% and there fought with KNIVES anu
another where two noblemen fOugn WIN
daggers. holding each other by the lelt
hand. Brantome mentions certain Seig-
nor de Gensac. who proposed to meettwo
opponents at the same time ana When
opposition was made to the absurdlfy OF
The affair. merely replied why history
is full of such deeds, and mon Dten! am
determined to have my name recorded.
Baron Rothschild was once challenged
for refusing to lend an i~mpecuniOus Ger
man baron a sum of money. In 1859 two
Alabama gentlemen fought a duel at New
Orleans with bayonets fixed oil muskets.
After a few passes. one of the gentlemen
thrust his bayonet in the left shoulder OF
the other. and completely lifted him of
the ground.
Galignani relates a duel which occurred
between two coachmenin the Bots de Bou-
logne. some wears agO. These gentlemen
could never meet without wrangllng, so
one one day suggested TO the other: "Our
1uarrelling has now Tested too long; II is
fine TO nut an end to it. Let us have one
FIGHT. and let that be the last. We neither
of us understand anything of sword or
or pistol: let us fight with our whips.
And at it they went to their hearts con-
tent.
Brantome tells of two COrsicans, who
securely placed s~harp-pointed daggers in
their helmets. and were clad only in 4
s.sacque." a coat ofmail over their shirts.
The person challenged was Il good wrest-
lar. and the party accepting the cartel Sc
lected this strange attire. in which they
actually appeared upon the ground. al
though in the dead of Winter. Both
were armed with swords. but. no advan-
tage being gained ~ either. they at length
rushed upon each other and the wrestling
began. 1t was i'm this struggle that the
daggers came into play. tor each gentle
man butted in his antagonists face. neck
and arms. They We're both wounded in
MANY places until they were exhausted
by this blood-letting. One died within
: the month. and the other grieved himself
, almost to death. on the principle that we
never know what we think ola man until
we fight him.
An ingenious soldier of diminutive stat.
ure. once adopted this whimsical mode OF
fighting a tall. stalwarth Gascon who had
insulted him: heinsisted that they should
both wear a steel collar bristling with
pointed blades as sharp as razOrs round
their necks. and having no other armOr.
their bodies and limbs We're exposed to
the swords ofcach other. By this singu.
lar invention the little chap could look
up to his gigantic antagonist without the
least danger. while the tall gentleman
could not look down at his short oppo-
nent without cutting his chin with the as
certed points of his steel collar. The lit
tie fellow had the fighting all his own
way. and shortly after had the pleasure OF
running his sturdy enemy through the
body.
General Israel Putnam was a man who
managed to procure Il large mount of
revolutionary nOtOriety on remarkably
small capital. He did run away at Horse
neck. and did hang Palmer. the spy. but
his presence at Bunker Hill is very doubt
full, and it would have been better had he
not been at the battle of Long Island at
all. He was engaged in two duels. both
of which were highly discreditable to
him. He once insufted an American off
Ger. at the table. and when challenged for
the offense. agreed to meet him next
morning without seconds. At the time
and place appointed. the officer appeared
with sword and pistols and had ap-
preached to within thirty rods of .'Old
Put" when that gentleman fired a shot
from a gun at him. While Putnam was
relOading his piece. his antagonist APP
preached him and inquired, "What are
you about to do? Is this the conduct of
an American officer. and a maj of honor::''
what am | about to do?" replied the
general. "A pretty question to put to a
man whom you intend to murder, I'm
about TO kill you; and if you don't beat
Il retreat in less time than it takes Old
Heath to hang a Tory. YOU are a gone
-deg.I The 0ff%icerturned nd fled.
Tile second affair was with u British
officer and prisoner on parole. who was
offended at some remarks of the general.
A challenge was given and accepted.
Putnam. as the challenged party. agreed
to choose the weapons. and appeared at
the place named with arms for both. The
officer found him seated near a barrel. ap-
parently containing powder. smoking his
pipe. Putnam requested the English officer
TO take a seat Oh the other side of the bar
rel. The officer looked for a minute ut the
match. for the general had lighted it. and
as the fire approached the supposed
powder. sprang up and fled. Putnam
shouted after him, .You are lust as brave
a man as | took YOU to be; this is nothing
but a barrel of onions. with a few grains
Q : powder on the head. to try you by.
But you did not like the smell"
y CLERKS STORY.-When | used to
tend store Mt Syracuse the old man came