, 1872-10-23
DUEL IN ATLANTA.
One OF the Parties Seriously, If Not
Dangerously, TVounded--Ft1uP Partic-
u7ars OF the Affair and Its Origin.

One OF the Parties Seriously, If Not
Dangerously, Svounded--FunP Partic-
u1ars Of the Affair and Its Origin.
TsGm The At1sat; G' 4 ae1ald Oct T.
gas startled by report that Mr. Houston T.
Force and Mr.. ;. Il. Townsend had fought a
been seriously; if not fatally, wounded Below
ne give full and authentic particulars of the
case:
So far aa can be gathered from the mass Of
conflicting statements which have been placed
before us, it appears that on Monday eyening,
while at the Episcopal Bazaar, h1r. Wallace
Haskell, Of this city, in playful manner, and,
doubtless, without meaning to give offence,
slightly pinched the arm Of 8 young lady well
known and very popular in Atlanta society.
But, however innocent Of intent to give offence
be might have been, the act was certainly
reprehensible, and naturally gave the lady much
modification and chagrin. She promptly IN,
formed gentleman OF her acquaintance that
she had been insulted, and lie, with equal
promptness, sought A1r. Haskell, for the -pur-
pose Of demanding an explanation and apology.
just here the statements on both sides materl-
ally differ. Mr. Haskell asserts that he made
an ample apology to the ladys friend. and sup
posed that the matter had been satisfactorily
settled On the other hand, Alr. Houston T.
Force inEists that Haskell never did make an
apology for the offence.
But, be that as it may, the story Of the insult
offered came to the ear Of Mr. Force, who is said
to be efhanced to the young lady in question.
As might be supposed, he was considerably In
censed, and at once approached Haskell, and
the accounts are conflicting. Mr. Haskell, IN
his card, published yesterday, Says, Shortly
after this, Houston Force came to me, and e1-
pressed himself dissatisfied about the matter,
and angry words ensued between u.s." Mr. Force,
in his card, published this morning, says that
Haskell offered to apologize, but that he (Force)
replied that the young lady would not accept
any apology. The affair here became very much
10 or1 10 That
when the two parties separated no very pleasant
feelings existed between them.
On Tuesday morning, about 10 o'clock, Mr.
Haskell, in company with Mr. George Force, T.
Whitehall street. As the pair came abreast Of
the drug store of II. c. Pope, h1r. Houston
Force sailed out, armed with q stick in one
hand and g revolver in the other, and began
Jewelry store Of Mr.. Floyd, followed by his as
sgilant. The encounter then terminated, es out
eiders prevented it's continuance.
The same day, feeling aggrieyed at the treat
ment to which he had been subjected, 1lr. Has,
ken sent challenge to Mr.. Force, through the
hands of his friend, Mr. J. n. Townsend. In re-
sponse to the hostile note, Alr. John R. Hart,
representing Mr: Force, declined to receive the
Challenge chi ot aae as that MI hia
declared Aimsef ready to give Mr. Townsend
any satisfaction that he might demand. Mr.
Townsend promptly replied, declaring his readi-
ness to take the place Of Mr. Hasken and sent
letter BY the hands Of Mr.. Joseph q. Smith, Of
this city. Mr. Hart declined receiving the chal-
lenge from the gentleman last named, where
upon Mr. Haskell, in the Herald OF yesterday,
published all the coTreepondenco ana wound up
BY s'posting Mr: Force as "a miserable scoun-
drel and poltroon."
This card which was published in the Herald
Of yesterday morning, created great excitement
throughout the city, and was the topic OF con
versation everywhere. Under every rule Of tie
''Code Of Honor the matter ought to have
rested there, or been limited to Messrs. Forco
end Haskell and Messrs. Hart and Smith. But
it seems that Mr. Force and Mr, Townsend were
both ll-adyieed BY the gentlemen they selected
to act for them+ We do not wish to be UNDER
stood as taking sides in this unhappy affair, but
Ee would be derelict in our duty as Journalists
did re not express the opinion that the parties
who advised duel we're most censurable. Not
the slightest necessity existed for one. The
honor OF nelther gentlemen required one.
We should not omit mentioning that, as soon
as he became aware of the connection OF J. H.
Townsend with the Haskel-Foroe imbroglo, our
much esteemed fellow~townE1nan, Colonel ". s.
Townsend, had all the parties concerned, in
cluding his son, taken before Justice-of-the-
Peace and bound over to abstain from fighting.
eupposing that the matter was ended, Colonel
Townsend gave himself but little further trouble,
except to exercise some supervision on the
l.syements OF his son.
however, J. n. Townsend and Houston Force
we're both excited by the events which had tran
which had been offered him in s1igmatising his
principal, Mr. Haskell, as "no gentleman, and,
next, in refusing to receive his challenge from
the hands OF his friend, Mr. Smith. Mr.. Force
'posted," and there does not appear to have been
fnen wanting to persuade both gentlemen that .
duel between them WAS 9 necessity. It is said
that in Office in this city the parties met and
there completed arrangements for q meeting to
take place in the evening.
The Teapons agreed upon we're double-bar-
relied Bhot-guns, loaded with eight brckahot in
esch barrel and the distance fixed at forty
PAGES. The place selected for the meeting was
none other than just in front Of the Cemetery
gate within the limits, not only OF the State, but
Of the city itself. Mr. Hart being indisposed,
Mr. c., a gentleman temporarily sojourning
Force, while III. W, Of this city, acted as
Mr. Townsend's second. In this connection. We
would state that Mr. Haskell and Mr. Smith
we're both ignorant OF the purpose to fight, and
ries or in the actual occurrence. This we are
requested 10 state, IS q matter Of justice to the
two gentlemen named.
It is proper to remark that Dir. Force express
ed himself reluctant to meet Mr: Townsend, on n
the same family, but he had misgivings as to the
propriety OF the meeting. Rumor, however,
adds that as the hour approached, Mr.. Hart
being then sick, and A1r. G. not having then con-
sented to act, 11r. Force received q notification
that he would be given twenty minutes in which
to reach the duelling ground. Nothing, there
fore, remained but for him to fight or justify the
"posting." What truth there is in this story
He we're unable to learn last night. Il true, It
reflects credit upon h1r. Force.
Just before sunset two carriages containing
the principals and their seconds and surgeon
started for the appointed place On alighting
IL front Of the cemetery gate Or. - endeaVor-
ed to effect compromise and bring about re-
Cancellation, but all his efforts in this regard
we're unayailins. Both gentlemen evidently