Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-10-25
THE ATLANTA DUEL.
A Fight With ShOtguns Loaded With
BuekshOt, at Forty Paees-One
Of the Parties Seriously, II
Not Fatally Wounded.

From the Atlanta constitutional
The unfortunate duel that occurred
Friday afternoon has excited much in
terest. 1t may be well to review the
facts as they appear.
II was charged that Mr.. Wallace
Haskell pinched a young lady's arm al
the Episcopal Bazaar one evening lasi
week. She was walking with Colonel
J. II. Hart, Of ThomastOn. She stated
that she was insulted, and requested
/ Colonel Hart to call Mr.. Houston Force.
/ Colonel Hart did 50, and left them to-
/ gether. Mr.. Haskell and Mr.. Force had
7 a conversation about it, which seems to
Z have been unsatisfactory. Their state
ments conflict. Mr.. Haskell states that
| he apologized. Mr.. Force says that he
( told Mr.. Haskell the lady would take no
/ apology. While conversing, Colonel
! Hart approached them, and suggested a
| pOstpOnement of the matter. Mr.. Has
I kell shook his finger in Colonel Hart's
I face and said he did not recognize him
( ia the matter. Colonel Hart left, and
went TO the National Hotel, and sent
/ for Haskell. Mr.. Haskell and Mr.
Force parted in dissatisfaction with each
other.
]
at the National Hotel that night, and
their misunderstanding was settled, Mr..
Haskell apOlOgiZing for his bluntness.
But in this interview with Colonel Hart,
Mr.. Haskell spoke severely Of Mr..
Force, and also of the young lady. This
was reported TO Mr.. Force, who, acting
on it, prepared himself with stick and
attacked and beat Mr.. Haskell the next
TsAr, Tfefn1e
were drawn, but not used, and the par
ties were disarmed by their friends and
separated.
THE CHALLENGE
Mr.. Haskell challenged Mr.. Force, Sc
lecting Mr.. Townsend as his second.
Colonel Hart, for Mr.. Force, declined to
recognize Mr.. Haskell as a gentleman,
butofered any satisfaction to MIR. Town
send. The latter gentleman took the
place Of his principal and sent a notice
by Mr.. Joseph Smith. 1t seems that
Colonel Hart and Mr.. Smith have had
a difficulty before, and Colonel Hart de
elined to receive any communication
through Mr.. Smith. Upon this Mr..
Haskell published the correspondence, !
denOuncing Mr.. Force as a coward. Mr. I
Smiths note of his transaction with
AOlOuEl LlAIl AEuDlNEEE LAldA kElAAAtnIaAls
This correspondence was sent to the
Constitution, but not published, as none |
Of the parties brought it.
Mr.. Force published a counter card.
Colonel Hart was taken sick and was
unable 10 take any further part in the |
affair. being prevented by his physician. |
Mr.. Crutchfield took his place as Mr. |
Forces friend, and Mr.. Wallace took /
Mr.. Smiths place as Mr.. Townsend's |
friend.
HOW THE MEETING WAS ARRANGED. |
The following was a statement Of an
eyewitness to the duel: He said that no /
written correspondence took place be- 4
tween Force and Townsend. The under |.
standing was-sO it is repOrted-that the |
fight was to take place between George I
Wallace and Colonel Hart. Colonel |
Hart was sick and not present. 1t is
said that Townsend insisted that Wal 1
lace should not fight. The weapons were /
double-barreled shotguns-new ones.
was a breech-lOader. 1t is
not definitely known who selected the
weapons or loaded the guns.
THE MEETING.
The parties proceeded to little grove
in front of the main entrance to the
on Fair street. Mr.. Crutch-
field, who acted as Mr.. Forces second,
and Mr. Wallace, who acted as Mr.
second, stepped of about
forty PAGES and placed their principals in
position. Mr.. Crutchfield, Mr.. Bedell
and others, il is stated, endeavOred to
stop further proceeding without avail.
Townsend is reported by our Informant
10 have been too much under the inhu-
snce Of liquor. 1t is said that Mr.. Force
asked for twenty-fOur hours, in justice to
Mr. Hart. This was refused unless put
70 writing. Townsend asked if his gun
vas cooked. Gentlemen insisted that
should be instructed, but this
vas refused. The question was asked,
& Gentlemen, are you readyw The
word fire. was not given, neither
vas the word stop" after the
words Zone - two = three. Mr..
3edell cried out that this was
wrong, and insisted that the word should
,e given correctly. Mr.. Force fired
ew seconds after the word "three." Mr.
townsend fell upon receiving the wounds
mentioned yesterday. As he fell his gun ,
vas discharged in a direction contrary to {
where Force was standing. Mr.. Force
vent up to Mr.. Townsend and expressed
egrets that he Ct. had not returned lis I
F.'s) fire, and assisted in getting the
rounded man in a carriage.
WARRANTS OUT.
Warrants are out for Mr.. Force and !
be seconds, whose whereabouts We do
.ot know. After the fight Mr.. Force
nd Mr.. Townsend are said to have
made friends. r
CONDITION OF THE WOUNDED MAN. .
Mr.. Townsend, at a late hour last
light, was in as favorable condition as Z
Ould be expected. His mind was -per-
ectly clear, and he was cheerful and ,
Iopeful. We understand his Physicians I
hink that he will recover, bUt that he
Till be confined to his room for some
weeks, perhaps months.