Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1873-05-15
SELECTED STORY.
AN EXTRAORDINARY DUEL.

By remarkable train of circumstan-
ces, Commodore G. X. Garrison, the
New York millionaire, at an early
period of the globe fever, became not
only citizen of Panama, but the lead
ing banker Of that place in face, the
commanding figure Of the Isthmus.-
Among other strange characters pre-
cipitated on this neck of the continent
by the startling discoveries Of gold in
California and tidal wave of emigration
that it started from every conceivable
quarter Of the globe, was Capt. vi
Turner, from the District Of Columbia,
slim, why man, Of delicate profile
with Byronic halt III his walk, but
enterp Using, brave, and impctuous to a
fault, and withal generous and magnan
imous beyond expression.
On some business OF social occasion,
no matter which, they came in collision.
High and angry words ensued, and
Turner, in his vengeful mood sent 8
peremptery challenge to the Connie
dore to meet him in mortal combat at
the earliest possible moment. Garrison
was the tempered steel of Turner's flint;
and without moments hesitation he
named pistols; on the beach of Panama,
at 6 o'clock on the ensuing morning.
The mediation Of mutual friends was
Of no avail. They were beth fearless
and exasperated, and under the circum-
stances saw no other mode Of redress
But in palliation Of all this we should
bear in mind the peculiar temperaments
and early training OF the men, and
remember that this occurred in foreign
land during a strange unheaval and
half denomination of society, and took
place nearly q quarter of 9 century ago.
The expsstcd meeting was soon
noised abroad, and the character and
celebrity of the men added intensity to
the excitement prevailing throughout
the city.
Turner, like the Commodore, grasped
the possibilities Of passing events, and,
resolving to garner from the harvest at
hand become q citizen Of Panama, and
embarked in the business Of transport
ing passengers from Chagres Che then
Atlantic por) tc Panama, and Dice
uersa, as the cass might be- This
business together with his nationality,
often brought him in close communica-
ton with Commodore Garrison, and
they soon became warm personal
friends; for as I have said, they were
both men efpeculiar organizaticn-men
of keen intellect and sagacieus brains:
yet generous hearted and i1npulsive,
though quiet-tempered and brave to a
fault. They were alike, anG yet not
alike; something like flint and steel
| adamanti1o.in their qualities-haE1nless
when passive, yet, fiery and deadly
| when brought in violent contact.
As beth were In deadly earnest they
| applied themselves with all seriousness
to the practical preparations before
them, not forgetting any of lts fearful
and possible contingencies. Friends
lweapons were to be provided, business
| settled up, papers destroyed, letters
written, and wills made! Both, intent
| on these varied preparations, busted
| themselves during the tropical after
tnoon aud even after night, when the
full-orbed moon threw her silver efful
gence over land and sea, were hurrylng
here and there in anxious preparation
| for the the morning drama.
1t was at late hour, while the city
was thus bathed in flood of light, that
IGarrison sailed out to see friend on
lsome urgent matter before retiring. /
so CHANGED at the same time that Tur
ner was out on a similar purpose. While l,
SO occupied, and hurying forward will
all their combative natures fully arous
ed, and unmindful OF all the world saYt
their own reflections, they ran full till
against Que another, face TO face, al
they turned the corner OF street
Looking up and instantly recognizing
one another in the full glare of thu
moon, they each recoiled a step ane
glared at one another with mutual de
! fancs. Capt. Turner, much the mor'
| impulsive and cxcitable of the two, ex
claimed with Kissing rage: :s..What dc
YOU mean, sirs Are you impatient TO
the morning? If SO sir, We will sd-