New Orleans Republican., 1873-07-20
DUEL.NG IN NEW ORLEANS.
BY T. B. THARPE.

Neither party being hurt on the first fire,
the friends of Colonel Rhett demanded an
other shot. which was promptly accorded.
-Ner Orleans Times.
Such Is tue significant paragraph. COPIED
from the account OF an ''eye witness or the
late duel in New Orleans. Here we have
in the most direct manner the statement
of the cause of the death of Judge Cooley,
which is placed where it belongs, on the
conscience of the seconds. AL writers
who have paid any attention 10 the WORKS
OF the code duello agree that. as III this
case. on the seconds in most cases,
rather than on the princlpals' rests
the crime OF murder. The trends OF
Colonel Rhett demanded another shot,! and
the HELPLESS victims, sarcasticaiiy termed
the first parties" stand LelpIessly BIZ
while the seconds pleasantly group them.
selves together, ana send home the powder
and ball. which is not TO be used against
them. foc they stand outside ot the line OF
tire" but against those who f0i the time
being are as helpless for defense a. turkeys
staked a. a Christmas country shooting
match. Another shot was promptly ac-
corded go no one suggested explanations
and possible reconciliation. il the course
OF which there might have been peaceful
ending OF . renc0unt.r which. even accord
ing 70 the most strained construction OF
..the code" the cause Of the quarrel con
siderei had had its requirements II the
first fully satisfied.
The history of dueling IN the South is
one continued dark chapter: not single
instance can be cited where IL has served
to aven,e a great wrOng-lts only uses nave
been 20 crush out the helpless ard 70 feed
revenge. Before the rebellion almost every
distinctive Southern community. whether
large OK small, had its acknowledged al
thori.v on the ''cOde." With few eXcep-
tons these fearful finctionaries were
broken down gentlemen whose antece-
dents connected them with the 'old tan.i-
lies" and having no taste for honest ia
dusrry, they inspired into the community q
terror and admiration often So perfect
tha. they absolutely. in many instances.
lived upon the value OF their smiles o. ap-
probation or Oh the fears of their condemna-
ton II was the business Of these men to
decide UPON social etiquette. upon modes Of
speech-to translate the subtle meanings Of
looks. and, according 70 their humor or
their interest, to breed Guarre!s and act as
arbiters of meetings, ald supervise Gueiing
correspondence. and, finally, il it co2lG not
be avoided, to perform the part OF seconds
anything, indeed, that served to bring them
prominently before the community through
such channels as violent discussions in the
bar-room and notices in the local press.
New Orleans, when cotton was most
"kng." had man in IT'S mids. who had
con.ro! OF the "code." He was promising
bud of that fully blown Caesar OF modern
French builies, Granier de Cassagnac.
Withou: single qualification that entered
into the composition OF a good citizen. he
was the scourge of the community. Max
ing his headq quarters at the central gather
Ing place of the French quarter of the city.
he was the oracle on matters of honor. He
criticised the sayings and doing Of the
saloons the style OF the arguments Of the
learned members of the bar: gave the true
meanings of tue current newspaper edltO-
rlals Of the local press. He ASST gneO to in
dividuals, if he chose. their several posi-
tions, and would by . fat paralyze and put
down any one who he thought intertered
with his supremacy. HIS method was to
get those whom he disliked or agreed to
dislike for the benefit OF others. into the
meshes OF a preliminary duel. through the
means OF which he generally nad his victim
disgraced or killed.
This man mad his repre- sentat;ves il mos:
of the lesser Southern cities; they were
bred from false public sentiment. Just as
maggoss originate and riot n fostering
flesh. As the rumblings Of the threatened
storm that broke at last into open rebellion
were heard in the distant air. and the
giimmering 9 flashes that followed inspired
rather than checked the catastrophe, the
youthful chivalry." IN their mistaken :o-
ton OF character, looked insti1ctive.y TO-
ward these noted duelisss FOR men who.
when the fight did begin, would be leaders
in the fray These ''Iuen siayers. accord
ing to the code, with a wider feiG OF action
We're to buckle on the armOr. and where
the igh, was thickest. there they Were to
rear their bloody plumes, the lnsDlcIt.ny
insignia OF daring deeds.
But what was the fact, Not noted or
an obscure duelst answered to the sum-
mons that echoed back from the trovning
still, and their souls quailed at the demand
for that steady courage which ma..es the
truly brave lace death tol a principle. The
whole crew of the instigator= OF death ov
the means of the duel!O in the entire South
sank out Of sight, burying themselves ia
safe places. acting as leaders OF the stay
at-home guards or ending their iu.a,ny IL
the, to them, agreeable death ar:s.Dg from
the consumption of bad whisky. They
proved incontestlbly, by their conuIct. tsat
the professional duelist. as rule. was en-
tirelv destitute OF the first suspicion cf
manly courage. and stamped the i.lrsu { or
profession with such baseness thar It ap-
pears strange that the spirit o. the due:.o
tor a score OF years, at least, in the South.
can find cging place in the hearts o!
men whom God designed as ornaments of
society and eXemplars OF the highest type
OF American citizenship
More than quarter OF a century ago
New Orleans was the central point of
duel. the particulars of which are viyidly
recalled by the leading events OF the re.
Gently performed tragedy. At the date al.
!uded to. a young man, hailing from the
State OF Kentucky, made his appearance in
the city. who attracted attention from his
remarkable personal beauty, grea: inteili-
gence ant winning manners. He was tail.
fair comp!exioned, with a bright. smiling
face. SET Oft with profusiOn of golden hair.
The ers. was one of hospitality especially
fox the sons of the dark and bloody
ground, and young Burt. in turtherance OF
his pursuit-the study of law-though with
out the possession of liberal means. soon
found an anchorage in the office of one OF
the best lawyers who instructed him ia the
mysteries OF his chosen profession with
such success that, between the careful
teachings of the master and the natural
ability OF tee pupil. ere year elapsed the
Young adveuturer found himself Not only
i lawyer, but ia possession o. paying
practice.
Every one hailed his good fortune. He
seemed TO be exempt from creating the hos
tili:y OF envy. Fattered by society. !.c
was the central point Q. the fashionable
party. Acknowledged as "A ,.s.I. star in
his profession, he was a !avU-:te viii! tlle
elder members o. the bar an: bench.
igh spirited. ambitious. and see;.iii, to
excel IL. all honorable ambitions. he united
himself with one OF the two great political
81 saniza.ions Of the day, and was soon the
,ed leader of the young men Of
u dos o. ia,v tta i s,4