Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1873-07-04
Interesting Account of the Com.
BET between Colonel Ehetf
aud Judge Cooley, of
New Orleans
The Scene--The OOmbatants and
their Attendants-Their PO.
sitiOH and Conduct in
the Encounter.
- r-f ...
Short Work = No DeIays-FOur
Minutes and a Half, and Coo
ley is a COrpSe-The Cause
Of the Fight.


- - Of the Fight.
It From the New Orleans Times.l
~
"A Those who viewed the combat from
distance speak of the short space of tim
/ occupied Gs almost Incredible. 1t ws
,e commenced, ended, and 8 bleeding bod
Il was borne soTrOwfully sway before the
, even realized the terrible era In huma
experience they had come to witnes.
4 From the outset { became apparent tha
d the details had been intrusted to no
. only able but experienced men. tn
d. weapon used by Colonel Rhett, q Man
- ton laminated steel double -barrele,
e gun, was loaded by Mr.. CarsOl
: Nudge, the well-known gunsmith
q Mr.. George w. Carter performe,
; that task for Judge Cooley. Both tool
: Their positions promptly, and withou
[ discussion. After the first fire, Judg
a Cooley stepped away from the line ant
D seated himself, but his antagonist re
manned standing, with his hands fold
ed Ii had been partially agreed W,
hear, that should a third shot be ex
, changed without injury being done, al
effort would be made to adjust the diff
Guilty. Alas! in but brief space oftim,
the matter was beyond all human ad.
: justment. From a well-known gentle
man, who was present among the spec.
q tatOrs, We hear the following narration
Of the tragic affair:
STATEMENT OF AN EYEWITNESS.
Learning, through private telegram
addressed to me at Mississippi City, that
the duel was to take place, ] concluded
TO intercept the train and, if possible.
accompany the party. With this OBJ
lect left Mississippi City on the morn
ing train, and met the other on this side
OF the Rigolets, the usual meeting-place.
The conductor informed me that
Messrs. Rhett and Cooley, with their
friends, We're On board, and at once
took passage myself and accompanied
them. | found Judge Cooley seated in
a chair in the baggage-ear with his coat
| OIL. His foot was disabled from
a nail which grew into the flesh
OF his toe. lie appeared to be most
cheerful, and was talking in his usual
/ JOcose vein, ] think with Mr.. Victor
GerOdias. Colonel Rhett was seated in
I one OF The passenger-cOaches, conVersing
with gentleman near him. He seemed
l quiet and most self-possessed, but did
not, apparently, have great deal to
say. The friends of both gentlemen-I
use the word not in its technical sense,
but mean gentlemen friendly to each
were scattered throughout the train,
bat nothing in the manner of any of
them indicated that anything unusual
was about to occur. From the general
bearing Of the passengers - although
there We're not great many upon the
train-l would suppose them to
have been quite ignorant of
the deadly mission, as the |
subject did not seem to be a subject of |
conversation. The vicinity of Mont |
gomeTy station is broad stretch of low /
level land, sparsely populated, and filled /
with pine trees, not, however, so thiekly !
as to obstruct the view. There is but |
one habitatiOn in the neighborhood, a /
one-stOTy unpainted frame bnilding to |
the left of the road looking toward Mo /
bile. This and the statiOnhouse. a small
similar building to the others along the 1
route, were the only edifices of anv
character in the vicinnage.
THE SCENE.
When the train stopped twelve or fif-
teen persons descended. L am not per
sonaliy acquainted with all. They
seemed to be friends of the two gentle
men, but majority came more in the
capacity of spectators. Upon their land
ing II was intimated quietly by one of
the seconds that according to the terms
of the agreement no one but those i'm
interested should be admitted
70 the ground, and of course, in obedi-
ence to this suggestion, a majority re-
mained quietly at the stationhouse.
The party brought with them two col
ored servants, who carried two sets oil
guns, the ammunition
aud other accOuuements. They |,
moved to a spot between eighty and
one hundred yards distant from the
station, and about twenty yards
% the right of the road, that
IS on the side nearest Mississippi sound.
which is probably a mile and a half {
away. The site chosen is an ordinary
strip Of piney woodland, with little or /.
20 peculiar characteristics. Upon toss
udge Cooley won the word and choice
Jf position. Very shortly afterward
JolOnel Rhett was placed by his second ,
With his back to the railroad, and, as
eemed to me, near pine tree. Judge ]
Jl.iey was placed forty yards distant, {
With his back to the bay and facing Col {
mel Rhett. Two of the seconds then J
'ceupled positions facing each other, and j
between the two contest q
.nts, but outside of the line OF fire. The q
ther seconds, think, took positions near c
heir principals, but / was 50 deeply in Y
crested in watching the others that'I i
I'd not particularly observe them. The Z
wo gentlemen stood gazing at each 4
ther with the breeches of their shot, r
uns drawn up TO the shoulder, and the Z
luzZles pointed TO the ground, while C
,r. Bruins, in a clear and audible voice. u
7ad the articles of agreement which Il
ad been previously signed by the Sec fC
nds. The doctor took some little time v
explaining clearly what was required il
each, and seemingly was very desir- a
rs that no mistake should occur. So h
Scited did become that did not catch 10
he exact words used, but my impression II
the doctor cried, FAre you ready? q
ire. One, two, three, halt.u At the W
ords 'are you ready,n both weapons al
ere slightly elevated, at the word "a
dre," they were brought to a level, W
al between the words OneU and n
lalt," both weapons were discharged. | 10
ldge Cooley, / think, fred at the word W
1ne," but Colonel Rhett's weapon was W
a little hard on the trigger.
I'd was discharged between the words
)ne' and "tWo." Neither party being
art, the friends of Colonel Rhett de-
anded another shot, which was IL
ompuy accorded, and the seconds at
zee reloaded the pieces. 70
THE DEATH. o(
At the second discharge the same al
rmula was repeated, and both guns "
ere simultaneously discharged. With 81
convulsive turn TO the left, Judge ~,
loley fell. The friends and spectators. III
hO in the meantime had remained at al
e station now approached. The ~
conds Of both parties publicly pro- " "a
aimed the fact that every thing had re
en conducted IN strict accordance Ill
ith the terms Of the written agree tl Ii
ent, and without any attempt at un- - -
irness on either side. Saying this, they Va IA
oOk hands and parted. On behalf Of W
1lOnel Rhett, his seconds rendered the ~
conds Of Judge Cooley the use of a car ~ ~
age, out was declined, and that party 80
tired IN the direction of Bay st. ~
1uls. When / reached Judge Cooley's "'
ie found him lying on his back in a
nsibfe, and gasping for breath. His
- NHN 1yN tpSeAA AAclDIbcl Mlln pain.
i he wss evidently dying. The ball, go
musket ball, one ounce, thirteen-hun- i'm
edths Of an inch in diameter, penetrat- Of
bis left side about the region of the ~
art, and ranging upward. DIR HolIa- an
y was leaning over him, and ice and co
little raw cotton were being applied or
his wound, but it was evident 81
at all medical aid was useless. "a
e remarked before / reached him nI
DIR. Holiday, ~ ana shot in the an
east" These were the last words he ~