Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-05-08
THE HORN LAKE DUEL.
Additional Particulars of the Nest
Extraordinary Fight ON Record
The wounded Recovering.
From de Memphis Ledger, Man 5.

From the Memphis Ledger, May 5.
In Saturdays Ledger appeared an &C.
count of the shotgun duel at Horn Lake,
DeSoto county, Miss, between Col. VIM.
Boteler and Mr.. Winfield McClelland which
took place last Friday evening. There
were quite number of citizens at Horn
Lake when the belligerents walked out q
hundred yards from the depot TO settle a
difficulty without seconds, as none of the
gentlemen present would act in the matter,
the parties having heretofore been good
friends, but had quarreled over their soups
about some trivial matter. Those in town
could see the fighters on the hill, and could
hear the loud conversation as they were
preparing for the contest. Col. Boteler
loaded bis gun with heavy squirrel
shot, having determined not to kill
his opponent, but to cripple him by shoot
ing him in the legs. Mr.. McClellsnd, how
ever, was not so considerate, as be rammed
down sixteen buckshot in each barrel. It
was agreed that McClelland should pace off
twenty steps from where Boteler stood;
then McClelland was to Whirl and both par
ties were to fire. McClelland marched of,
never looking back, but called ont the PAGES
as he went. When he called twenty, he
shouted, "Boteler, are you ready?"
"Ready," answered the Colonel; then Nc
Clelland wheeled, and a simultaneous dis
charge of the guns took place, Boteler firing
both barrels at once and McClelland but
one. The Colonel was unhurt, but Nc
Clelland fell, shot through the left leg. He
got up, however, and as he staggered he turn
ed loose the other load. Boteler approached
him and extended bis hand, saying: enc
Clellsnr, take my hand and let us be
friends" "I'll be id if l ds,n was the
answer. Some parlying took place, McClel-
land insisting that he would load his gun
again. Col. Boteler took the precaution to
place some buckshot in his pocket, and an
swered; "McClelland, you are not much
hurt. L shot you with squirrel shot, as l
did not desire to kill you, but If you load
again, next time l will kill you certain"
By this time q number of citizens seeing the
puffs of smoke and bearing the report of the
guns, ran up and stopped all further pro-
ceedings. DR.. Baskerville attended the
wounded man, and extracted fifteen or
twenty shot from his left leg. Seve-
raj of the leaden missiles entered the
knee and ankle joints, and these could
not be extracted. Yesterday Mr.. McClel-
land was suffering intensely, but was in no
danger either to die or lose bis leg, and no
doubt in month he will be up and well,
but in all probability will have a stiff leg
during life. Both parties were arrested and
were brought before magistrate on Sat-
urday afternoon, and both had to be dis
charged, as 10 witnesses were present at
the impromptu duel, the firing being only
heard and the wounded man being dis
covered soon afterward. The grand jury
of DeSoto county may make q more serious
affair out of it at the next term of court,
but by that time the fight viii almost be
forgotten, and the circumstantial evidence
in the case may become so weak as to be
of littl5 force toward sustaining an indict-
ment for duelliDg on the sacred soil of
Mississippi. ..