The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1873-07-10
TUE NEW ORLEANS EUEI-
The Ne ting Between the Hon. W. b.
toOleJ and Col. J. Barn.
we'll Rhett.
Tn. Sceae Described BY n Eys.W illness
IrUm the Ne~ OIL, ans Time, July 2

Til. Sceae Described BY III Eys.W illness
| iFsom the Nes OylraDs Times, July =.
Al haif-,,-, IL p'eiock yesterday the COM
mIni,y ~A> s.arI,.d with the report that twO
hoa,s i.eiUre Judge WiiiiaI II. Cooley, in
a duel with Col. ]. B.rnwell Rheit, jr.,
fought nj Montgomery Station, on the line
O. the NV Oriean-, Mobile d Texas Rail
road, had been shot through the body and
slmcst Instantly killed.
1t is u.el. ~ to disguise the fact that hos
tile meeting between these gentlemen has
been unprecedented for several days. Ii We
are correctly informed, steps were taken TO
presen; q conf C: within the limits OF the
State, but with the borders Of Mississippi,
a. it we're, hot a siep of, all realized that no
judicial proceeding here could rtay what
-eem.d inevitable. From those who appear
conve-sant with the facts, We CLEAN the in
,eiii sence that on Friday last it was agreed
between the friends Of the two gentlemen
that they would meet outside the limits III
the State one day during the pTereht week,
the weapons 70 b. double bAi relied shot- guns,
one barrel loaded with a inu-ket ball, at a
distance OF forty PAGES
Col. George W. Carter aud Mr.. 4. NJ Rea
S,,,.h we're .eieaed IA the sec,His of Judge
Cooley, Col. Rhett being represented by
Charles Roman, his brother.In law, ard la.
Brua., iorulerly ef Charleston, S. Z
THE COMBAT.
Taos. who viewed the combat from dis
ta;,ce -p-ak Of the ri,Ort space Of time 'Tcu-
pied - almost incredible. IL was commences,
ended, ard bleeding body was borne -or-
rowiui!y Away before they even realized the
terrible era in human experience they had
come To witne-s From the outset II bee ime
app.rent hist the details had been entrusted
to not only able but experienced men. The
weapon u.ed ty Col. Rhe,t, n Manton lam
mated steel double b,rreied gun, WAS loaded
by Mr.. Carson .undge, the ~ell-known gun.
smith. Col. tIeu. W. Carter performed that
task for Judge Cooley. Both took their Po-
sitions promptly, and without discussion.
After the firs' 6ie. Judge Cooley stepped
away from the line and seated himsrlf, but
hi. antagonist relnaiaed standing with his
hands folded. /, Rad been partially agreed,
We hear, that, should hirdsi,,t he exchanged
without injury being d"n~, an effort wonid
be made To adjust the difficulty. Alas! in
but a brief space Of time the matter WAS be-
yond all human adjustment. From we'll
known gentleman, VIII" wss present among
the spectators, we hear the following Maria
| ton of the tragic affair:
| STATEMENT OF An EYEWITNESS
Learning through a private telegram ad-
dressed TO me at Mississippi City, that the
duel was to take place, I concluded TO inter
cent the train, and, il po~ible, accompany
the rarty. With tins object ] left Mississippi
CITY on the morning train, and met the other
on hi. side OF the Ri.oi.,s, the nSu al meet
ing place.
The conductor Informed m" that MsSsTs.
Rhett aud T. ri.y, ~iih their friends. we're
on board, and a, once took passage NV
aelf, and accompanied them. l und Judge
Cooley seated in Il ch~s in the baggage car
with his coat off Iiis faot Was disabled
from a nail which grew into the d ssh OF hi.
toe. He appeared To b. most cheerful, and
was talking in his usual jocose veiu, ! thIuk
with Mr.. Victor Gerodias.
Col. Rhett was seated in one Of the pas
senyer coaches, conver-ing with gentleman
near him. lie seemed Iuiet and most self
possee-sed. bu: did not apparently have
great deal to say. The friends OF both gen-
tlemen-I u-e the word not in its technical
sense, but mean gentlemen friendly To each
we're scattered throughout the tram, but
nothing in the manner OF any OF them IN
dcat d that anything unusual was ah'f TO
occur From the general hearing OF the
misrepresentation there was not a great
number upon the irsin-I would suppose
them To have hen quite ignorant OF the
deadly mission, a. the sahieci did not reem
to he a subject Of conversation.
THE SCENE.
When the train stopped twelve or fifteen
persons descended. ! auI not personally &C
GRANTED with all. They seemed TO he
irierNis Of the two gentlemen, but majority
carue more in the capacity of Spectators. |
Upon their landing. it was intimaied qnietly
Nv one of the seconds that, according TO the
terms Ct the agreement, no one but those
Immediately interested should be admitted \
10 .he ground, a;d OF course in obedience to
this suggestion a mrSpri,y remained quietly
at the sta; ioH-lul-e.
The party b-orIsh, with thens IT,. sai,'re'i
servant, who carried two Gets Of double
bsrreli-d guns, the ammunition and other
accOn,rementa.
They mov-,i TO "A spot b.twsen 50 aad 100
wards .iis.snt irom the station, and about -
Yards to the right of the road, that il, on the
side reareai Mississippi Sound, which is
probab!y mil. and half away. The site
chosen i, an ordinary strip 81 piney woods
land, with little or no char.aieris'ica. Upon
q toss Judge Cooley w,n the word and choice
Of position.
And very shortly afterward Col Rhei, was |
placed nv His second with his back TO tine |
raiiroid, ami, a. seemed To me, near pine |
tree. Judge Cooley Was placed 40 yards |
ii-tant, with his hack t. the bay, AMI facing |
Col. Rhett Two az the seconds ih.n cecil |
pied portions facing each other, and 'gri
distant iatween the two cnnis II ,I,'-. Si.' cut
side the line Of Ere. The other seconds :".s !,
rositious near their principai-, but l wss 10
deeply interested in Watching the Others that
| dill nnt particularly ohaerve them
he two gentlemen sio'd gazing at each
other with the br-eches 81 their shp'-guns
drawn VIZ TO their shoulder, and the muzz:es
poin:ed to the grou-d. while DR.. Burns. in
clear ard andibte voice, read The articles OF
agreement which had been previously signed
nv t.e seconds. The doctor took rome lit
tie tine in explaining clearly VIVA, was re-
quirei of each, and seemingly w's very de
srous that no possible mistake should occur.
So excited did become, that | did not
catch tue e<act words used, blu! my impress
sion is the doctor cried,
"ARE YOU READYT' 'sIEs" "qsE, TWO.
THREE, HALT"
At tbs sorIs, "Are you ready" both
weapons vers slightly elevated; a. the word
"F.re," they we're brossi,. 'G . l'y.l, and
between the words 20 ,s" IN. ".fs.i," both
weapons we're discharged.
Judge Cooley, think, fired at the w,sd
'Oae," but Col Rhe.l's weapon was seem
ingly a li:,ie hard on the trigger, AMI VIA
disoaazgsl between the word, 'Oae" and
1.-TWO"
Neither parry b-iaS i..:. 10 friends o.
Col. Rhett demanded another sh0;, witch
vas promptly accorded. rni the seconds al
once reloaded the piece.
THE DEATH.
At tie second dis.i,sTse the same formula
vas repested, and b.: grns Sese sir:ulta-
neou-ly discharged. II
With convqlsiye Wru to the leit, Judge
Cooley eli. /,
The friends and speci ,tors, who, IN the
meantime, hsd remained at the sia.isn. nov
The seconds Of bo'h parties
publicly proclaimed the fact that everything 4
had been conducted in strict accordance I
With the terms Of the written agreement, i
and without any attempt at un'sirness on I
either side Ss;isI this, they shook hands I
and Parted. q
Ga behalf of Col. Rhett, MS se1C5Ss len
dered the seconds of Judge Cooley the use !
Of a carriage, but it was declined, and that {