Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1873-06-26
Settling q Duelist.

The Conlpte de B., Colonel in
the line, distinguished for his gallantry
in the field, as well as for the length of
his service, was ordered to Martinique
with his regiment in the year 179S. At
that period the rage for dueling was
everywhere prevalent, but in no place.
more so than in the West India Islands,
where the civilian and the military man
alike endeavored to establish his reprl-
tat1on by the questionable test of an
affair" Among the officers quartered
in the garrison of st. Pierre was one,
Capt. c., whose delight consisted in
fighting or fomenting duels, and who
measured every mans character by the
number he had fought. He was a man
of brusque manners and arrogant bear
ing, but of undoubted, though misap-
piled, courage.
It happened one day that conversing
with Compile de B, the subject of
dueling came on the tapis, when the
Colonel observed, that although he had
seen much and various service, it had
never been his chance to be engaged in
a single affair. The words appeared to
act like wildfire on the mind of his in
fammable companion. "What p he
exclaimed" What you never had
cause for quarrel" ?" "Never r' re-
done, /" cried Capt. Ct, isvioia une r
and raising his hand, while his eyes
cleaned with ferocious pleasure, he
struck M. de B a violent blow on
the cheek. The latter eyed him for a
moment, nor attempted to return the
blow, then pointing significantly to his
sword, he left the spot.
The consequence was inevitable-the
preliminaries were arranged, and the
same evening the parties met. It was
decided to fight with small swords-in-
deed, dueling with pistols was rarely, if
ever, practiced in the French service.
ground, wearing upon his cheek patch
of black taffeta, as if to conceal the
place where he had received the injurious
blow. They were both expert swords
men, but the Colonel, though no duel
list, was perfect master of his weapon.
His antagonist was soon at his mercy,
but he contented himself with infiicting
a severe wound in his sword arm, and
having disabled him for the time, he
! took out pair of scissors, and, clipping
off corner of the patch, very coolly
observed, Z" C'eSt at,s 2oea q71ieaGr !' ct
| is little better.) As soon as Capt.
G. recovered from his wound, he re-
ceived second message from from M.
de B. and second meeting was the
consequence, attended by similar re-
suit. Again they met, and again, on
every occasion, the Colonel wounded his
adversary and clipped off. corner from
the taffeta on his cheek, accompanying
| the act with the same observation. For
the fifth time the Compile de B. in
vited his enemy to the field, and, with a
stern determination equal to the per-
severance which dogged him, Capt.
G. obeyed the summons. Their
swords crossed again, but the Colonels
aspect was changed. After few passes
he saw his advantage, availed himself OF
it in moment, and in the next his
sword had pierced Capt. G-'s heart,
who fell dead to the ground. The Colo
mel sheathed his weapon, turned around
to his friend and pulled off the remain
der of the patch. Then, glancing at the
dead body at his feet, he quietly OBJ
served, "Now it is cured"