The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1875-03-31
Pluck.
a Du-I AT FoHr rect.

+ From the y. o. Bulletin.l
i Ia 1887 Col Duvall, a candidate for
the Senate in one of the Upper Senatorial
Districts Of Mississippi, became involved
in a personal affair with young Cunning
ham, of the famous fighting Cunning
hams, of South Carolina. Cunningham
was not twenty-one He was a small,
handsome youth, with long haxen hair,
bright blue eyes, and very amiable, gen
tie manners, but of most dauntless de-
termination and cool courage.
Cunningham had challenged Duvall,
who had fought before, and was regarded
as AN adept in the duello. Duvall, in
spirit which was considered as bordering
on braggadocio, accepted the challenge,
but prescribed the terms that they should
Sight with pistols four feet oil. He evil
IDENTIFY mistook his man, if he imagined
that such terms would be rejected by
Cunningham. The parties met opposite
VIcksburg. An immense coneourse as
sembled to witness the affair. The boy
ish Cunningham excited universal sym
pathy, mingled with pity and admiration,
when he appeared on the field He
looked younger and more boyish than he
really was
There was serious design on the part
of the spectators TO interfere and prevent
the fight between full grown man and
a mere boy. But Cunningham and his
friends by their determined conduct,
prevented all such interference. The par
ties were soon stationed at their places,
just four feet apart by exact measure
ment. Cunningham fixed his eve upon
his antagonist with that peculiarly gentle
smile characteristic of him. Duvall, /
though doubtless brave man, could not
but feel and manifest some nervous ness
on the occasion, as he had prescribed the
perilous and desperate terms on which
the combat was to be determined.
Attention" was called, and the par
ties declaring they were ready" the
word was given, and both fired at the
word "one;" Duvall fell, shot through
the heart. Cunningham stood coolly in
his place unscathed. An involuntary
"hurrah" arose from the spectators Mt
the issue of an affair which hal enlisted
their feelings so warmly in behalf of this
young David of this combat
Cunningham was an amiable, pleasant
gentleman, and rarely became involved
in quarrels. But on one occasion he dis
played his characteristic determination
in manner that gave great satisfaction
to the loo1ers-on. He was the second of
young lawyer of New Orleans, who
went out to give satisfaction to another
young lawyer who had been insulted by
his 'learned brother"
In order to obtain the use of the duel
ling pistols of certain notorious so-called
fighting man in the city, who had great
taste for such affairs, it was necessary to
take the Bobadil with his pistols as
sort of supernumerary second. Accord
ingly Cunningham, with his principal,
and Bobadil and his ''saw handles" pro-
ceeded to the Metairie Course, where the
meeting was arranged.
The parties were stationed, the word
was given and they fired without effect /
A parley was held, and the challenging
party declaring themselves satisfied, Cum
ningham of course for his friend acqu-
esced in the determination of the affair.
Bobadil, who had been much !
disappointed at the bloodless result, de-
clared that his pistols never before missed;
that this was mere child's play, and that
when parties did take trouble to come
out to fight, he liked to see something
done.
"Well, responded Cunningham, eff
you are so anxious to see little blood |
shed will take great pleasure in accom-
you; and in order to justify |
you for shedding little of my blood. |
take the liberty to say that | consider you
a coward and blackguard.
Bobadil remarked that he didn't come |
there to fight himself, but to see others
fight, and SUNK from the field. He never
again event out" either as principal or
second. Poor Cunningham died in New
Orleans in 1854, of consumption.