The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1875-09-23

lOTe udy DTcdh bne parties SidTleu LOT tue
bar in cushioned skiffs, propelled by ne
gro rowers.
The time was just before sunrise, and
as Kennett looked up and down the river
over in the magnificent view of the bluff
and wood and water, taking in the scene
with his ardent, sensuous nature. he
turned to Mitchell, the bluff old Indian
fighter, and said abruptly, after sweep
ing glance of the country:
"It is beautiful. Would you like to
be shot tO-day?'
"As well one day as another Why?''
was the curt answer.
at looks like tempting Providence
such a day as this" said Kennett, with
another glance at the gorgeous scene.
''It may be, but Providence is with
him who shoots first and pulls the
steadieSt trigger" and then there was
silence until the boats grated on the
sand-bar. The principals stepped out
jauntily, and stood aside while the
ground was selected and measured.
Reynolds was thirty-five, of medium
height and squarely built, without extra
flesh. He has grown stout and grizzled
since then. He was a South Carolinian,
and wore the favorite light gray of the
South. Brown was only thirty,a native
of Kentucky, sandy haired, and of
strong, nervous temperament. He wore
on this morning a full suit of black, but
toned TO the chin.
They were to fight with the regulation
dueling pistols, those long-barreled,
ominous-lOoking weapons, with the sin
gle word, London" sunk in the iron
weapons but seldom seen now. The
stocks were of mahogany, not polished,
and rounded, and liable to slip in a per-
spring hand, but shaped rs square as a
saw-handle. They carried ounce balls,
had hair triggers and double sights, and
in trained hands meant death four times
out of five The men were to fight face
to face, twelve PAGES apart. The drop
shot had been chosen. The pistols |
were to be held muzzle upward until the |
word was given, and then lowered and
fired.
The distance was measured, and Ken
nett flung up the silver half-dOllar, and
won the choice af position. He tossed
again and won the word. He was TO
call out ne-twO-three-l
stop" The principals were not to low
er their pistols before the word - fire, y
and not to shoot after the word - stop"
The pistols were loaded, and the men
took their places, Brown with the half |
sarcastic smile which he always wore |
The surgeons noiselessly opened their |
cases, and each looked at his man. |
Kennett called out:
Gentlemen, are you ready?"
"Ready," was the reply in the same |
breath.
Then from Kennett came the delib-
crate - Fire-One-''
At the first monosyllable Reynolds |
had lowered his weapon, and, while the
second word was on Kennett's lips, |
fired, Brown following the movement so |
close that the two sounds were hardly |
diStinguishable.
Reynolds stood like a statue, the
smoke curling up from his pistols
mouth. Brown staggered, shifted from
one leg to the other, while the lines of
his face Strengthened. Hudson stepped
up to Reynolds and said:
Brown is wounded in the groin"
'You are Mistaken" was Reynolds
reply. Il aimed at his knee"
So it was; the heavy ball had split the
bone of the right leg just below the knee,
and pool of blood was widening out
about Browns feet. Nevertheless the
Kentuckian stood his ground with COM
pressed lips, and demanded another fire.
The surgeons examined the wound and
forbade it. There was a brief cOnsulta-
ton between seconds, and Reynolds
walked over to Brown, who had been
forced to the ground by the pain, and
offered his hand. Itwas taken, explain
ations followed, and all was smOOthed
away Just as the steamer Editor-appro-
pirate name-came putting up the river.
The hail was answered and the whole
party taken on board. Brown was car
ried in blanket, and it was months be-
fore he left off his crutches. Even to-
day perceptible limp tells of the sever
ity of the wound.
Kennett says that Browns bullet
glanced by Reynolds breast; and had
not the latter fired so rapidly as he did
affecting his antagonists aim-he
must have received the ball squarely in
the chest. Both were splendid shots.
Just before his departure for Selma,
Reynolds went down to the Marine Hos
pital, and, with Colonel VIM. A. Linn,
in a little pistol practice. He
said to Linn that he intended to hit
Brown in the knee, and gave all his at
.ention to low aim. Linn demonstrated
with him and told him Brown was a SUI
pc riOr maTksman.
"Your life," he added, "may depend
On a fatal wound"
Reynolds replied: 81 am sure of my
luickness in firing, and were it other
wise, | would never consent to take
any mans life for mere political quar-
rel. If | can disturb Browns aim by
shooting him first it will be all | de
sire"
The two men have been firm friends
ever since this meeting. The war sepa-
rated them Reynolds, as Lieutenant
Governor, went into the Confederacy,
and finally, when the State had gone un-
Ter the control of the Federals, became
, diplomat at Richmond. Then he went
% Mexico with Shelby's expedition, to
return when Maximilian's fortunes went
Down and settle to law practice in st.
Louis. Brown remained with the win
hing side, and was by turns Legislator,
Colonel, Senator, Governor, and finally
he sharer with Greeley of the Inflated
Liberal movement
Iowa the State in Which to Find Use
fuIWiYeS.