The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1875-07-15
O1d.Time Dueling in Louisiana.

fight occurred on the floor of the House ol
Representatives of Louisiana, then in session
The cause of the affair was always wrapped in
mystery. Alcee La Branche, popular Creole
planter, was Speaker of the House, of which
Col. John R. Grymes was q distinguished mem
ber
One day, Just as the Speaker assembled the
desk and was about to call the House to order,
Col. Grymes stalked down the main isle in
front of the Speakers chair, having brace OF
dragoon pistols in his hand, and approaching
the Speaker, aimed one of the pistols at him
and fred. The ball grazed the Speakers head.
He quickly drew q pocket pistol and fired at
Col. Grymes, but without effect. The Speaker
then retired, Col. Grymes pursuing him into
the street, where several ladies who were prom
enading Canal street passed between the COM
batants. They were separated, and the affair
here ended.
Grymes was arraigned before the House for
violating its privileges, and his course indicated
bitter spirit and, as was believed, with bit
ter determination to cause personal difficulty,
in order to attract attention and secure lib
eral patronage from the party for which he
was laboring with such vigor and earnestness.
In the contest for Congress in the fall of 1874,
the Democrats had as their candidate in the
Fourth District, Gen. Bossier, who, a few years
before, had killed distinguished Wing leader,
Gen. Gaiennie, in duel with rifles, and in the
Second District, Mr.. Alcee La Branche, form
erly Speaker of the House of Representatives,
and subsequently first Charge from the United
States to the Republic of Texas.
MIR. Huston, editor Of the Baton Rouge Ga
zette, noticing the candidates in very sarcas-
tic and bitter article, referred to the personal
affair of Mr.. Bossier and La Branche as dis
playing very opposite qualities in these gentle
men, the one being selected for his powers IN
battle, the other for his skill and agility in
retreat.
MIR. La Branches attention was called to the
article, and he was about to set off for Baton
Rouge to call Huston to responsibility, when
he learned that he was then in the city, at the
St. James Hotel. Accompanied by two Creole
friends, he proceeded to the hotel, and hearing
that Huston was in the billiard saloon, he
man, who was playing billiards, as Mr.. Hus'
ton.
Mr. La Branche walked up to him and in
quired if he was Mr.. Huston, of the Baton
Rouge Advocate. He answer eyes, sir."-
s'Then, sir" was the rejoinder, II am Alcee La
Branche, whom you have grossly slandered." !"
At the same time he raised his cane and struck
Huston several severe blows on the head, which
stunned him, and he fell on the floor. Huston
was badly injured, and several days elapsed
before he was in a condition to consider the
steps to be taken in the case.
As soon, however, as he felt sufficiently
strong, he sent for his friends and dispatched
a challenge to La Branche, who Immediately
accepted it, choosing double -barrelled shot
guns, to be loaded with balls, as the weapons,
at the distance of forty PAGES. Huston, reck-
lessly impatient for the combat, accepted the
terms, and before he had recovered from the
effect of the blows he had received from La
Branche, rode out with his friend to the Gen
tilly ridge, where more than the usual number
of friends of both parties were assembled.
The guns were loaded and the parties placed
in position. At the first fire both missed. 1t
was evident, however, that La Branche han
died his piece with more quickness and steadi-
ness. There was a parley between fres.-
Neither principals nor seconds manifested or
felt the slightest desire for reconciliation or
settlement. 1t was duel to the death. Hus
ton, the Northern born and educated man, was
as determined as the fiery Creole. Several
times did they fire without effect.
Their impatence to destroy one another rem
dered the aim uncertain. At last, at the sixth
fire, La Branches ball passed through the hat
of Huston, producing a slight abrasion of the
skin, and causing the blood to trickle down his
cheek. another pop" cried Huston, fearful
that his seconds here might interrupt the COM
bat. They took their stand again for the last
time. 1t was quite noticeable, that La Branche
had got the range, and a general presentment
was felt that he would make q finish at the
next fire.
The word was given. Huston fired first, La
Branche more slowly and steadily, and, alas,
fatally. Huston staggered aud fell. In Sec
ond he was in the arms of that eminent surgeon,
DIR. Warren Stone, who detected at q glance
the locality and the character of the wound,
and placing his hand upon the naked breast,
from which he tore the shirt, arrested the gush-
ing torrent of the life-ebbing current.
He saw that the wound was mortal. He
was already insensible and gasping. The ball
had passed directly through his lungs. Hus-
ton was borne to carriage, in which he was
supported on the knee of DR.. Stone and one of
his friends. Long before the carriage reached
the city he had brcathed his last, without a
word escaping his lips.-Mcao Orleans Bulletin.
IT. Wy q