River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1875-03-26
MISCELLANY.
THE CODE.
A Duel in Missouri i'm Early Times--
Two Shots and Then the Drinks
Were Set Up.

VIZ ShDtS anu hheh the DrtnAs
Were Set Up.
The Sedalia (Missouri) Bazoo relates
the following good story:
twenty years ago the dilapidated old
burgh Known as Georgetown was one of
the most thriving villages in Central Mis-
souri,. Ii contained as jolly set of souls
as ever lived, dways ready for fight,
fun or foot race. Taxes ;hen were about
one-tifth of one per cent, and good whis-
ky could be bought for thirty-fye cents
per gallon.
All the hard work was done by the ne.
groes, while the "white trash killed time
playing cards. hors racing, perpetrating
all kinds of practical Jokes, and drinking
the aforesaid cheap whisky. 1t was no
disgrace then to go on weeks spree, as
the best people in the country frequently
did.
Colonel Samuel A. Lowe, now Of St.
Louis, was then the County and Circuit
Clerk and ex.ofiicio Recorder. and even
then had time to spare, which he devoted
to the worship of Bacchus. Then, as
now, Sam was little insulting when in
his cups, and on one occasion insulted a
citizen of the place, a high-strung Virgin
ian, who now lives in Sedalia, and follows
the same business he was then engaged
in.
"The "F. F. "" pocketed the insult
for the time being, but it soon came his
turn to get drunk, and then he called
Samuel 10 account. Samuel wanted to
apologize, but this would not wipe out
the insult with the Virgiman. He want
II - - a.anrli,,o, ~ Ia or
honor. This gave a show for fun, and
the bystanders took San out and told
him he must accept the challenge. hut
he was not as bloodthirsty then as he has
been since getting command of regiment
of st. Louis MALTA, aud associating with
such dare-deyils as Joe Colcore.
He revolted at the very idea Of killing
man, and was more greatly moved at
the idea of being killed. After lengthy
conversation, and being assured il would
only end in fun, he agreed to accept, and
designated his second, a fine looking
young doctor, who now resides in st.
Louis and is engaged in the life insurance
business. "0ld Virginia" chose his friend.
and the terms were soon agreed upon.
The parties were to fight with the old
fashioned horse pistol, loaded with ball
were to meet at a point on Muddy Creek,
to be selected by the seconds. They were
TO place their backs together, and at
signal were to march eight steps to the
front and wheel and fire. Hour Of meet
ing, 10 O'Clock the morning after the ac-
ceptance.
The news was soon heralded over the
town of the coming duel, and all kinds of
speculations were made as to the result.
Ibis kind Of sport was something new
and pleasant, and the saloons did an ex-
ira amount of business that night. and
many beds were untouched by persons
who were afraid they would oyersleep
themselves and miss the sport.
At last the morning came, and the
whole of the male population were on the
Yui rive. The line of march was taken
up, and the procession wendell its way to-
ward the romantic spot known as Cedar
Bluff.
The Virginian had sobered off consid
erably, and began to relent Of his RASH
ness. Having arrived on the ground cho-
sen by the seconds, he readily agreed to
settle the difficulty with one Shot each.
Frequent libatiols were INDUCED in, and
both of the principals showed they
were the worse by liquor. The excite
ment ran at fever heat when the duelists
were placed in position, back to back, and
the eight PAGES were stepped off, The
seconds acted in the double capacity of
bottle holders, and each gave his man a
drink, when hands were shaken and fare
wells exchanged. The word, forward.
march y was given, when each OF the
principals marched directly to the front,
eight PAGES, and wheeled as the word
fire was given. Each man shot, but
not at his adversary, as there was an
eight-loot hill between them, the seconds
having chosen the top of ridge or back
bone, and each man had marched out of
sight of the other. The crowd were not
long in seeing the pint, when loud
hurrah went up, and the Virginian ''set
up many gallon of old rye over his
duel. The principals were the best of
friends before night, and went together
on jolly spree.