The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-03-17
PLUCK.
4 Duel at Four Feet.

| In 1887 Col Duvall candidate fo- the
Senate, in one Of the Upper Senatorial Dis
tflcts Of Mississippi, became involved in a per-
sonal atflir with young Cunningham, Of the
famous fighting Cunnninghams, Of South
Carolina. Cunningham was not tEenty-cne
He was small, handsome youth, with long
tisxen hair bright blue eyes, and very amia-
bic, gentle manners, but of most dauntless
determination and cool courage.
Cunningham had challenged Duvall. who
had fought before, and was regarded as an
adept in the duello. Duvnll, in spirit which
was consi .ered as bordering on braggadacio,
accepted the challenge, but prescribed the
| terms that they should fight with pistols four
feet Off He evidently nistook his man if he
imagined that such terms would be rejected
by Cunningham. The parties met opposite
Vicksburg. An immense concourse Assem-
bled to witness the affair. The boyi.h Gun
ningham excited universal sympathy mingled
with pity and admiration, when he appeared
in tie 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 M N and mere
boy But Cunningham and his friends, by
their determined conduct, prevented all such
interference. The parties were soon stationed
at their places, just four feet apart, by exact
measurement Cunningham fixed his eye
upon his antagonist with that peculiarly gen
tie smile Characteristic of him. Duvlll,
though doubtless a brave man, could not but
feel and manifest some nervousness 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 parties
declaring they were ready, the word was
given, and both fired a. the word one" Du-
vail fell sho. through the heart. Cunningham
stood coolly in his place unsca.hed An invol-
untary "hurrah arose from the spectators at
the issue of an affair which had enlisted their
feelicgs SO warmly in behalf of this young Da-
vid of this combtt
Cunningham was an amiable, pleasant gen
tleman, and rarely became involved in quar-
rels. Bat on one occasion he displayed his
determination ii manner that
gave great satisfaction to tle lockers on. He /
was the second of a young LAWYER Of New Or
leans, who went cut to give satisfaction 10 an
other young lawyer, who had been insulted
by bis learned brother"
In order to abtln tie use Of The dualIinc /
pistols Of rtail notoripus so-c1lled fight
ing man IN the city, who lIai great taste t3r .
such affairs, 1T was necessary = take the |
BobaaIl vi Il his pistols As = sort Of supernu-
merary second. Accordingly Cunning ham
with his principal, ANA Bobh2il and his ''saw
handles. proceeded . the Metlirie course,
where the meeting VAS arranged.
The parties were stationed, the word was
given and they fired without etfzct A parley
was held, and the challenging party declaring
themselves satisfied, Cunningham of course
for his friends acquiesced in the termina-
ton Of the atf.ir. Ihereupon Bobadi, who
had been much disappointed a. the bloodlass
mi ssed; that this was mere chld's play and
that when parties dill take trouble TO come
out to fight, he liked to see something done.
"Wel, responded Cunningham, .'if you are
so anxious to see little blood shed will
take great pleasure in accommodating you,
and in order to justify you for shedding
little of my blood, l take the liberty to say
that | consider you coward and black
guard"
Bobadil remarked that he didn't come there
to fight himself, but to see o hers fight, skunk
from the field. He never again went out,
either as principal or second. Poor Cunning
ham died in New Orleans in 1851, Of con-
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