New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-04-11

that there are rivers in Europe 80 large thal
the Mississippi is a mere rill. iguratively
| speaking" To this the enraged Creole re
piled: "Sir, l will never allow the Mississippi
to be insulted or disparaged in my presence
by an arrogant pretender to knowledge
This he accompanied with the tlirt of a
glove in the face of the Chevalier
A challenge was the consequence, &c
when we we're speaking of the prolific
crop of duels which had sprung from this
one dramatic article, come one remarked,
by the way, our friend, the Professor
TOmasi, has been wounded, as it is SUD
posed, MORALLY" We expressed due con-
Germ, but no surprise. A day or two after
wards, however, the Chevalier entered our
sanctum, wearing wha: the surgeons call
7 bandage about his face and jaw. He
wore quite ghostly aspect We manifested
due qualification at the favorable termina-
ton of the affair. oh" said he, "cest
rien; une eyroGgnure settlement" and
he stripped away the bandsge, to show
that the sword of his antagonist had
duly indicated the the dignity of the
Mississippi by passing entirely across the
mouth of the defamer from one cheek 70
the other. But" said the Chevalier, as he
replaced his bandage, II should have killed
my antagonist but for the miserable char
acter of your American steel. My sword,
sir, doubled like lead. Had it been genuine
colichcmarde he would have Jared properly
for having brutally outraged the sensibilities
Of a French gentleman" He here opened a
lecture on the carbOnzatiOn of iron, which
he affirmed, think, could nowhere be eff.
fected properly except with wood cut in a
certain forest of France. This lecture was
delivered with pain and contOrtion Of visage,
but no doubt gave him great relief, as all
his premises and deductions were accepted
without dispute.
T0masi, however, came nearer causing
my destruction than he had done that of
the Creole who skewered his jaws for him.
1t was at the beginning of the late war.
The Feder ais had fortified Ship island.
One Of our old citizens was obliged to see
person within the enemy's lines, and OBJ
tanned from General Bragg. the Confeder-
ate commander, permission and flag of
truce to visit the island. At his suggestion
and solicitation several of his friends, of
whom was one, accompanied him. How,
or in what category or capacity Tomasl had
joined the party, l never knew. He had
been for some days denouncing the
ignorance of our engineers and the want of
enterprise of our officers. He had demon.
strsted by infallible rules how that Island
up. They were too obtuse at headquarters to
appreciate this strategy. The truce beat
was approaching the federal fort with the
flag conspicuously displayed, when we saw
the defenses covered with men, and noted
officers bringing their glasses to bear on US.
As soon as we were within hail an officer
cried out: "You are under the guns of this
fort, and a capture. Anchor instantly, or
we will fire into you" We stopped the
boat instantly and made protest of the
violation of the usages of civilized warfare
in threatening to fire upon a truce. A
boat put off from the fort, and for a few
moments we were in precariOus condition.
When the officer came within speech be
called out: at is a violation of the right of
war. You have come out to find the plan
and condition Of this fort" We Indignantly
denied the charge The citizen endeayored
to explain his business and the visit of his
friends. This was with difficulty made in
telligib!e amid the escape of steam and the
"a, AZ IF Do 70
with the first broadside.
"YOu have come as sples," repeated the
federal officer. Look at that engineer on
your upper deck We turned, and to our
nexpressible indignation saw for the first
time the super scientific Tomasi. Under
shelter of the little pilot house he had
legged his apparatus for sketching. He had
his thedolito and his quadrant and his in.
,truments for laying down the bearings of
he fort, and was prepared for reconnois
ance of the country surroundings, fortiti.
'ations. bastions, barbettes, glaces, cur.
aims and tosse, nothing could have escaped |
he scientific research of the Chevalier.
4ieutenat Rensbaw shouted to him, Get !
lown from there you id Frenchman, or
III have you thrown overheard" "Seize
im,' he called to the mate and
lOt, land throw his ID drawings
nd traps overheard. This was lit
rally done to convince the federal
Ulcers that we had intended to take no
dvantage of the opportunity. The indig.
alton and disgust of the Chevalier at Sc.
t men who would not have their boat sunk
d the chance of obtaining such valuable
formation, was manifested by a resist.
nee of the most serious character. But
g were drifting under the guns of the
,rt, and besides had no idea of being out
WED from all the amenities of civilized
ar by such a misconception of our con-
uct. The apparatus of the professor, with
very scrap Of paper, went overheard, and
le federal officers, when informed of this
patriotism of the Chevalier,
ughed at the idea of the consequences
bich might have followed 1t.
think the Chevalier returned to France |
ION after this misadventure. and l have
sver heard of him since. 1t is possible he
as blown up by the Germans.
A Pet Lobster.
A journalist met with a strange pet the
her day when paying visit While he I
as talking he noticed something moving
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