Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1875-04-08
The Code.
A Duel in Missouri in Early Times
Two Shots and Then the
Drinks Were Set Up.

relates Tue lolIoWlhS Sood story:
+ Twenty years ago the diIapida
ted old burgh known as George
/ town was one of the most thirty
lug villages in Central Missouri
1t contained as jolly a set of souls
as ever lived, always ready for a
fight, fun or foot race. Taxes
then were about one-fifth of one
per cent, and good whisky
could be bought for thirty-fve
cents per gallon.
All the hard work was done
by the negroes,w while the "white
trash'' killed time playing cards,
horse racing, perpetrating all
kinds of practical jokes, and
drinking the aforesaid cheap
whisky. 1t was no disgrace
then to go on a weeks spree, as
the best people in the country
frequently did. ri
Colonel Samuel A. Lowe,
now Of st. Louis, was then the
County and Circuit Clerk and
ex-officio Recorder, and even
then had time to spare, which
he devoted to the worship of
Bacchus. Then, as now, Sam
was a little insulting when in
his cups, and on one occasion
insulted a citizen Of the place, a
high-strung Virginian, who
now lives in SedaIia, and fol-
lows the same business he was
then engaged in.
The f. f. V" pocketed the
insult for the time being, but it
soon came his time to get drunk,
and then he called Samuel to
account. Samuel wanted to
apologize, but this would not
wipe out the insult with the
Virginian. He wanted TO
settle it according to the code
of honor. This gave a show for
fun, and the bystanders took
Sam out and told him he must
accept the challenge. But he
was not as bloodthirsty then as
he has been since getting COM
mand of a regiment Of St. Louis
militia, and associating with
such dare-devils as Joe Colcord.
lie revolted at the very idea
Of killing a man, and was more
at the idea OF being killed. Af-
ter a lengthy conversation, and
being assured it 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 en-
gagged in The life insurance bu-
siness. "Old Virginia. chose
his friend, and the terms were
soon agreed upon. The parties
were to fight with the old fash
ioned 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 a signal were to march eight
steps to the front and wheel and
fire. Hour Of meeting, 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 specula-
tions were made as to the result.
This kind of sport was some
thing new and pleasant, and the
saloons did an extra amount of
business that night, and many
beds. were untouched by per-
sons who were afraid they would
oversleep themselves and miss
the sport.
At last the morning came, ,and
the whole Of the male population
were on the go,j ujge. The line
Of march was taken up, and the
procession wended its way to-
ward the romantic spot known
as Cedar Bluff.
The Virginian had sobered
off considerably, and began to
relent Of his rashness. Having
arrived on the ground chosen
by the seconds, he readily agreed
to settle the difficulty with one
shot each. Frequent libations
were indulged in, and both Of
the principals showed they were
the worse by liquor. The ex-
citement ran at fever heat when
the duelists were placed in po-
sition, 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
fareweils exchanged. The word,
"ForMard. marchr was Given,