Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1875-04-22
THE BLOODY CODE.
One cf its Heroes-Duel at
Four Feet How a Blower
was Bluffed.

W N"s S9uS'0 ~ VnS VI INC upper teha'O-
rial districts Of Mississippi, became invol>
we'd IN a personal affair with young Gun,
ningham, Of the famous fighting Canning
hams, Of South Carolina. Cunningham
was not p years Of age. lie was a small,
handsome youth, with long flaxen hair,
bright blue eyes, and very amiable, gen,
tie manners, but of most dauntless deter.
mination and cool courage.
Cunningham had challenged Duvall,
who had fought before, and was regarded
as an adept in the duello. Duyall, in a
spirit which was considered as bordering
on braggadociO, accepted the challenge,
bat prescribed the terms that they should
fight with pistols foul feet off. He evi.
IDENTITY miStook his man il he imagined
that such terms would be rejected by
Cunningham. The parties met opposite
Vicksburg. An immense concourse as
sembled to witness the affair. The boy.
ish Cunningham excited universal sympa.
thy, mingled with pity ana admiration,
when be appeared in the field. He look.
ed younger and more bOyish than he re-
ally was.
There was a serious design on the part
of the spectators TO interfere and prevent
the fight between q full-grown man and a
mere boy. But Cunningham and his
friends, by their determined conduct pre-.
vented all such interference. The parties
were soon stationed at their places, Just
four feet apart BY exac. Measurement
Cunningham fixed bis eye upon his antag>
OniSt with that peculiarly gentle smile
characteristic Of him. Duvall, though
doubtless a brave man, could not but feel
and manifest some nervousness on the
OCCASION as he had prescribed the peril.
Gus 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 at the word
"Ons.' Duvall fell, shot through The
heart. Cunningham stood coolly in bis
place unscathed. An involuntary 'hur>
rah" arose from the spectators at the
issue Of an affair which had enlisted their
feelings SO warmly in behalf Of the young
David Of this combat.
Cunningham was an amiable. pleasant
gentleman, aud rarely became involved
in quarrels. But on one occasion he dis.
played his characteristic determination in
a manner that gave great satisfaction to
the lookers>on. He was the second of a
young lawyer Of New Orleans, who went
out to give satisfaction to another young
lawyer, who had been iDsulted BY his
''earned BROTHER
In order to obtain the use of the duel.
ling pistols Of a certain notorious so-called
fighting mar in this city, who had a
great taste for such affairs, it was necessa>
~ to make the Bobadil with his pistols
as a sort Of supernumerary second. Ac>
cordingly, Cunningham, with his princi-
pal, and Bobadil and his "saw handles,
proceeded to the M.tairie Course, where
the parties were arranged.
The parties were stationed, the word
was given, and they fred without effect.
A parley was held, and the challenging
party declaring themselves satisfied, Gun.
niugham OF course for his friend acqui.
esced in the termination Of the affair.
Thereupon, Bobadil, who had been much
disappointed at the bloodless result, de.
clared that his pistols never before miss.
ed that this was mere child's play, and
that when parties did take the trouble to
come out to fight, he liked to see some
thing done.
WELL" responded Cunningham, "If
you are so anxious to see a little blood
shed will take great pleasure in accom-
~modating you; and in order to justify
you for shedding a little of my blood, |
take the liberty to say that l consider
you q coward and a black,guard."
Bobadil remarked that be didn't come
there to fight himself, but to see othels
fight, and SUNK from the field. He never
again went out" either as principal OF
second. Poor Cunningham died in New
Orleans in 1854, Of consumption ~. o.
Bulletin.
SNk nA--.-