The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1875-07-20
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OLD-TIME DUELING.
The Code OF Honor In louisiana
A Contest TO the Death. fs4

The Code OF Honor In louisiana
A Contest TO the Death. ST
from the New Orleans Bulletin
In the winter of 1887 very extraor-
binary fight occurred on the floor Of the
House of Representatives of louisiana,
then in session.. The cause Of the affair
wasalways wrapped in mystery. lAlcee
La Branche,a popular Creole planter, was
Speaker of the House, of which Colonel
sJAhn r, Grymes, was distinguished
niember. - q : = = q = =
One day, just as the Speaker ascended
the desk and was about to call the House
to order, Col. Grymes stalked down the
main aisle in front of the Speakers chair,
having a brace Of dragoon pistols in his
hand, and approaching the Speaker, aim
ed one of the pistols at him and fred
The ball grazed the Speakers head. He
quickly drew pocket pistol and fired at
Col. Grymes, but without effect. The
Speake. then retired, Col. -Grymes pur-
suing him into the street, where several
ladies who were promenading Canal
street passed between the combatants =
They weps separated, and the affair here
ended. - i.''
Grymes was arraigned before the
House for violating its privileges, and his
course indicated bitter spirit, and, as
was believed, with bitter determination
to cause a personal difficulty, in order to
attract attention and secure a liberal pat.
ronage from the party.fo which he was
laboring with such vigor and earnest.
ness. In the contest for Congress in the
fall of 1874, the Democrats had as their
candidate in the Fourth District General
Bossier, who, few years before, had kill
ed distinguished Whig leader, General
Gaiennie, in duel with rifles, and in the
Second District, Mr. Alcese1a Branche,
formerly Speaker of the House of Rep
resentatives.a and subsequently first Charge
from the United States to the Republic
Of Texas.
Mr. Huston, editor of the Baton Rouge
Gazette, noticing the candidates in a very
sarcastic and bitter article, referred tc
the personal affair Of Mr.. Bossier and
La Branche as displaying very opposite
qualities In these gentlemen, the one be
ing selected for his prowess in battle
the other for his skill and agility in re-
treat.
Mr.. La Branches attention was called
to the article,and he was about to set of
for Baton Rouge to call Huston to re-
sponsibility, when he learned that Huston
was then in the city,a the St. James Ho
tel. Accompanied by two Creole friends
he proceeded to the hotel, and hearing
that Huston was in the billiard saleon,A
entered that room, being directed to {
small man, who was playing billiards, as
Mr.. Huston.
La Branche walked up to him and in
quired if he was Mr.. Huston of the Ba
ton Rouge Gazette He answered, "Yes
SIR" "'Then," was the rejoinder, 81 an
Alcee La Branche, whom you have gross
lily slandered." At the same time h,
raised his cane and struck Huston seve
raj severe blows on the head which stun
ned him, and he fell on the floor. Hus
ton was badly injured, and several day.
elapsed before he was in condition tt
consider the steps to be taken in tn
case
As soon, however, as he felt sufficient
ly strong he sent for his friends and dis
patched a challenge to La Branche, VIII,
Immediately accepted itchoosing doubl
barreled shot-guns, to be loaded viii
balls, as the weapons, at the distance o
forty PAGES Huston, ,recklessly impatien
for the combat, accepted the terms, ant
before he had recovered from the effect
of the blows he had received from. L
Branche, rode out with his friends to tn
GENTLY Ridge, where more than the usua
number of friends Of both parties wer
assembled. s he Tef .6Eas
| The guns were loaded and The partie
placed in position. At the first fire bot
missed. 1t was evident, however, tha
La Brancae handled his piece with NOR
lquickness and steadiness. There was
parley between fires. Neither principal
nor seconds manifested or felt the slight
est desire for reconciliation or settle
ment 1t was duel to the DEATH
Huston, the northern born and educate,
man, was as determined as the fiery Gre
|ole. Several times did they fire withou
effect. 5t s4set
Their impatience to destroy one an
other, rendered the aim uncertain. A
last, at the sixth fire, La Branches bal
passed through the hat of Huston, pre-
ducing slight abrasion of the skin an
causing the blood to trickle down hi
cheek "Another pop" cried Hustor
fearful that his seconds might here inter
lrupt the combat They took their stan
again for the last time. 1t was quit
noticeable that La Branche had got th
range, and general presentiment wa
felt that he would make finish at th
| next fire. ce e
! The word was given. Huston fire
first, La Brsnche more slowly and steat
lily and, alas fatally. Huston staggere
and fell. In a second he was in the arm
Iof that eminent surgeon, DR.. Ware
lStone, who detected at a glance the Il
cality and character of the wound, an
placing his hand upon the naked breas
from which he tore the Shirt th
gushing torrent of the life-ebbing Gu
, rent. ~-------
He saw that the wound was mortal
He was already insensible and gaspin'
, The ball had passed directly through h
lungs. Huston was borne to carriae
in which he was supported on the knt
of DR.. Stone and one of his friends
|, Long before the carriage reached the Gil
he had breathed his last, without VOL
; escaping his lips,
Mr.. Tennyson, or his publisher, r
!, ceiyes the handsome sum of $4,000
t $4,000 annually from composers WI
i make business of setting the laureate
> poems to music The charge for pc
5 mission to set a poem has been fixed
. s25, and the applications average two {
three a day. ss.s+ ..,.s,}
. Sherman says he doesn't believe tn
: Grant was ever drunk while there W
any fighting to be done. This is prob