The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1876-03-30
A Fight with Pistols and BOwies in a
Pit.

1t is now over thirty years ago since
one of the most remarkable, desperate,
and murderous duels that ever took
place in this or any other country was
fought at Vicksburg. One OF the parties
was formerly New York boy, who was
a graduate from one of the Wall Street
banks. After filling all the desks of that
institution with singular ability, from
collecting clerk up to the position of
first Teller, while still quite young man
he was appointed cashier of bank in
Vicksburg, which gave otfense, and
caused great jealousy among the senior
clerks of that institution, and they took
every opportunity to oppose and insult
him. This became so marked and I'M
bearable in its character that the Presi-
dent finally told the cashier that he
must resent it and that he would stand
bv him. He had occasion soon after to
give one of the tellers a specimen
of his skill in the art of self
defense. This resulted in a
challenge for q duel, which was accept
ed, and after three days of constant
pistol practice, resulted in the death of
the teller. He had numerous relatives
that, one after another, came forward
to avenge his death, until four duels
were forced upon the cashier from the
natural consequences of the first duel,
and "still there were more Richmends
in the field" A relative of the first
victim, an editor and successful duelist,
gave out threat that he was coming tC
town to avenge the death of his cousin
His great courage and desperate fight
ing qualities had been frequently sue.
cessfully tried, and were so well known
that something desperate must be done
to meet the emergency, and if possible
to stop any and all future challneges
The editor arrived in town, and LOST
no time in sending his message
which was promptly attended to
Early in the morning OF the
same day all the arrangements were
made for meeting at o'clock the mex
morning. After making some necessa
ry arrangements in case of death, the
cashier went to bed, and slept until 4
a. M, having all this time forgot the
almost worshipful love and devotion Of
his wife and only child, who were IL
profound ignorance of his desperate
enterprise. He silently kissed them; anC
then the husband and father stole away
to attend to the bloody business that he
deemed imperative, according to the
"cOde of honor'' and the loose morals
of the inhabitants of that vicinity. He
went forth with a firm determination
"to CONQUER or die!" On arriving at The
appointed rendezvous, he found a trench
dug six feet deep, two feet wide
and twelve feet long. In
to this double grave the
two principals descended, each armed
with six-shOoting navy revOlvers, anC
having bowie knifes with instructions tt
commence firing at the word, and ad
vance and finish the bloody work will
their knives, if the pistols failed to &C
complish it. At the first shot the edito
was mOrtally wounded. He drew hi
knife, and, with the ferocity of tiger
sprung forward at his opponent, jus
as he had fired his second shot. HI
warded off the blow with his pistol
which had a deep cut in it made by tn
heavy knife, showing what a desperat
blow had been aimed at his life, by hi
adversary, who fell dead at his feet
The cashiers mind was so much dis
eased that he could not attend to bust
ness, and by the advice of his physician
took vacation and change of scene
He came to this city and died in
lunatic asylum on the island a mont
after.-N Y. Commercial AdUertiSer.