Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1876-03-29
A DesDerafe Duel.

1t Is now over thirty years 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 Wallstreet
banks. After filling all of the desks of
that institution with singular ability,
from a collecting clerk up to the posi-
tion of first teller, while still quite a
young man be was appointed cashier Of
bank in Vicks burg, which gave offence
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 unbearable in its character that the
President finally told the cashier that
be must resent it, and that he would
stand by him. He had an occasion soon
after to give one of the ,ellers speci-
men of his skill in the art of self de-
fence. This resulted in challenge for
a duel, which was accepted and was
fought, after three days of constant pis-
tol practice, res ulting in the death of
the teller. He had numerous relatives
that one after an other came forward
10 avenge his death, until four duels
were forced upon the cashier from the
natural consequences of the first duel,
and "sti!l there we're more Richmonds
in the field" A relative of the first
victim-an editor and successful duel
list-gave out a threat that be was
coming to town to avenge the death Of
his cousin. His great courage and des-
perate fighting qualities had been fire.
queptly successfully tried, and we're SO
well known that something desperate
must be done to meet the emergency
and if possible to stop any and all fu-
ture challenges. The editor arrived
in town aud lost no time in sending his
message, which was as promptly res
ponded to. Early in the morning of
the same day ali of the arrangements
were made for meeting at SIX O'Clock
the next morning.
After making some necessary ar
rangemenrs in case of death, the cashier
went to bed and slept until four A. NJ,
having all this time forgot the almost
worshipful love and devotion ofhis wife
and only child, who were in profound
ignorance of his desperate enterprise.
He silently kissed them and then the
husband and father stole away to at
tend to the bloody business that be
deemed imperative, according to "the
code of honor" ard 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. Into this double
grave the two principals descended,
each armed with six-shooting navy re-
volyers, and having bowie knives, with
instruction to commence firing at the
word, and advance and finish the bloody
work with their knives if the pistols
failed to accomplish it. At the first
shot The editor was mo-taIly wounded.
He drew his knife, and with the feroci-
ty of tiger sprung forward at his op-
ponent just as he had fred his second
shot. He warded off the blow with his
pistol, which had deep cut in it made
by the heavy knife, showing what
desperate blow had been aimed at his
life BY his adversary, who fell dead at
his feet. The cashiers mind was so
much diseased that be could not attend
to business, and by the advice of his
physician took vacation and change
of scene. He came to New York and
died ina lunatIc asylum on the Island
. month after.