South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1876-01-07
Pistols for Two.

n SNtsfb tfstt Ast|tt A-tt0.
On the l2th day of june, 1868. I wit.
messed duel between Capt. Jones,
commanding a Federal scout. and Capt.
Fry. commanding rebel scout ia Greene
county, Tennessee. These two men had
been hghting each other for six months, /
With the fortunes OF battle in the favor
OF one and then the other. Their COM
Inands were encampcd ON either side OF
Lick creek, q large and sluggish stream,
too deep 10 ford and too shallow for a
ferry boat; but there . bridge spanned
the stream FOR the convenience OF the
travelling publics ESeI of them guard
ell this bridge. that communication
should 20 neither north o. south, rs the
railroad track had been broken M
months belorc.
Alter lighting each other for several
months, and contesting tho point rs TO
which should hold the bridge, they n
! greed 20 Fight ducl, the ccnqueror 10
hold the bridge undisputed for the time
( being. Jones gave the challenge and
Fry accepted. The terms were they
1 should tight with navy pistols at twenty
yards apart, deliberately walking TO-
ward each other, and firing until the last
chamber OF their pistols were disehaIg-
ed unless one or tie other fell before all
/ the discharges were made. They chose
their seconds, and agreed upon reiel
surgeon gas he was the only one in ci-
Their command) TO attend them in case
o. DANCE.
Jones was certainly fine looking fell
low, with light hair and blue eyes, FIVE
feet ten inches in height, looking every
inch the military chlellain. lie was a
man that soldiers would admire aud "a
dies regarded with admiration. Inever
saw man moro cool, determined and
heroic under such circumstances.
have read Of the deeds of chivalry and
knight errantry in the middle ares, aud
OF brave mcn enbalmel in modern pee
sy; but, when | saw tLis man Jones
come TO the duelists' scratch. hghiiug,
not for teal or supposed wrongs 10 him
self, bat, as &c honestly thoeght for his
country and the glory oil the flag, could
not help adiniring the man, notwitl-
standing that lie fought for the freedom
OF the negro 20 which was opposed
Fry was man full six feet high, slcn.
der, with long wavy and curling hair,
black jet eyes, wearing souch hat and
looking rather the denion than The man.
There WAS nothing ferocious about him
but he had that selcsnfiicient noncha-
lance that said, Il will kill you" With
out doubt lie was brave, cool and col.
lected. and, although suffering from a
terrible fesli wound in his left arm, re-
ccived week before, lie mani'e sted no
symptoms Of distress, but seemed ready
for the fight.
The ground was stepped Off by the
seconds, pistols loaded and exchanged.
and the principals brought face TO face.
| shall never force that meeting. Jones.
in his military, boyish mood, as they
shook hands, remarked that
a soldier hrHves deaih for fontilal wreath,
hen 10 eloiy's 'omaolic tsrerr,
! Fry caueit up the restoftbe sentence,
] and answered by saying:
Ye, lie tends OR the foe When in battle laid low
Aud battles ese'y woand Wiih tear.
They turned around and walked back
| 10 the point designated. Jones's second
had The word Fire" and, rs he slowly
( said. "Onc-two-thIce-fre." they ,i.
simultaneously tarncd at the word One
ana instantly fred. Neither was hurs.
They cooked their pistols and delibe-
rately walked toward each other firing
! rs they went. At the fifth shot Jones
! threw up his right hand. and firing his
pistol in the air. sank down.
Fry was IN the act Of firing Ills last
shot; bat seeing Jones fall silently low
cred his pistol, dropped it 10 the ground
+ and sprang TO Joncs's side, taking bis
head in his lap as he sat down and ask
ed him If he was hurt.
! | discovered that Jones was shot
/ through the stomach, the bullet glanciBg
/ around that organ end coming out 20
/ the left OF tho spinal column: besides.
+ he had received three other fFightful
/ flesh wounds in o.her portions Of his DO.
! dy. l dressed his wOun's and gave him
such stinulant9 IS ! had. He after.
wards got we'll.
/ Fry received three wounds-oLe break.
+ iG2 his ie:t arm. one IN The LETT and the
other in the ri.ht side. After months
Of suffering he got we'll Neither OF
them asked for . ola. barge. but both re.
sumed their commands when they GOT
well and fought tbc war ont 90 the BIZ
Ter end and today are pa tners in
wholesale grocery business down Sorth
doing good business and verifying the
sentiment Of Byron that ~ soldier
braves death" etc. otc.
Trusting that ihe above truthful mar.
ra.iye viii be lesson TO some people of
North and South that stayed on the ont.
side and yelled "Scek dogw and are
still not satisfied with The result of the
war, let the subscribe myself recon.
sIructed CoSFEDfEArE SURGEON.
The Blessed Ones.