The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1877-05-15
TANNING A DUELIsT,

o man who wished to join the ship, and,
after some consultation, said man was
received by the captain as sort of
steward, he having agreed to work for
his passage and board, and some slight
consideration besides. His name was
Joe Lattit, and he was regular speci-
men of the strolling Yankee; but he
dressed well, and was remarkably good
looking, though there was in his face a
peculiar look which indicated that he
preferred fun to sound sense, allowing,
however, that the fun had some in
It.
The moment placed my eyes upon
the man knew 1 had seen him before,
and when had an opportunity to speak
with him, found that he had been a
performer of legerdemain and ventrilo-
quism in the United States, and there l
had seen him He had travelled through
England, France and Spain, with his
implements of deception, and had just
brought up at Gibralter when our ship
came in. He brought his whole kit on
board in large chest, which he got per-
mission to stow away in the bread-room,
where it would keep perfectly dry. He
had quite pile of money, which he
placed in the purser's hand for safe
keeping, but he would tell none of us how
much. But he was liberal and open
hearted, and 1t was not long before the
crew blessed the hour that brought him
on board, for he was the very soul of wit
and humor.
AT length our ship went to Port
Mahon and here our Yankee tars were
at home. One pleasant morning party
of us went on shore, and Joe Lattit was
among our number. Joe was dressed in
perfect shore-going rig, and appeared a
gentleman of consequence. Near the
middle of the forenoon few of us en-
tered cafe, and the only occupant, be-
sides the keeper, was Spanish officer,
evidently an infantry captain, from his
dress. We called for wine, and had it
served upon a table next to the one at
which the officer sat, Joe seating him
self SO that his back came against the
back of the officer but he did not no.
tice when he sat down how close he
would be.
Our laugh and jest ran high, and just
as Joe said something more than usually
funny, he threw himself back, thereby
hit the Spaniard with such force as to
cause him to spill glass of wine upon
his bosom. The fellow leaped to his feet
and before Joe could beg pardon for his
unintentional mistake, he commenced a
torrent of oaths and invective, partly in
Spanish and partly in broken English.
His language was SO abusive that Joe's
temper was up in moment,and instead
of asking pardon, as he had intended,
he surveyed the raving man from head
to foot, and then said:
$50 on, sir. Your language is beauti-
full, very beautiful for gentleman"
4" All you call me no genteelman
eh ?" uttered the officer, in towering
passion.
If 1 were going to call you anything,
should call you jackass ~ calmly
and contemptuously returned Joe.
"Aha-a-ah ~ half growled the Span
lard, rolling his black eyes wildly and
furiously. "Now, by Santa Marie, you
shall answer for that. am genteel-
man! But you--you one leetle cursed
puppy Ah-a-ah Now you shall
fightP
Joe would have laughed the matter
off, but he saw that the captain was de-
termined to fight, and at length he re-
solved to accommodate him. The keeper
of the cafe called me on one side, and
informed me that the officer was Captain
Antonia Bizar, one of the most notori-
GUS duellists of the place; that he was
always quarrelsome when under the in
fiuence of liquor, and that his compan-
ions always left him alone, rather than
have fuss with him.
Not five minutes before you came
in, added the keeper, -four of his fel.
low-officers left him, because they saw
he was ripe for fuss. So you had bet
ter get your friend out"
pulled Joe away, and told him all
that had just been told me, but he only
smiled, and assured me that there was
nothing to fear. felt sure at once from
his very manner that he had some fun
in his head, and let him go. ~.
MY name is Joseph Lattit, sir; a
citizen of the United States, and Gen.
eral of the Order of Sublime Darkness u
said Joe pompously "Your name
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