The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-01-28
THE DUELL0 IN AMERICA.
RULES IND REGULATIONS rOR GEN
TIEMEN DESIRING TO EIGHT
The Modern Code Of Honor. with Annotr-
lions and Illustrations by an Experienced
Second of the District OF Coiumbia


" was judicial combat by which controver-
sizes both civil and criminal wcrc decided.
As It now exists. II IL we'll defined to be-
premcditatcd combat between two per
sons to settle private quarrel wherein the
parties are placed on n perfect equality by the
previous arrangement Of their friends. Other
wise il wonld be a rcncounter. or an assassina-
ton.
The following IL the form Of tho terms usual
among gentlemen under the code Of honor and
us followed in this District and ncighboring
counties OF Maryland and Virginia, with three
exceptions for the last forty or fifty years. One
Of tho exceptions was the meeting between
Graves and Cillcy. in 1888. which was with rifles
chosen by the challenger. Mr.. Cilley, a New
Englander and not objected to by the other
party. a Kentuckian. The duel ended fatally to
Mr.. Ciey. The other two also with rifles. were
affairs between mere youths-one. that between
Julian May and young man named Cochran.
the latter being fatally shot in the head: the
other very foolish affair. ending without dis
astcr TO either party:
The following rules and articles nrc agreed
upon to govern "A fight between - and -:
ARTICLE /. The meeting to take place at
- Mt the hour Of -"
A notion once prevailed that the party chal-
lengcd was authorized to name the time place
distance. and weapon. This vulgar error has
long since been exploded nor would man of
use such n right II he possessed IT, Tho time
must h. IA soon IA pra tcahlc. the place such
IA has ordinarily been used where the parties
the pistol. The details should be arranged 10y
the seconds 80 rs To put both parties IA far ns
! practicable. on perfect equality.
! 1.-THE challenged ms st upon what Is not usual
/ the point should not bc yielded. but tender in
writing SHOULD be- made of what il usual. and
! his adversary may post him Us Draggart and
| acoward. But II the challenger bo determined
/ 10 fight. and the challenger names n weapon not
usual and more fatal than the ordinary weapon.
! then the former has the undouhted right N
shorten the distance, ~ 70 name a still more
! deadly weapon and distance.
Art. q Weapons to be used smooth bore
pistols Of the usual duclling length"
! The only weapons lcgitimntcly recognized by
| the code since the date OF Fcarne's Dlazon OF
! Centric, A. ID. 1876, have been the sword and
thu, pistol. The sword. except among the creolcs
! this country; and way back IN the last century,
! In England and Ireland. when II constituted
/ lenger gave his honor that he was no swords
man. the challenger WAS compelled TO name
/ pistols. The pistols used must invariably be
ART. B. Distance ten raccs or thirty feet"
The usual distance Is from tn Ia twenty
/ par"s, a. may be- agreed ON by the seconds ani
/ in measuringthe grounl they usually step three
Art. T. The wind and sun to be equally di-
Ths best time to select for tho meoc,ine. in
/ oricrt9 have the sun equal. b. about sunrise or
-" Am. s. Pistols 10 be held perpendicular. the
mM11 either up OF down"
Tn" lighting position should be with tho
muD.e down. uni rss the parties are made to
stand ha'k % back. whe'l ant lire. when they
should h' permit d tn hold their muzlcs either
b up or down al their ciefion.
AYR. d tn word to =. siycn in a clear dis
tn't AMI loud tone. rs fnllaws Nrr You readN ,
fire. one. two. three. halt. at intervals of ono
tpnd each
ANT !. rh,s eiyiprs q ihc MI and The
coin the one winning may select rith"r. tut not
Tho second winning. when tho principals arr
tn" timo AMI tn" tone. IN which hr Will give the
word when they are nj liberty t. IRE. Tie prin-
/ c.pnls when once posted are not to quit their
pos ltons. under any circumstances. without
III leave or dirrrt ton Of their seconds.
Ant. : III" pistols To- be- loaded 10y the
seconds with powder and single ball in tho
presence Of each other.
ART .. Each party will be permitted tn have
on t'' .grouni surgeon and five or six
Any number of friends tha, tho seconds agree
within tho degrees IF 'un-auLu4nty prohibited
ny the r"Ir T." at g, 7"'ond- nan'iy. "a n.
| around ar To- Keep At "a distance from the prln-
girniS AMI "''u =, dni gre rafiuiS o. i.i-i IA
oW any - 10y wlr or behavior that might be
AM 49, The seconds 10 be- armed with pis-
IT,. ioaI Il th powder AN single ball.
TIA" -.'und- in ami mt comhat1 were called
- .kler-." from the white sticks which they
rarriri a- cmilem- pf thcIr duty b. see fair llny
ART. N. Tn s,a,n,l- 10 ~, permitted to ox-
am n" the person ami dress II each prin ipal
How Tar TINS right viii Doe ever 'is"d ~ len u
tho tn-t' and judgment nfthrresp tive SECONDS
TIA. right % examine the person ana dress Is
positive.
Hcncefor'h let poets ere allowed TO WRIT
DrYnrS
ART. f.. Ifeithor principal commences low n.
] In .sfp hf mis- al knfa ln ArI fir,
| or shall r" after the word halt. the second oi
his nndvcrsary may shoot him wn.
" W., the Undersigned se,pnd-. bind ourselves
10 enforce stri I complain - with the forrgo nI
ruiz. and articles. II being expressly under
tn tmr specified but the ndi-position Of On,
VI the parties. or the Interrogation ut the police
- for -
Tho Seconds should drill their principals T.
o-"rN" strictly ms article, for II a prin"iph
should violate il and hit his adversary. It woul,
lc the duty Oi has adversary second 10 shOo
In iii" duel between the Hon. VIM l.. Yaneo,
Of Alabama and thu Hon. Thomas l.. Clingmai
Of North Carolina. of the HOUSE of K'pr's nta
,iy-, In $50 NJ uaS;r OF S"np Garolin Il.
OF Washington city the second OF DIR. Clngman
ihe imporanre II haNinE H. pTh' ~ WI
prlnnphS hnd been posted IN thnir positions
Mr. Hugor. vino had won tn" giving of tn
word. commenced giving II .npd T. Az w.,
ri'S"t hi- pistol causing promIt ant prrrnl
tory HIATT 10 come from Mr.. .tAng!nan
second. After apology from Mr.. II le.r
D." again proceeded g. civ. tine word. hu th'
Interruption seemed t. di-'onrcrt both lam
and hi- principal; for, without again con-,
menring, Are YOU ready he save thr word
Fro at which Mr.. Clingman. who had re-
main'd perfectly cool, under ~ INSTRUCTIONS "
his second holding his pistol l"rpendicularll
mp. in accordance with the trrin~ agreed ON
hrsd missing his adversary, nut drawing las
fire. in the ground, cou-id"rlhy ont of limo
midway between the parties, "a" bullet after
iux dust and gravel upon the person Of Mr.
Chngman After the ilrcthr dlll'uiy WIS hon
orhhly adjusted.
II. after FIRE cithor party be touched. th'
, duel r. o. end. and no -cOoud Is "Ncusablc VII
permits % wounded friend 10 isli, nor Woul'
any s,coud who knows his duty permit hl
friend 10 ilght o. man already M.
When % gentleman believes Inns II insult n
, ne should -riet umnng his Appropriateness. fn
bis lri.n !. one ui sound Juigmeut aud uutar
n'-hrd honor. who. u h' ~. rcnS 10 rf, ~houl.
boo pit,.ii iu l,--'--iuu Of nll tl' ii ia uud cir
,'un-tluor~. and the Wh'l. matter i"it to hl
u len.nt and discretion. as h"i .'urs lilt eI~
iplinn IT tl,, honor OF his trlcul Who. hy obey
lNi- Aim. oannOt h' rnmptllulii"i,
Except IN H." very gr '-~ ~ and MOST nm 'om
promising cas- p "a chnllcngc, in ihr i.rt in
stance, should ncNor hr -eut. hui - Gould hr Pre-
,rlrl rs note. handed ly ilr" iiirnd. CON IN .,
n the language oi - gentleman, setting fortl
fairly and truly the Suulet-mail"ru i compln' nj
Nognutlrmun ought Ia cons, no tn d.t ;i~ ~''