The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-02-01
The TRIPLE DUEL.
a story Told of The O'Gormnn and 0nc "f
his Franks.

a story Told Of The O'Gorman md tnc "f
his Franks.
The OGorman Mahon, an Irish gen
tlemuii, blood relative of Marshal
McMahon, WIS member of Parliament
for Ennis, Ireland, and descended, like
the Marshal Duke of Magenta, from one
of the ancient kings Uf Hibcl1ia. The
O'Gorman Mahon lived in Paris with his
family, during portions of the reigus of
King Louis Philippe and the Emperor
Napoleon III. His cards read "The
O'Gorman Mahon." He caused his new
cards to be placed in the letter boxes of
each member of the club to which Re be-
longed. In the following week he visited
it mt about dinner time, and many mem
bers arose, shook hands, and snluted
him respectfully by his name Of rank.
Some of them, however, laughed at the
card of grammatical regal distinction.
O'Gorman was dead "pistol shot. "
Having selected three of the most promi-
nent members of the club, who had re-
fused to recognize his new distinction,
he slightly struck his glove across their
faces. OF course they forthwith chal-
lenged him, and he as quickly accepted.
OGorman insisted, by his second, upon
fighting them all on the following morn
ing, one after the other; the first at
nine o'clock, another at ten o'clock, and
third at eleven o'clock. The field
selected was at the end of n long lane in
the country leading to an orchard dell,
some distance from the farmhouse.
OGorman resolved, as he said. not to
kill, but simply to "wing" lis men,
like SO many birds, and he was sure to
,ln ~ and Hra f,rc4 Will, l,O ln;, 4,;,r,-,,
pistol.
He had arranged with his second and
surgeon to hire and to have three burial
hearses and horses ON the ground, with
collins and funeral pail, as for dead men,
and to be in place before the parties
arrived on the field. All were to walk
down the long lane, leaving their car
riages some distance from the field.
The three parties were to follow each
other, rs to the hour-neither before
nor after. OF course O'Gorman was
to continue on the field to fight the
triplets as they consecutively arrived.
The nine o'clock duel duly took place,
and O'Gorman did ewing his oppo-
nent, and was himself unharmed. There
upon the wounded man, having been
attended to by the surgeon. was placed
in the coffin and lifted up into the
hearse, the death pail over him, and
driven down the lane, and when about
half way, met. as was expected, the ten
O'Clock party. They all paused, and
piouslv raised their hats in respect to
the coflined body before them.
Driver, whose corpse is that, with no
, mourning coaches following?' they in
quired.
"Oh, by St. Patrick = the driver
replied, 4" it is the party No. l, whom
The O'Gorman has sent to his long
home. Maybe you ure party No. 2.
Good luck to you but you'll find your
hearse waiting for YOU"
On went the second party sorrowfully
to the field they fought, he was winged,
rs had been No. 1, and i'll like manner
he was coffined and hearsed as the former
dueliBt had been. When nearly out of
I the lane, No. 3, the eleven O'Clock, who
had already met No. hearse, now met
No. ,, with the second supposed dead
body.
"What! O'Gorman successful in both
duels 2"
eyes = responded the driver, "and,
if You do not admit him to be Thc
O'Gorman upon the field, you will re-
hearse the same tragedy at eleven
o'clock, ms the others did at nine and
ten \. n. Your hearse is waiting for
you %
This second dialogue caused the last
party to reflect before they reached the
field, and especially when they came in
sight of the third hearse, the coffin on
the ground, and the black pail waving
in the wind.
The seconds conyersed apology was
protfered. "To whom does my adver-
sary apologize ?" inquired the kingly
descendant, himself in stature IA m0n-
arch. 81 apologize to The O'Gorman
Mahon," was the response of the OPP
posing principal. 81 am satisfied" he
replied, "and here's my hand in amity.
was always attached to correct gram
mar when at college, and / will maintain
the definite article 'The' throughout
my life. A"
They returned to the club, before
which the hearses had been purposely
driven and delayed. The members not
desiring to be similar birds of passage.
tiocked around the victor, and with open
hand saluted him as "The O'Gorman
Mahon -