The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-03-04
A MIssIssIPPI DUEL.

FfoT1 Hf Eh11fgo IFI1trN
During the winter of 1876 I was stopping

During the winter OF 1876 was stopping
in yicksburg Mississippi. Early one morning
report was circulated through tho town that
duel was 10 be fought on the other side OF the
river. which IL in the State of Louisiana. and in
which vicinity. ut that time. no one lived Fol-
LOWING the example of others. obtained Il pms
sage in small row boat and went over. The
bpntin' N did u lively business that day some
parsons estimated the number OF men and boys
thHt were present. and who Witnessed the duel,
IA hlgh Us three thousand. On landing Joined
2 group Of persons. among whom WINS one
dressed in whitj suit. cut in military style.
lie was apparently about twenty two years oi
age. was about five foet in height. and weighed
about ono hundred pounds. He was hnnd-
some litLe gentleman and WIS surrounded by
friends soon learned that hc was one ol Tie
Two VINO were to exchange rille shots at thlrty
strps that his name was Menafec Ia brother OF
DICK Menafcc. n member OF Congress- from
kentucky, much noted for his eloquenccl. and
Nlcksburg mer liant OF high Standing. The
white suit. learned. was chosen because II was
thought TO be- not as cHsy to draw bead on
white rs on dark color. The bosom Of his coat
peared to be II lutte nervous, and took a little
brandy now and then. possibly TO quiet his
nIr in b or itoTtIy his Go%rs wo men wore aeon
coming W the bank Of the river. They proved
10 bc tol McClgrS a lawyer of ia kson,, Miss.
anu his second McClurg had acquired some
nMorrty as a ducllist. having. as report said,
already killed his NTH man. He WIS u kcntuck-
Ian ny oIrth and education 9s a,so was ms o Ior
IOn'nt. M'nniee. lie VIVA about ton years older
than the latter. and in appearance he very much
rcscmbed Abraham l. nco!n, though he was
not quite as large man. lie soon aiterward
u qu red notoriety for bravery during tho war
with Mexico. He volunteered and led the for
lorn hope at the storming Of tho Bishops Palace
a. Montcrey. AMI after the w WAS snni ~ Pros
idcnt Taylor IA NJ mister 10 BraziL On his re-
turn homo from there he died. ! read in anews-
paper n short time afterward that he said be-
lore he died that he had hut ono desire TO 1.-Two
- satisfy, and tuut WIS to fight duel with jon.
DAVIS. lle said that he had ,chall'ng him
tt nj To- AZ h u md xsfttIl Al
bring trouble on this country some LAY II no
hy.d-whch has. rs W. all know. proved true
tails" awhile Tor positions and who should give
The word, g., stopped of the distance-thirty
yards PLACED thor men facing ca,h Other
Mouth Of them speaking 10 tho ottrr. Nc
Cltrg took from his pocket large bowie knife
and horse pstol-therc were no siN-shooters
made at that timc-nnd gave them IN his Soc
ond; he then unbuiioncd his vest and shirt.
anu showed TO his opponent that there was
! thing to prevent his bullet from m entrance
AMPLE Tho rif 'swrre now handed to the prin-
cilals by their seconds. One of the seconds
took position half way between the duclsts.
and ahuutw twelve foot out Of the direct line in
viii II the deadly balls were expected TO pass,
lle then said; Gentlemen, are you ready,y'
then said wi " one ty az" nrs stop Al the word
" two" Mennicc fired. think VI Clur< did not
hrr. a. heard bu, on report, and siw the Int,
him and sny tn his seron /: Damn you. you
didn't 'ock il right The second probably had
II
No ono being damaged. preparation won't on
Tor another round. and ~ about thirty minutes
t'y took their pos itions agJiin the second said
n befure, One. two fire, stopl" Al tho word
two" Menaiec. after the report. roel"d part
way round and fell bring wounded in the head
Hundreds Immediately surrounded the pros
tfat~ man.
M'Cure TO NIL appearance was perfectly cool
| went to whore he WIS Standing In about i've
minutes. His second cam" running from whore
Menaier lay, and said Ia him, " You have He'd
HIM McSlurg then sad, Give me my pistol
AMI hoWie knife. and. damn them. let them come
on evidently expecting To- b" mohhed hy ma
fees friends. ] was told aiterwHrd 10y ON" who
WAS there that brother OF Nenafec's did start
b. 20 to VI Clurg. hut was stopped 10y a friend.
who told him that his brother had beco-ie
cons and said would fight again A. soon
days. McCiurg and his friend left the ground
McCiurs. Who had received beating with n
billiard cue from NJ 'nnt'e. was the challenging
party; NHnpfHo 'r.pted the challenge. HuV-
in- the right TO ehno~c The pln'e ~ meeting and
arms 40 i;tt. also the distance. M.nal-e chose
stops. Il wits sand thrt he hat prit ls"d with
his rlNf uu'll he could hat silver dollar nj
every shot. H. Hid not shoot in the se.ond en-
WIS not discouraged. Had II boon. undoubtedly
suuc of tho spectators would have been wound
81 or klled. AS there wac Il wall Of men several
tiers deep on each side. and not more than
thirty feet from the direct lin" OF the bullet y
pa-sasc and what few trees there were close
nruund were also full Of spc Tutors.
The ShprlH OF tho county was present but did
not make any attompt e. prevent the duel from
taking place. He was. however. prompt in
doing his duty e. prevent lilunr heing sold on
over the rivera quantity for sale w.s prevented
n I'm selling H.. uni'ss hr would pay To- the
ShrrIn 80. that he4u.. the prir" for "a u .'u-o
This WIS the IN II and last duel ever witness
ed. ] could scarcely rrali1e that which | saw
was reality. WAS d.sSusted al the sight, and
resolved that never would see another