Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1878-01-25

There is one figure that stands out re-
freshingly cool and unique during these
troublous times. This was John M.
Dooly, the man who announced that he
would not fight under any circum-
stances. He was probably the most
brilliant man produced in that era, pro-
life of giants. He was the peer of Craw-
ford on any field, and his superior in the
legal forum. His abilities were trans
cendent, and his failure TO make ma
tional reputation arose doubtless from
no other cause than his refusal to fight
on any and all occasions. A non-com-
batant could not hold his head up in
those turbulent times. Dooly had the
most delicious humor, and sharp
tongue withal. He was continually get
ting into trouble because of his satirical
sayings He was perfectly fearless of
speech. Judge Gresham once threat
ened to chastise him. Dooly replied.
You can do it if you like. You will
get no credit for il, however. Anybody
can do 1t, and great many have done
it," He was once knocked down by a
gentleman that he had introduced as
the inferior Judge of an inferior court
of the inferior county of Lincoln. He
called Justify on the spectators for
help, and, when rescued from his an
tagonist, rubbed his head and re-
marked, drylv: "Well, that is the forty
second fight been engaged in, and if |
ever got the best of single one / do
not now remember it, Before DoOly's S
peace proclivities were fully known he
was challenged to mortal combat by a
Mr. Tate, who came to the field with
Mr. w. II. Crawford as his second.
Dooly accepted the challenge. Tate
had lost one leg and wore wooden
one. When he and his friend reached
the field they found Dooly alone, sitting
on stump.
"Where is your friend?" asked Craw-
ford, in some surprise. "He is in the
woods, sir"
"And will be present in a moment,
sir, supposeP" said Crawford. "Yes,
as soon as he can find bee-gum."
MAY inquire what he wants with a
bee-gum?'' "Why, l want to put my
leg in it. Do you suppose can afford
to risk my leg of flesh against Tate leg
of woodP If hit his leg, he will get
another tomorrow and peg away as
usual. If he hits mine, it may kill me,
or compel me to stump it like him for
the balance of my life. No, sir; must
have a gum. Then l will be just as
much wood as he is, and we will be on
equal terms" .
''I understand you, Col. Dooly; you
do not intend to fight.'' "Why, really,
Col. Crawford, 1 thought everybody
knew that"
".Very well, sir; but remember,
Colonel, your name limo enviable light
will fill the columns of newspaper to-
morrow" 81 assure you, my dear sir,
l had rather fill every column in every
newspaper in Georgia than one coffin. "
This precedent served for a duel in
Georgia only few years since. A
challenge passed between Col. Farrow
and Mr.. NJ. A. Nevin. The latter was
a one-legged man, and the former OBJ
jected to meeting him on that account
not taking, however, the same practical
view of the matter that Dooly did. He
objected in accordance with provision
of the code. Mr.. Nevin, therefore, of
fered to allow Col. Farrow to inclose
one of his legs in bee-gum. The mat
ter was finally adjusted by meeting
between Col. Farrow and Maj. Tom
OConnor, the second of Mr.. Nevin;
shots were exchanged but no damage
was done.
If Dooly had remembered how John
Farrago, a Pennsylvania militia Capt
ain, once declined duel, he might have
amended his answer to profit. Farrago
was once challenged and replied in
these words:
SIR-I have two objections to this duel bust
ness. The one is lest | should hurt you; the
other is lest you should hurt me. do not see
what good 1t would do me to shoot you.
could make no use of you when dead for any
culinary purpose as / would a rabbit or q
turkey. could not eat you. Why, then, need
lessly shoot you down! A buffalo would make
better meat than you. For, though your flesh
may be delicate and tender, it wants that firm
ness and consistency that takes and retains
salt. 1t might make good barbecue, it is
true, being of the nature of raccoon or opos-
sum; but | do not like barbecued meat.
Besides, it would seem strange thing for
me to shoot at anything that stands still to be
shot at, as | am accustomed to shoot at things
flying or running or jumping. Were you on a
tree, now, like squirrel, trying to hide your
self in the branches, and / could spy you
through intervening boughs and leaves, your
hinder parts alone being visible, | think |
snOulu ENJOY taking a snOt AT you. But as IL
is, there is no skill or judgment in either dis
covering you or bringing YOU down.
As to myself, do not like to stand in the
way of anything harmful. l am afraid you
might hit me. / shall consequently stay at a
distance. If you want to try your pistols take
some object, such as a tree or door, about my
dimensions. If you hit that send me word,
and will publicly acknowledge that If I had
been in the same place you might also have
hit me- Yours truly, JOIN FARRAGo.
Cor. PHILADELPHIA Weeklg Times.