The Lamoille news. (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1877-1881, 1878-03-27
Duel 10 the Death.

The New Orleans Democrat has an
article on Louisiana veteran, General
John L. Lewis, and gives a number OF
incidents in his career. 1t describes
duel in New Orleans, which took place
about thirty years ago, in which General
Lewis officiated as second. The princi-
pals we're Mr.. Hueston, editor OF the
Baton Rouge Gazette, and Mr.. La
Branche, candidate for Congress. The
duel originated in an allusion made to
the latter gentleman by the former in an
editorial. An encounter between the
two took place in a New Orleans hotel.
Mr.. Hueston was beaten and challenge
followed. Mr.. La Branches friends
were Gen. John L. Lewis and Jos. Ge-
nois. The weapons selected were dou-
ble-barrelled shotguns, both barrels
loaded with ball. Promptly the parties
came to time at the Oaks at break of day.
A crowd of spectators had been attracted
to the scene. In consequence OF this
interruption and the rumoycd approach
of the police, the parties changed the
ground to more remote locality. They
could not elude the intruders, of whom
nearly two hundred reached the spot se-
lected. The seconds proceeded rapidly
with their arrangements. The ground
was measured. Forty yards was the
distance agreed on. The words were !:
"Fire-one, two, three, four, five"
The combatants must fire both barrels
between the words "fre and "fve.
The weapons were ordinary shotguns,
loaded with ball. Gen. Lewis loaded
Mr.. La Blanche's gun, and Col. Hagan
Mr.. Hueston's. The word was given by
Col. McArdle. Both parties were cool
and determined. It was observable,
however, that Mr.. Hueston still bore
marks on his face of his recent severe
beating. His face was swollen and MS
eyes blackened. He wore spectacles
and white hat. But never did man
manifest a more determined aspect and
a greater insensibility to danger, more
desperate resolve to kill or to be killed.
At the first fire both parties dis
charged their pieces nearly together.
One of the balls from Mr.. La Branches
piece passed through Hueston's hat,
another through his coat. Those OF
Hueston flew wide of the mark. 1t was
| obvious to the seconds and the specta-
| tors that Mr.. La Branche had the adj
vantage of greater quickness and skill IN
handling his weapon. The seconds OF
MIR La Branche approached those OF MIR
Hueston with the usual inquiry whether
their principal was satisfied. These
gentlemen consulted Hueston.- lie. shook
his head with great positiveness, andre
quested them to load up. A second ex-'
change was then had, with similar re-
suits to tla first. The two balls OF La
Branche whizzel close by the head of
Hueston, who again fred wild. There
was another interview of the seconds
and repetition of the emphatic shake
of the head by Mr.. Hueston. His Sec
onds demonstrated, and apologized to
the seconds of the other side for the per-
sistency of their principal, Col. Hagan
remarking that after the next fire the
distance should be shortened or the par
ties retired. The spectators manifested
the same sentiment by crying out that
the affair should end there. But Hues-
ton was immovable, and with cool jocu-
larity requested that the guns be reload
ed. His obstinacy prevailed. There
was a third exchange. AS the smoke
cleared away the combatants were OBJ
served in the same position apparently
unhurt. One of the balls from La
Branches gun had barely missed the
skull of Hueston, passing through bis
hair and slightly puncturing the skin,
causing the blood to flow.
At the third interview OF the seconds
it was suggested that, Mr.. Hueston being
wounded, the combat should there end.
This suggestion appeared to infame the
obduracy of Hueston. "Feel my pulse,
he asked of the surgeon, "and say
whether it does not beat steady and re-
gular." The surgeon felt his pulse and
declared that there was no irregularity,
but added that the affair ought to end
there. So thought and declared every
body else but Hueston. He was int1ex-
ible in his resolution to kill or be killed.
With manifest sorrow and indignation
arrangements were made for the fourth
exchange of shots.
At the word the parties fired, as be-
fore. Each discharged both barrels. At
the discharge of La Branches first bar
rel, this being his seventh shot, Hueston
reeled and fell. He had discharged both
barrels of his gun, La Branches second
barrel was discharged, being the eighth
shot, before he could perceive the effect
of the last. His friends and the surgeon
advanced to Hueston, who was prone on
the ground, lifted him into carriage,
and bore him to the city. An examina-
, tion showed that he had been shot through
the lungs, and had but few moments
, to live. He was taken to the Maison de
Sante, where, after the most intense
agony, during which he begged one Of
, his friends, as the last kindness ne could
, render him, to fire ball through bis
, head and end his torture, he died.