St. Landry democrat., 1878-02-23
FAMOUS. SOUTHERN DUELS.
Fighting on Horseback P'entiss and Tom


in the south, but the record IS by no
means exhausted Far be it from me to
say that any of them are apocryphal, al
though the account of the young Mlssis-
s;ppian. contained in last Sunday
edition, bears singular resemblance t
the affair reIatedeof an English officer
with a noted Bonapartist bravo, which
is said TO have occurred at the Cafe toy
during the occupation OF Paris by the
allies, in 1Sl4-l5. A long residence IN
the south and west has maee me familiar
with the history of many Of these en-
counters. One of the most singular, which
happened at New Orleans, was fought
between g. gentleman recently before the
public in suit to maintain or recover
bis commission and emoluments in the
United States army, Captain schemberg,
and Mr.. Chevalier. The combat took
place at the race-track near New Orleans,
on horseback, with sabers Schemberg's
horse, tine animal, was killed. and,
] believe, suit was brought by its
owner to recover damages No other
harm was done.
The duel between the great orator,
Serge ant. S. Prentiss, Of Mississippi, and
Ex-Governor Henry $. Foote, occurred
near Vicksburg. A large crowd was
present, and after one or two harmless
shots had been exchanged, Prentiss, with
his inimitable humor, called out to some
Youngsters who were perched in tree
near by: "Take care, boys; the gov
ernor is firing very wild to-day" Foote
was finally wounded. Prentiss was one
of the coolest and bravest, and as we'll as
the most magnanimous men | ever met.
He was one of the counsel for the de-
fense for the celebrated Wilkinson and
Murdaugh trial for murder in Kentucky.
The case was removed to Harrodsburg,
on account of the prejudices against the
accused at Louisville, where the killing
occurred. When Prentiss arrived at the
Gait ha1se, on his way to the court,
some one warned him of the bitter feel
ing existing against his clients, remark
ing at the same time: 'They will be
hunting YOU, Mr.. Prentiss, il they find
. out YOU are in the city," "Ah" said he
reaching over the counter for his travel
ing-bag, and taking out pair OF pistols
which he placed in his pockets. "Well,
am hunter myself when there is game
around" No one molested him, how
: ever.
The celebrated Thomas F. Marshall, o
:, Kentucky, fought several duels; tina
1 with Colonel James Watson Webb
> familiar to most northern readers. Ton
> once told the writer that if Webb ha'
: not stood cross-legged and diverted hi
I aim he would have killed him; that h
had meant to hsve anotker fight witt
> him, but the colonel unfortunately too
Z the pledge to Governor Steward. Anothe
J: of Toms duels was with John Rowan, c
u Kentucky, crack shot, but one OF tn
3: most amiable and sentlemanly OF the OF
u c fira-eaters.' Tom received bullet L
I the leg, and as Rowan, who did not WIS
to kill him, walked up to express hi
a- regret, Marshall, lying on the grounc
II exclaimed: "By -, Mr. Rowan, yo
D. shoot fellow and apologize for 1t wit
D. more grace than any man in Kentucky
i0 With one of these Kentucky affair
H. which occurred in 1916, was un1ort'
'0 nately connected, and the course too
No may illustrate the state of feeling on tt
L. subject at that time. The prlnclpa
~ we're DIR. T., of Harodsburg, an
Counselor H, brothers.in>law.' Ii
ct cause of offense was family atfal
r. I resided in Lexington at the time, al
Cd was induced to interfere, in the intere
re Of peace, on behalf Of DIR. T., who was
ne stranger to NE. After several days d
Wo cussion on the part of the doctors 1rlene
in ana canvassing as we'll as | could t
on views of the other party, ! found
I'm amicable adjustment impossible, a
ng having gone SO far, there was nothl
ITS left for me but to carry challenge L
ith elder brother Of the doctor, himself
eminent lawyer, the brother-in' law
i'd. the latter, and even the venera
rst mether-the last two strict members
snt the church-were consulted by me,
of the feeling among them all was that tn
all relative had been grossly insulted
of must vindicate his honor in the us
ges manner. The meeting was appointed
and take place at q retired spot in Bo
was county. but was prevented by the
Old thorities, and I remember well we hac
son scamper to get beyond their jurisdiet
hey and avoid arrest. In the meantln
,rk, received request from reverend
pre- tlemen, whose death | saw noticed
With wear, to Withdraw the challenge io'
not accommodation which he hoped
bring about. gladly agreed to com
yels provided the opposite party consente
hers the arrangement without prejudic
,iots NV friend ; but the overture was plum
,out rejected by them. The meeting
,et q Mace next morning at a wild, roma
that spot on Dick river. The law officers
ne of IN the hill above us, but an old boat
than and his SONS, whom We were 'onl1'l
trike take into our commence anu WIZ