The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-01-27

cemetery, with tho corporate limits OF
the town. Force acted for Hart and
Wallace for Townsend. We thus see
| the Two seconds arraysd for fight be-
| tween themselves, The weapons were
shot-guns. loaded with ten buekshot
| each, and the distance twenty PAGES.
FIGHTING by PROXY.
When the time for the meeting had
nearly arrived, Mr.. Hart was taken very
| sick. Mr.. Force (his ssoond), OF course.
| thought OF postponing the fight. He
received note from Mr.. Townsend,
however, stating that he and his friend
| would start for the cemetery In few
| moments. and that unless Hart and his
friend were on hand In thirty minutes
| they would be posted. There was no
time TO be lost. Hart was too sick to go.
He was In bed and could not stand.
| But Force felt that he must go, II Hart
did not. He. therefore. secured his shot
gun and carriage, and imprsssing Mr..
| Urutohfield. o. new party TO the itnbrog-
| lilo, he fastened TO the field. Arriving
there he apologized for the nonsap-
pearhnoe of his principal, Mr.. Hart.
unwell rs to be utterly unable TO
stand even II he were on The field. He
then asked that n postponement OF
twenty four hours be granted. Mr..
| Townsend demanded that the request
be reduced TO writing. Mr.. Force de-
olined to aoeede TO this demand. Mr..
Townsend thereupon said that he
should be Under the necessity Of "posts
Ing" Mr.. Force and his friend. Upon
this Force offered to take Harris place
and let the fight proceed, Townsend
stated that he was entirely ct his dis
posal and the ground was measured off,
| Here we see that Force again becomes
u principal. He and Townsend were
relatives and friends. Their families
were exceedingly intimate, and the
young men were almost like brothers.
| Yet here they were, with not shadow
Of q quarrel between themselves person
ally. brought, face to face In deadly
suits that had been put upon their
friends, and both were jealous Of their
honor, They were reluctant, however,
to fight. Force. IL Ia said. remarked
IF ! kill him 1t will not be my fault. !
| am u much better shot than he is.''
When the men were In position 1t was
nearly sunset. The western sky was
ablaze, and the holiday clouds, In oil
the bravery Of scarlet and gold. were
hurrying toward the great pageant.
There. In the midst OF graves. with
tombstones standing-white reminders
Of death~all about them. with the
voieeless people beneath their feet. in
the heart Of great city, where the rat.
tie Of the passing carts and the hum OF
tho mart might fall upon their ears,
these young friends were about TO try to
kill each other In defense OF o ehivalric
folly.
They were placed with their backs
toward each other. The second OF
Townsend took his place on O high
piece Of ground and called, "Are you
ready ~" The men, both standing firm
and cool. answered Yes" wheel"
shouted the second. "Erirel one=two-
lthreel" At tho word Force wheeled
like machine. leveling his gun as he
did SO. At the word lone" he fired,
his charge of buokshot catching Town
send In Che side and shoulder us he was
turning and dragging him to the ground.
As soon as the smoke cleared away and
Force saw his cousin stretched upon the
ground. he threw his gun down, and,
rushing to where he lay. embraced him
| and asked his forgiveness. The wounded
man freely gave This, and the two were
i friends again. Townsend's wound was
Il very dangerous, and 1t was long before
/ he recovered-if he has done so yet.
The affair created great excitement In
| the city, aud resulted In the absence OF
4 Force from the city for some years. He
at length was allowed to return by u
pardon. ] believe, from the Governor.