Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1878-09-05
FORTY IN A DUEL.
AN INCIDENT IN MISSISSIPPI LIFE FIFTY
.YEARS AGO .......-s-

YEARS AGO. .,! -.ss.--s--
The famous duel in which forty or more
gentlemen were engaged, in 1928, is still re,
membered in Natchez, Miss Colonel James
Bowie, the famous fighter and inventor of the
knife which bears his name, used to spend a
great deal of his time in that city. He was
challenged by gentleman from Alexandria,
La, whose friends, to the number of forty or
more, accompanied him to Natchez to see
fair play, knowing that Bowie was desper.
ate man and had bis own friends about him.
All parties went upon the field. The COM
batants took their places in the centre, sepa-
rated from their friends III the rear, or
enough not to endanger them with their balls.
Behold the battle array thus: Twenty arm
ed Louisanians fifty yards behind their
champion aud his seconds and surgeon, and
opposite them, as far behind Bowie and his
seconds and surgeons, twenty armed Missis-
sippians. Behold the heights of Natchez
thronged with spectators and a steamer in the
river rounded to, it's deck bla,k with passen-
gers wstching with deep interest, the scene.
The plan of fight was to exchange shots twice
with pistols and to close with knives, Bowie
being armed with his own terrible weapon.
At the first fire both parties escaped. At the
second the Louisianian was too quick and
took advantage of Bowie, who waited the
word. At this Bowie's second cried "foul
play" and shot the Louisianian dead. The
second of the latter instantly killed the slayer
of his principal. Bowie drove his knife into
this man. The surgeons now crossed blades,
while, with loud cries, came on the two par
ties of friends, the light of battle in their eyes.
In 6! moment the whole number was engaged
in a fearless conflict. Dirks, pistols and
knives we're used with fatal effect until one
party drove the other from the field. l do
not know how many were killed and wounded
in all, but it was dreadful slaughte Bow.
lie fought like lion, but fell covered with
wounds. For months he fingered at the
Mason House before he fully recovered
Morristown Isnn.) Gazette.
SLEEPING PosITIoNs.--The food passes
from the stomach at the right side, hence its
passage is facilitated by going to sleep on the
right side. Water and other fuidsfo equal
ly on level, and it requires less power to
propel them on a level than upward. The
heart propels the blood to every part Of the
body at each successive beat, and it is easy to
see that if the body is in horizontal position
the blood will be cent to the various parts of
the system with greater ease, with less expen.
diture of power, and more perfectly than
could possibly be done if one portion of the
body were elevated above horizontal line
On the other hand, if one portion Of the
body is too low, the blood ,loes not return as
readily as it is carried thitl er; hence, there
is an accumulation and discussion, and pain
soon follows.
If person goes to sleep with the head but
very little lower than the body, he will eth
er soon wake up, or will die with apoplexy be-
fore the morning, simply because the blood
could not get back from the brain as fast as
it was carried to it. If person lays himself
down on level floor to sleep, portion Of the
head at least is lower than the heart, and dis
comfort is soon induced hence, very proper
ly, the world over, the head is elevated during
sleep.
The savage uses a log of wood or bunch
of leaves; the civilized pillow; and if this
pillow is too thick, raising the head too high,
there is not blood enough carried to the brain,
and as the brain is nourished, renewed, and
invigorated by the nutriment it receives from
the blood during sleep, it is not fed sufficient
ly, and the result is unquiet sleep during the
night, and waking up in weariness, without
refreshment, to be followed by day of drow.
siness, discomfort, and general inactivity Of
both mind and body.
The healthful mean is pillow which, by
the pressure of the head, keeps it about 4
inches above the level of the bed or mattress
nor should the pillow be so soft as to allow the
head to be buried in it and excite perspira-
tinn. endanparinp ear.ache or cold in the head