The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1878-03-16

struck HucStUn with cane or o''lll'" II
rue several blows, knocking HIM |
down and disabling him. Huest'n I
was taken to his rooms. A surgeon t
WAS sent for, who attended to his
wounds. Next friends (polltlcal
friends) were called in, and nom
them two of tho most experienced III
such affairs were selected t" make
ARRANGEMENTS for the earliest possible
meeting at the Oaks. These friends
were Col. W. II. McAra(c and Richard
Iayan, both of whom had been en-
gagged in several affairs of u serious
and sanguinary character. Hueston's
wounds were of more serious char
actrr than was at first imagined HIS
surgeon demonstrated against ms
going ont for several days. Hut
Hueston, with an obstinacy which !,
characterized his whole conduct III ,
this affair, insisted upon the meeting
taking place within three days. Ac.
cordinsly the arrangements were
made. Mr.. LaBrancho's friends were
Gen. John l.. Lewis and JOS. Geno's'
The weapons selected were double
barrelcd shotguns, both barrels load.
ed 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 coDse-
uuenco of this interruption and the
rumored approach of tho police, the
parties changed the ground to q more
rrmoto locality. They could not
eludc the intrudcrs, OF whom nearly
two hundred reached the spot select
, ed, The seconds proceeded rapidly
, with their arrangements. the ground
a was measured. Forty yards was the
distance agreed on. The words were :;
"Fire-one, two, three, four, five.
y The combatauts must fire both bal
rcls between the words "tre" and
q "Gve." The weapons were ordinary
shot-cuns loaded with ball. Cen
= Lewis loaded Mr.. LaBranche's gun
t. and Col. Hagan MIR. Hucstons' Ihe
word was given by Col. McArdIe
K. Both parties were cool and determ.n-
- ed, it was observable, however, tina,
" Mr., Hueston still bore marks on his
4 face of his recent severe beating
i His face was swollen and his eye!
70 blackeped. lie wore spectaclcs ant
8 white hat. But never did mar
10 t manifest a more determined aspec
IA and greater insensibility to danger
" more desperate resolve to Kill o
:. be killed. :.
! At the first fire both parties dis
Il. charged their pieces nearly tosetnei
- One Of the balls from Mr.. LaBranche'
- niece PASSED through Hueston's hat
~ another through his coat. Those c
~ Hueston flew wide Of the mark:
a was obvious to the seconds ana I'll
~ SPECTATORS that Mr.. LaBranche la
10 the advantage of greater qulckue'
;rs and skill ia handling his weapon.
,.s The seconds of Mr.. LaBrancI'e al
,Is preached those of Mr.. Hueston wit
nj the usual inquiry, whether their prl'
If cipal was satisfied. These gent''
,f men consulted Hueston. lie shoe
~" his head with great positiveness, al
,ts requested them to load up.
nth 4 second exchange was then ia
nm with similar results to the first. II
Of two balls of LaBranche wllzzed clio
as. by the head of Hueston, who aga
er. fired wild.
tha There was another interview
ND the seconds and a repetition Ut t
ton emphatic shake of the head by NJ
the Hueston. His seconds remonstat
ted and apologizel to the seconds or t
IA other side for the persistency OF tn'
mr. ' PRINCIPAL, Col. Hagan remarking til
;.s after the next fire the distance shou
~. be shortened or the parties retired
the The spectators manifested the sal
vas sentiment by crying out that the
res. fair. should end there. But Hoest
ot;c was immovable, and with cool joe
tho larity requested that the guns 20
,cre loaded. His obstinacy prevailed.
In There was third exchange.
,cre the smoke cleared away the comb
heir ants were observed in the same
,nal si,ion, apparently unhurt. one
La the balls from La6rancl'e's gun
onr barely missed the skull of lioest
the passing through his hair ana sI'giI
and puucturing the skin, causing o''
NJ, r " At the third interview of the
rs So opds it was suggested that, Mr. tit
been ton being wounded the combat sho
/ We there end. This suggestion aPpea
no. to inflame the obduracy OF hues'
W Of "Feel my pulse" he asked . OF
had surgeon. land say whether it q
hose not beat steady and regular"
,ther surgeon felt his pulse and dec's
a in that there was no ir1egu!arlty'
v ~ added that the affair ought to
W, 'e Of there. So thought and decl'
Can everybody else but Hueston.
er Of was inhcxible in bis resolution Z"
'onoe or he killed. With manifest sol
icter. and indignation arrangements -,
an1; made for the fourth exchange Of 81
rnnu. At the word the parties tre'
,crats before. Each discharged both
,efer- rels. At the discharge of LaBran'
and first barrel; this being his sew
ourtb shot, Hueston reeled and FELL
.andi- had discharged both barrels o;
,hysi- gun. LaBranche's second x oa 1' e.
onist. discharged, being the eighth sh no
ritten fore lie could perceive the enc
and the last. His friends aud SUI
Insult advanced to Hueston, VINO was
r. la on the ground, lifted him IN
to the rage, and bore him to the Guy.
a had examination discovered that d;
q act- been shot through the lungs, ant
pately but few m"!neu's w. r no''to =.
This taken to tue Ma's"" no ''"'so' =; :,
hef,ra after the most intense agony, q