The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1878-03-16
A Political Duel.
\. O. Democrat.


rI;s is fine version of a duel which )
,r,n,,rd in this city more than thirty {
,rars auo, in which General Lewis IL
'cted the part forced upon him. OF a v
friend of one os the col''hatanls' l"
this capacity the duty devo'ved "po" ,,
|;.n Lewis of loading the weapon
Of his principal. BY this load o,ave
man, a father aud huSoand' was k,''-
ed. Twenty years afterwards nu-
ring our late war, the eye "f the
General, when marching at the nc heau
Of his command through village IN
one Of the Red river parishes, was
attracted by a sign over small store
Which was painted with the letters
"Mrs. Hucston, milliner and mantna
maker" Hating in front OF the
store. he inquired of some citizens
who stood near: Els the lady who
keeps this store the widow OF gen.
tl.nau who was an editor in Baton
ROUGE and was killed thirty years
AGO "The same" was the response.
INV God,' exclaimed the warm
hearted veteran to brother "il'cef
who rode by his side, 81 loadc" the
oun which killed him.' The terrible
Scene was brought to his recollect'on
with distinctncss and remorseluA
sorrow which unnamed the stern
old soldier. The teals gushcd from
his ewes. his uttcrance was ch"keo
with grief, and one Of his aids hao 10
seize INN by the arm to prevent MS
falling from his horse. AS soon as ne
could recovor from the shock OF th's
revelation and reminder of the most
paiufnl incident in his long life, the
General directed one Of his a'us TO
iuouirc into the circumstances OF t''e
widow, and to tender any aid or pro
lection in his power to alleviate the
sorrow and dcstitution in which SHE
had been left by the unhappy bereavc'
mrnt in which he felt he had borne
So PROMINENT part. Fortunately
however, the widow was in far better
circumstances of worldly comfort
than the poor Confederate chletta'n'
As the General rode out OF the VII
lare with his staff, he related TIT
f,cts 1t was in 1913 that a yer!
violent political campaign occurred
in this State between the Wing ant
Democratic parties. The contest wa
~ Representatives in Congress
Each party had brought forward it
strongest candidates. The journal
of tic two parties were espec'a'''
vigorous and aggressive in their as
: saults upon the nominees OF the au
Verse party. Personality and vlrl'
G lent criticism were never before car
ried to such a pitch in this State
I The Tropic, a daily newspaper
! conducted with great vigor ana say
aeery by Col. McArdle, infused
tiercely 6elligerent tone into the pal
ty and its press throughout the Stat
Manv personal conflic2s and affair
of honor resulted from this be!',co:
spirit. These quarrels Of individual
we're adopted by their parties, al
the fights assumed the character
faction fights instead of personal a
fairs of honor. One OF the most u
happy and tragic of these comba
was that which resulted in the dea
e Of Hueston, the editor OF the Bat'
. Rouge Gazette. l1ueston was
Northern birth, and had recently a
sumel editorial charge of the papt
which had previously maintained T.
a reputation of a prudent, sedate al
''' cautious Wing Journal. Huest
ess gave an entirely new character to t
Gu;ette. The Iropic had inoccuIat
the Gazette with its partisan v'r'
and its editorials brist|ed with 81
casms and offensive personality
. One of the most offensive and Il
iustifiable of these, which let to
tragic scene We have to relate, "
contained in a review of the congr'
sional candidates. The Democro
10 candidates in the Fourth and
~ Second Congressional Districts w
Gen. Bossier and the Hon. Alcee
Branche. Both gentlemen W
highly houored and admired by til
party and large circles OF perso
friends. They were Creoles' Mr.
Brauche had been Speaker OF
House of Representatives; was
first Charge d'Attaires to Texas, {
FIR. in all his relations was greatly
m teemed as a gentleman of great I
\ priety and dignity of behavior.
Du far from being duelist, as has b
- represented in the sketch to which
IAN. referred at the beginning of this
tice, he was one Of the very te'
hort our prominent public men who
man never been involved in one of Il
Il. affairs. Gen. Bossier, on the o.
Il o, hand, the Democratic candidate
IL ~ the + ourth District, had had sew
affairs Of that character in on
OK. which, sword combat, he slew
,co,d Gaiennie, the great Wing lead'
~ his district Now, the Baton RI
- Gazette, referring to these cnara'
,stics of the two Democratic ca
dates, was uuguarded and uusc1
% lous enough to taunt the Demo'
tn of the Second District with a pr
once for a man destitute OF spirit
CLU- manhood, and those of the Fl
District with a selection OF a c;
date who had, by his superior p
cal power, killed his antago
1850 Nothing could have been WI
which was more unprovoked
uniustif able, and to make the
OVAL more CALLING, as it affected NJ
BrancIe, allusion was made t.
$1,000 only personal affray in winch ne
ever been engaged, aud when ht
ed on the defensive, aud tortuu
,;rtsa without fatal or serious results