Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-01-27
Georgia Duels .

StOutest fighters that ever went " JIG
field. The State was settled by Scotch
and Irish colonies, that soon produced an
amalgun tough, stubborn and dogmatic,
and quickened with sharp infusion OF
New England blood. There has been,
since the colonial days down, tibrous,
determined assertiveness about Georgia
that always meant great deal more than
the brittle passion of Carolina or the
Quick choler of Florida Like the young
Hercules, she founght her way from the
cradle. Her first civilization was millet
seed dropped in wilderness. An infant
colony or two, setting white faces and
Christian souls against an illimitable
forest that teemel with savages -hemmed
in by four powerful nations, when
the other States were in comparative
peace fighting from between the plow-
shares, up and down every furrow, and
COMPRISING the staple for an epic into
the life of every day. Every man was
a hero then. The alternative was sim
ple-it was heroism or emigration. In
those rude and gallant days no man
could succeed whe was not absolutely
fearless.
To refuse to fight was to court disgrace.
I doubt if there ever was enkindled on
this side of the Atlantic spirit so near
akin to the naughty stubbornness that
moved the English bosoms, as that which
lived in the breasts of the earlier Geor-
gians.
There is one figure that stands out re-
freshingly cool and unique during these
troublous times. This was John NJ. Doo-
ly, the man who announced that he would
not fight under any circumstances. He
was probably the most brilliant man pro
duced in that era, prolific Of giants. He
was the peer Of Crawford on any field,
and his superior in the legal forum. His
abilities were transcendent, and his fail
ure to make national reputation arose,
doubtless, from no other cause than his
refusal to fight on any and all occasions.
A non-combatant could not hold his head
up in those turbulent times. Dooly had
the most delicious humor, and sharp
tongue, withal. He was continually get
ting into trouble because Of his satiracal
sayings He was perfectly fearless of
speech. Judge Gresham once threatened
to chastze him. Dooly replied:
''Tou can DO it if you like. You will
get no credit for it, however. Anybody
can do it, and great many have done
it,"
He was once knocked down by gen
tleman that he had introduced as the in
ierior Judge OF an inferior court Of the
inferior county Of Lincoln. He called
Justify on the spectators for help and,
when rescued from his antagonist, rubbed
his head and remarked, dryly: "Well that
is the forty second fight have been en-
gagged in, and if ever got the best Of a
single one do not now remember it,
Before Dooly's peace proclivities were full
ly known he was challenged to mortal
combat by Mr.. Tate, who came to the
field with Mr.. w. II. Crawford as his sec
ond. Dooly accepted the challenge. Tate
had lost one leg and wore wooden one
When he and his friend reached the field
they found Dooly alone, sitting on a
stump.
"Where is your friend?'' asked Craw.
ford, in some surprise. Gle is in the
woods, sir"
''And will be present in moment, sir
supposed" said Crawford. eyes, as soon
as he can find bee-gum."
bee-gum?" why, / want to put my leg
it it. Do you suppose l can afford tc
risk my leg of flesh against Tate's leg Of
wood9 If I hit his leg, he will get an.
other tomorrow and peg away as usual
If he hits mine, he may kill me, or com
pei me to stump it like him for the bal
ance of my life. No, sir; l must have
gum, Then l will be Just as much
wood as he is, and he will be on equal
terms
81 understand you, Col. Dooly; you dc
not intend to fight" "Why, really, Col
Crawford, I thought everybody knew
that
VERY we'll, sir; but remember, Colonel
your name in no enviable light will fill
the columns of a newspaper tomorrow.
II assure you, my dear sir, had rather
fill every column in every newspaper in
Georgia than one coffin"
This precedent served for duel in
Georgia only few years since. A cal.
lenge passed between Col. Farrow and
MIR. NJ. A. Nevin. The latter was one.
legged man, and the former objected to
meeting him on that account-not taking,
however, the same practical view of the
matter that Dooly did. BE objected in
accordance with provision of the code
Mr.. Nevin, therefore, offered to allow Col
Farrow to enclose one of his legs ina bee.
gum. The matter was finally adjusted by
meeting between Col FarroW
and Maj. Tom O'Connor, the second OF
Mr.. Nevin; shots were exchanged but no
damage was done.
If Dooly had remembered how John
Farrago, Pennsylvania militia Captain
once declined duel, he might have
amneded his answer to profit. Far5ago
was once challenged and replied in these
words.
SR-I have two objections to this duel
business. The one is lest I should hur,
you; the other is lest you should hur,
me. I do not see what good it would dc
me to shoot you. could make no use
of you when dead for any culinary pur-
pose as I would rabbit or turkey. ]
could not eat you. Why, then, needless
ly shoot you down? A buffalo would
make better meat than you. For, though
your flesh may be delicate and tender, il
wants that firmness and consistency that
takes and retains salt 1t might make a
good barbecus, it is true, being Of the ma
ture OF raccoon or opossum; but / dc
not 1ilakbo ri, rooo%