Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1878-01-31
A COMPLICATED QUARREL.

I will now pursue this dueling scrape to-
its close to show to what absurd issues it
will bring men, and show further that when
a man begins by playing second fiddle in a
duel there is nc telling how soon he will be
called upon to handle the first bow. Let lis
get straight to start with. Haskell of1ends a
lady. Force attacks him with a cane be-
cause of this offense. Mr.. Haskell thereup.
on challenged Force. saying: you seen fit
this morning to infict blows upon me with
a stick" aud asking that time and place be
appointed where he might get satisfaction,
and adding that Mr.. Townsend(his friend)
through his friend, John r. Hart replied:
Mr.. 1omnsend::
We respectfully decline to fight Mr.. Has
kell. Believing you. howevert to bea gentle
man. We will give you any satisfaction you
may desire.
Here the issue has been shifted from Has
kell to Townsend. Townsend at once re-
piled:
Mr.. John r Hart:
Your note is before me saying that Mr..
Force declines to fight my friend, Mr.. Has
kell. l have borne Mr.. Haskells note de-
handing satisfaction, most cheerfully take
his place, and will be pleased to hear from
you as soon as possible. My friend, Mr..
Joseph H. Smith, will hand you this.
j. H. TOWNSEND.
1t appears that Mr.. Hart, like Mr.. Smith,
the bearer of Townsend's note had previous
ly had a difficulty, and Mr.. Hart, taking the
note FROM him, read it, and then threw it
upon the ground, saying. II will not recog-
nize you az a gentleman, sir" Smith then
left him and reported to Townsend, who in
turn reported to Haskell. Haskell thereue-
on published a card, in which
he claimed that he chad been cowardly
waylaid and beaten by Houston Force, who
had afterward refused to give him s~atisfac-
tion," and that he now publicly posted him
as a coward and a poltroon." Force replied
ia a very abusive card. A meeting for pro-
fessedly friendly purposes vas then held be-
tween Townsend and Hart, the seconds of
Force and Haskell. This meeting resulted
in Hart sitting down and writing a challenge
to Townsend in his own behalf. This chal-
lenge was handed to Townsend by Harris
former principal, Force. Townsend accept
ed, and it was settled that the fight was to
come of the next day at the cemetry, with
in the corporate limits Of the town. Force
acted for Hart and Wallace for Townsend.
fight between themselves. The weapons were
oliOS utis AOu0CA VIII Gil uShSllOG SdCu,
and the distance twenty PAGES.
FIGHTING By PROXY.
When the time for the meeting had near.
ly arrived, Mr.. Hart was taken very sick.
Mr.. Force (his second), of course. Thought
of postponing the fight. He received a note
from Mr.. Townsend, however, stating that
he and his friends would start for the Gem
etery in few moments, and that unless
Hart and bis frlendslwere on hand in thirty
minutes they would be posted. There was
no time to be lost. Hart was too sick to 20.
He vas in bed and could not stand. But
Force felt that he must 60, If Hart did not.
He therefore secured his shst gun and a cai-
riage. and impres.ing Mr.. Crutchfsli, a
new party TO the i%mbrog'io, be fastened To
the field. Arriving there he apologized for
the non.appearapcs of his principal, Mr..
HIATT, s'ying that be WAS 81 seriously I'M.
we'll as I, be utterly unable t, stand. even
postponemett of twenty four hours TO be
granted. Mr.. Townsend demanded that the
reques, be redsced TO writing. Mr.. Force
declined to acce1e to this demand. Mr..
Townsend then said he should be under the
necessity of posting" Mr.. Force and his
friend Upon this. Force offered to take
Harris place and let the fight proceed. Mr..
Townsend stated thai, he was entirely at his
disposal. and The ground was measured fl
Here we see that Force again be 0 les a
principal. He and Townsend were relatives
and friends. Their families were exceed
ingiy intimate, and the young men were al
most like brothers. Yet here they were,
without a shadow Of a quarrel between
themselves personally. brought face to face
In deadly combat. Both were smartinR
under insults put upon their friends, and
both we're jealous Of their honor. They
we're relnct, ut. however. I, fight Force,
It is said. remarked: IF I kill him ii will
not be my fault am a 'much bitter shot
than he is"
When the men were in position il vas
nearly sunset. The western sky was ablsze.
and the holiday clouds in the bravery Of
scarlet and gold, we're hurrying toward the
Erca. pageant. There, in the midst Of
graves, with tombstones sta~ndinz-vhits
reminders Of dea,h-all abou, them, , iih
v~oiceless people beneath their feet, in the
heart Of . great city. where the ra,,lc Of the
passing carts and The hmm Of the mari misht
hli upon their earn. these yosng fris ,da
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