River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-01-31


stoutest fighters that ever went to the
field. The State was settled by Scotch
and Irish colonies, that soon produced an
amalgum-tough,s stubborn and dogmatic,
and quickened with sharp infusion OF
New England blood. There has been,
since the colonial days down, fibrous,
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 a millet
seed dropped in wilderness. An infant
colony or two, setting white faces and
Christian souls against an illimltable
forest that teemed with sayages-hemmed
in by four powerful nations, when
the other States were in comparative
peace-fghting 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 who was not absolutely
fearless.
To refuse to fight was to court disgrace
[ doubt if there ever was enkindled on
this side of the Atlantic spirit so neal
akin to the naughty stubbornness that
moved the English bosoms, as that which
lived in the breasts of the earlier Geer-
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 chastize him. Dooly replied:
"You 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
feri0r Judge of an inferior court of the
inferior county Of Lincoln. He called
Justify on the spectators for help, and,
1io+ II, Il
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. III. Crawford as his sec
ond. Dolly accepted the challenge. Tate
had lost one leg and wore a wooden one
When he and his friend reached the field
they found Dooly alone, sitting on a
stump.
"Where is your friend2' asked Craw-
ford, in some surprise. "He is in the
woods, sir"
''And will be present in a moment, sir,
l SUPPOSED said Crawford. Eyes, as soon
DIS nc CStH UllQ u Dec-9uln.
"May l inquire what he wants with a
bee-gum!" why, | want to put my leg
it it. Do you suppose can afford to
risk my leg of flesh against Tates leg OF
wood? If 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; must have
a gum. Then | will be just as much
wood as he is, and he Will be on equal
terms "
II understand you, Col. Dooly; you do
not intend to fight" ''Why, really, Col
Crawford, | thought everybody knew
that"
Very well, sir; but remember, Colonel,
your name in no enviable light will fill
the columns of 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 a duel in
Georgia only few years since. A cal
lenge passed between Col. Farrow and
Mr.. 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. He 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
amnedcd his answer to profit. Farrago
was once challenged and replied in these
words.
SIR-I have two objections to this duel
business. The one is lest | should hurt
you; the other is lest you should hurt
me. do not see what good it would do
me to shoot you. / could make no use
of you when dead for any culinary pur-
pose as 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, it
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 rdccoon or opossum; but [ do
not like barbecued meat.
Besides, it would seen a strange thing
for me to shoot at anything that stands
still to DC shot at, as | am accustomed to
shoot at things flying or running or jump
ing Were you on tree, now, like a
squirrel, trying to hide yourself in the
branches, and l could spy you through
Intervening boughs and leaves, your
hindarparts being visible, think | should
enjoy taking a shot at you. But as it il
there is no skill of judgment in either dis
covering you or bringing you down.
As to myself, | do not like to stand il
the way of anything harmful. | am
afraid you might hit me. l shall conse-
quently stay at distance. Ii you want
to Try your pistol take some object, sucf
as a tree or door, about my dimensions. i
L.