The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1878-03-23
Capt. Martin Sect.

Capt. Martin Scott.
One of the most widely known men
of any time was Capt. Martin Scott.
Martin Scott was from his earliest years
q remarkably fine pistol and rifle shot.
While blowing in the field one day he
received letter which inclosed him his
commission a. Ensign in the United
States Army. He had never applied for
this position, and to the day Of his death
never knew how it became to be tender
ed to him. He accepted it, however,
and was soon famous throughout the
whole army as the best shot Of his day.
Upon the authority of Col. r. B. Mar
| cy, United States Army, I will give q
sample of his shooting. A playing
card, with spot about the size Of q
dime, was tackled upon tree seventy
five yards distant. Capt. Scott then
took a muzzle-loading squirrel rifle and
proposed to see how quick
he could load and fire three
times. He began, and in one
minute and twenty seconds had loaded
and fired three times. OF course this
was very quick work, allowing hardly
any time for aiming. The firing was
almost instantaneous. When Col. Mar
cy went to examine the target he found
one hole exactly in the center of the
bulls eye. He remarked, however,
that the other two shots had missed the
target entirely. Capt. Scott smiled,
called for an Ak, split the log, and found
the three balls imbedded in the single
hole. These shots were all of-hand.
| Col. Marcy says that he has seen officers
who vouched for the truth of the follow
ing, having seen Capt. Scott do it: He
would take two potatoes, and, throwing
them into the. air successfully, would
put pistol-ball through both of them
as they crossed in the air, one going up
and one coming down.
The first duel in which Captain Scott
was engaged was under the following
circumstances. He was stationed on
the frontier, at military post of Coun-
Gil Bluff. The officers were, the most
of them, fond of social glass, and adj
dicted to card playing, and they con-
sidered a man who abstained entirely
from like indulgences as wanting in the
proper spirit. Capt. Scott never drank
glass of liquor, and never played a
game of cards, and, while he was very
| liberal in his intercourse with his bro
Their officers, he was exceedingly parsi-
monious in his own personal expenses.
The officers around him took umbrage
at this, and gradually withdrew from all
intercourse with him until he was abso-
lutely put into coventry by all save three
of his associates in arms. He submitted
for a long time to the insults and perse-
with his three friends to determine what
was best to be done. They told him
that only two alternatives were left him
one was to throw up his commission,
and the other was to challenge the first
man that should insult him. He readily
chose the latter course, and his determi-
nation became known throughout the
post. His skill as marksman and his
undOubted nerve protected him for a
good while, no one caring to needlessly
risk an encounter with him.
At length, however, an officer from a
neighboring post, who was a celebrated
shot, and had brought down his man in
about half-a-dOzen duels, was sent for.
He took the first opportunity to insult
Capt. Scott. The insult was given at
mess-table, and challenge Immediately
followed. In telling of the duel after
ward, Capt. Scott said that he went to
the ground considerably agitated. Be-
ing utterly opposed to dueling, he had
determined to throw away his fire. just !
about that time he accidentally over
heard his antagonist say that he had a |
very disagreeable job on hand that |
morning, viz: the Is shooting of a -
Yankee This raised Capt. Scott's in
dignation, and he determined from that
moment to punish his opponent. When
the word was given the men fired to-
gether. Capt. Scott received q slight !
flesh wound and sent a ball whizzing
through his opponents lungs. 1t is
mentioned as q curious fact that this |
shot saved the mans life. He had the
consumption before the duel and re-
covered afterward. I hesitate, however,
to recommend this as an inevitable cure
for the consumption. 1t is remedy,
however, that is apt to either cure or
kill. 3 mn
Capt. Scott came very near having
another duel on the most ridiculous
grounds. He was great sportsman,
and perfect stickler for all the tech
nicalities of sporting lore. He would
get in passion at hearing any one
call line of geese " a fock' of geese,
or bevy of quails ga brood'' of quails.
On one occasion he organized a grand
hunt. The game was jackass-rabbits.
A great many visiting officers were
present, and Capt. Scott had taken
great pride in having the hunt conduct
ed on the strictest principles. He had
instructed the home officers that when a
rabbit ran from cover they should all
give the view halloo, "Tally-ho!"
Among the officers was Capt. B-n,
who was an inveterate practical joker.
The hounds were unloosened and taken
into the woods, and soon opened mu-
sically. Every man was at his post in
tiptoe anxiety to catch the first glimpse
of the expected game. Suddenly, near
the stand of Capt. B-n, out bounded
an enormous mule with twenty dogs in
full cry at her heels. In this critical
moment Capt. B-n roared at the top
of his voice, "Sally, whoa! Sally,
whoa! Sally, whoa!" The ridiculous
cry was taken up, aad the whole field
burst into uncomfortable laughter.
Capt. Scott was violently enraged, and
it took all that the friends of the parties
could do to prevent his calling the prac-
tical joker out. Capt Scott was after /
ward killed while leading his command
forward in most desperate battle of
the MeYican war phiI0f1eIrhin T;,nes |