The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1878-03-02
DarkeY Duelists.
ATLANTA Correspondents o. the philadcl

Darkey Duelists.
ATLANTA Correspondence Of the Philadelphia Times.
The code has not found an admirer
or follower in the Southern darkey.
While he is combative by nature,
and has courageous instincts, his
pluck has no staying qualities. His rage
overmasters him for the first few mo-
ments, and after that he can very easily
master his rage. He is quick fighter,
going in on fret and out on an impulse.
His battles may be sung in lyrics; his
courage can never adorn an epic. His
warfare is butt in the stomach, a jerk
in the wool, thumb in the mouth, a
kick on the Sims, couple of short
breaths, and then mutual quit, pair
of rueful, astonished glances and quick
step in opposite directions. He knows
nothing of the fine-fbered bravery that
can carry a man through two or three
tedious days, with parade steps, up to
the mouth of a pistol nor of the sensi-
tive texture of soul into which careless
word will sink as if it were a deadly
insult.
And yet negroes have been known to
fight duels in the South. Only two
months ago couple of them, as black as
Erebus, met on a dueling field, from
which only one retired. The most con-
spicuous " affair" between negroes that
| now remember, however, took place in
Savannah Cor near Savannah), Ga, in
1872. think it was during the Greeley
campaign. During political cam
paign the negro is in his glory. 1t is
then that he outgrows himself, and feels
as if he could buckle his fingers into his
boot-straps and lift himself to heaven.
1t was during this period of sublimation
that two colored men in Savannah be-
came embroiled in dispute. Their
a. ariel hinged on their respective po-
sitions in society, fruitful source of
contention among better people than
they were. Their names were Eugene
Moorehead and Jackson Brand. Both
both were well thought of by their
white friends. Each of them owned, as
is usual among negro politicians, sort
of restaurant, in which oysters were
served during the winter and ice-cream
through the summer. 1t appears that
they were brought together by political
exigencies great deal. The caucuses
usually took place in one of their saloons,
where, over plate of free ice cream,
they would mature their plans. Suddenly
Eugene discovered that these conferences
took place most often at Jaokson's sa-
loon. Filled at once with divine
hospitality and a suspicion of slight, be
asked Brand to meet him the next night
at his (Eugene's) saloon. Brand declined
to do SO, using such haughtiness of
manner that Eugene was constrained to
suggest that perhaps with emphasis on
the perhaps) Brand thought his saloon
"was kind of low place." Brand,
moved by spirit of truth, was obliged
to confess that he did so view it. At
this Eugene, kindling up to the truth,
suggested to Brand that perhaps he con-
sidered himself somewhat above him
(Eugene) in the social scale. Branda again
acknowledged the force of Eugene's sug-
.gestion; at which Eugene proposed to
give him chance to settle the ques-
ton of his superiority. The proposition
being gladly accepted by Brand, the
next question was the method of settle
ment. Itwould not do for them TO in
dulge in the old-style rough-and- tumble
African fight the fight of their
fathers" they determined to adopt
the custom Endorsed by the white folks.
Eugene therefore challenged Brand to
meet him in mortal combat duel q
eoutra,ace. Brand accepted the. verbal
challenge, named muskets as the
weapons, across the river as the place,
and the next morning by daylight as the
time. The arrangements were made
verbally. 1t was agreed that no one
should accompany them but the boat
men who pulled them to the place OF
meeting. So the next morning, in the
gray dawn two boats pulled out from
the city wharf. A single oarsman pro-
PEELED each craft, and in the bow of each
sat tall, determined negro holding in
his arms a musket.
The opposite side reached, the COM
batants saluted each other stiffiy, and
plunged into the woods. The oarsmen
waited in their boats until result had
been reached and ithad been determined
whether Eugene or Brand stood highest
in society. One of the stipulations had
been that each man should put just as
many bullets in his musket as he wanted
to. Taking advantage of this allowance
Eugene poured full handful of slugs
into his musket, and announced himself
ready for the debate on social standing,
Brand took his position, and the word
was given. 1t is not definitely settled
which gave the word, or how it was
managed. All that we know is that a
pair of terrific explosions were heard,
and, Eugene, walking to the edge of the
woods, announced that he had killed
Brand. 1t was found that his words
were true. Brand was discovered lying
upon his face, riddled like sieve with
the bullets which Eugene had put in
his gun. As the duel took place or
Carolina soil no decided legal steps were
taken that am aware of, and the noise
of the duel soon died out.
The home of Mr.. Thurlow Weed, the
/ Sc. q