Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-05-17
COMMUNIPAW DUELLING.
A VERY LARGE MAN AND A VERY
SMALL MAN ATFlFTEEN PAGES.
Six Able-Bodied Men Arranging Things
Down on the Beach-TheQ Queer hys-
terry Of the Flint-WOunded Honor
Happily Healed.

jersey City was disturbed by rumOl
that a duel had been fought in COmmu
nipaw by persons who came from New
York The police of Jersey City pro-
ipSsed 10 treat the report with incredu
lty, but a reporter Tor the SIN met
man who later had talked with a gen
tleman who said ne hal learned the par
ticulars of the affair from a welltO-dC
citizen. 10 whom they had been given
bv a ptGsDn who asserted that he had
seen the encounter. The story thu,
told was as follows:
six able-bOdied men got off an after
noon train at COmmunipaw station
They consisted of two principals, two
seconds, physician, and time keeper
The duty OF the latter was not, as might
be supposed by tine name, to mark the
time in any way, but to keep vigilant
eve upon the roads, and warn the rest
OF the party when a police officer ap-
peared i'm sight-but he had no work 10
10. The six men walked rapidly to the
beach. where fifteen PAGES were meas
urcd, the principals placed, and the
pistols handed them. The contestants
where disSimilar in appearance, One
was SD small and thin that he might apt
lv have repeated Curran : Joke, and pro-
posed 10 have his size chalked upon ms
opponents body, and count nothing foI
every shot that struck outside the lines
lie did not think of this until after the
duel was over, however, but merely
gazed at his adversary with blood IN ms
eve. The pistols were old and we'll
tried weapons; they were tiintloCks, and
IL required a strong finger to pull the
trigger. They carried ounce balls, and
there was no doubt that ii the latter
struck either OF the duellists on the fore.
head. the man would be seriously hurt
II not killed on the spot.
Now, gentlemen, said the biSman f,
second. as soon Us all the prcllmlnarles
were arranged. Il shall count 'one
two. three" At the word three YOU
shall tire after the word three he falls by
my hand.
This was severe; but the second had q
pistol In his hand, and seemed to mean
what he said.
Are YOU ready" he added, and then
continued:
One
elem, One moment, said the small
man.
What's the natter" asked the sec
ond
Iii Mr.. Skimpkins thinks" said the
small man, looking tiercely ut his antag
ouist, chat this pistol Is not loaded with
ball. ne is lamentably mistaken. II he
suppose
ii don't suppose muffin of the sort,
said the big man, who seemed TO have
cold i'm his head.
Then proceed, said the small man.
and the second began again:
cone.
"TwO.
"Stop. cried the small man.
"WrII. what's the trouble this timCT
asked the second, impaticntly.
"Perhaps,' said the small man severe
Iv. "Mr. >kimpkius would like To exam
inc my pistol personally, and ascertain
Tor himself that Is loaded with nothing
softer than a lcadeu bullet.
81 don't want 10 do muffin OF the
kind" suu,Ilcd the big man eNcltedly
Then i'm Gods name 90 on, eX'
laimed the small one, and his blood be
upon his own head.
One said the second.
Two
Til
Excuse me. said the little man
politely. "but there seems to be some
thin. wrong with my pistol. The flint
/ fear has dropped out.
10 hJI indeed, and could not D'
found. The biz man inSiuuated darkIy
that il was concealed in the lett-han,
trousers pocket of his opponent, who
had certainly been handling his weapon
rather suspjciously since the last inter
rup,i9u. but as it was impossible {
f,ht without il the principals Shoob
hands. and, accompanied 10y seconds
ply,iriln. and timckCCpCr, returned tl
NV York hv the next train.