The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1879-02-28
THE GAMBETTA DUEL,
HOW MARK TWAIN DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF
AS THE sIATEsMAN's SECOND.

Mark Twain writes for the atlantic Aoath-
~ an account of his participation in the re-
cent duel between Gambetta and Fourtou.
When he had heard of the outbreak in the
assembly he says he called on Gambetta,
whom he found stepped in a profound Fench
calm Mr.. Twain after being embraced be-
gan the conversation
l said | supposed he would wish me to act
as his second, and he said: 'Of course l
said | must be allowed to act under French
name, so that | might be shielded from OBJ
loquy in my country in case of fatal results.
He WINGED here, probably at the suggestion
that dueling was not regarded with respect
in America. However, he agreed to my re-
quirement. This accounts for the fact that
in all the newspaper reports NJ. Gambetta's
second was apparently a Frenchman. First,
we drew up my principals will. insisted
upon this aud stuck to my point. | said |
had never heard or man ia MS right mind
doing anything of the kind. When we had
choice of his last words He wanted 10
know how the following exclamation, struck
me /:
Il die for my God, for my country, for
freedom OF speech, for progress and the uni
versal brotherhood of man =
| objected that this would require too lin
| gering death ; it was good speech for a
consumptive, but not suited to the eXgencies
of the field of honor. We wraugied over a
good many ante-mortem outbursts, but | fl
nally got him to cut his obituary down to
this, which he copied into his memorandum
book, puposing to get it by heart
die that France may live.
| l said that this remark seemed to lack rel
evancy but he said relevancy was a matte
of no consequence in last words-what you
wanted was thrill.
then wrote the following note and carried
it to Mr.. Fourtou's friend
SIR NJ. Gambetta accepts NJ. Fourtou'
challenge, and authorizes me to propos
Plessis. Piquet as the place of meeting to
morrow morning at day break as the time
and axes as the weapons. | am, sir, witt
great respect, MARK TWAIN.
NJ. Fourlou's friend read this note, an
shuddered Then he turned to me, and sal
with a suggestion of severity in his tone
Have you considered, sir, what would b
the inevitable result of such meeting 8
thisY
well for instance, what would it be?'
'Bloodshed ?
. 'rhat's about the size of it, | said.
Now, il it is a fair question, what Wi
your side proposing to shed ?
Il had him there, he saw he had made
blunder, so he fastened to explain it ava
> He said he had spoken jestingly. Then
said that he and his principal would emf
axes, and indeed prefer them, but su,
weapons were barred by the French cod
and so / must change my proposal.
After proposing Gatling guns rifles, ma
> pistols and brick bats, Mr.. Twain left t
! choice of weapons to the other second, wi
fished out of his vest pocket, "a couple of lit
- things which ! carried to the light and
y, covered to be pistols. They were sing
barTelled and silyer-mounled, and We
dainty and pretty. was not able to spe
for emotion. | silently hung one of the
ON my watch-chan, and returned the 9th
My companion in crime now unrolled a po
age stamp containing several cartridges a
gave me one Of them. | asked if he mei
~ to signify by this that our men were to
= allowed but one shot apiece. lie repl
that the French code permitted no more.
then begged him to go on and suggest 4
- tauce, for my mind was growing weak q
cOuiu ed under the strain which had b
put upon it. lie uamed siXty.Gve yards.
>, nearly lost my patience. | said
t. "Sixty-hye yards, with these instrumel
m Pop guns would be deadier 1t fifty. G
ce slider, my friend, you and | are banded
gether to destroy life, not make it elerna