Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1879-03-14

second; then carriage containing two
poet orators who did not believe In
God, and these had Ms. funeral ora
tons projecting from their breast pock-
cts; then carriage containing the head
surgeons and their cases of instru-
ments; then eight private carriages
containing consulting surgeons; then a
hack containing the Coroner; then the
two hearses; then q carriage contain
ing the head undertakers; then g train
Of assistants and mutes on foot; and
after these came plodding through the
fog long procession OF cam mp-folloW-
ers, police and citizens generally. Itwss
noble turnout, and wOlld have made
. fine display if we had had thinner
/ weather
There was no conversation. / spoke
several times to my principal, but l
| judge that he was not aware of it, for
he always referred to his notebook,
and muttered sbsently, al die that
France may live"
Arrived on the field, my felloW-sec-
Ond and Ipaced off the thirty-five yards,
and then drew lots for choice of posi-
ton. This latter was but an Orna-
mental ceremony, for all choices were
alike in such weather. These prelimi-
nsries being ended, I went to my prin-
cipsl and asked him if he was ready.
He spread himself out to his full width.
and said in q stern voice, Ready! Let
the batteries be charged -
The loading was done in the presence
of duly-constftuted witnesses We con-
sidered it best to perform this delicate
service with the assistance of the Ian
tern, on account of the state of the
weather. We now placed our men.
At this point the police noticed that
the public had massed themselves to-
gether on the right and left of the field;
they therefore begged adelaY, while they
should put these poor people in a place
Of safety. The request was granted.
The police having ordered the two
multitudes to take positions behind the
duelists, we were once more ready.
The weather growing still more opaque,
it was agreed between myself and the
other second that, before giving the
fatal signal, we should each deliver a
loud whoOp to enable the combatants
to ascertain each others whereabouts.
now returned to my principal. and
was distressed to observe that ne had
lost good deal of his spirit. tried
my best to hearten him. said, 81 In
desd, sir, things are not SIS bad as they
seem. Considering the character of
the weapons, the limited number of
shots allowed. the generous distance,
the impenetrable thickness of fog, and
the added fact that one Of the combat
ants is one-eYed and the other cross
eyed and near-sighted, it seems to me
hat this conflict need not necessarily
be fatal. There are chances that both
of you my survive. Therefore, cheer
up; do not be down-hearted."
This speech had so good an effect
thatmy principal Immediately stretched
forth his hand and said, ''I am myself
again; give me the weapon"
l laid it, all lonely and forlorn, in the
center Of the vast solitude of bis palm.
He gazed at it and shuddered. And
still mournfully contemplating it, he
murmured, in a broken voice:
"Alas, it is not death / dread, lblsts
mutilation." -e,s:S5,. 20, .26 ;5
I Iheartened him once 80 8sS5 3s5,sI y
such success that he pl fund ,sas -
rSpecis.fhe t.-anu, ,Brft-s..;asfdd- z5t6flZ
N1llagSs slaknd -----------------i;,.,-F -