The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1879-02-27
THE GAMBETTA DUEL.
HOW MARK TWAIN DISTINGUISHED
HIMSELF AS THE STATESMAN
SECOND.

HOW MARK TWAIN DISTINGUISHED
HIMSELF AS THE sTATEsNAN's
SECOND.
Mark Twain writes for the February
number of the Atlantic Monthly an ac-
count of his participation in the recent
duel between Gambetta and FOurtou.
When he had heard Of the outbreak in
the assembly he says that he called on
Gambctta, whom he found STEPPED in
profound French calm Mr.. Twain.
after being embraced, began the con-
versation
SAID / supposed he would wish me
to act as his second, and he said ''of
course. | said | must be allowed to
act under a French name, so that |
might be shielded from obloquy IN my
country in case Of fatal results He
WINGED here, probably at the suggestion
that dueling was not regarded with re-
spect in America However, he agreed
TO my requirement. This accounts for
the fact that in all the newspaper re-
ports NJ. Gambetta's second was appar-
emily Frenchman First, we drew up
my principals will. / insisted upon
this and stuck to my point. I said |
had never heard of man in his right
mind going out to fight duel without
first making his will He said he had
never heard Of man in his right mind
do anything Of the kind. When he had
finished the will, he wished to proceed
to choice Of his last words" He
wanted to know how the following words,
as dying exclamation, struck me:
Il die for my God, for my country,
for freedom of speech, for progress and
the universal brotherhood Of man :"
| objected that this would require too
lingering death it was good speech
for consumptiye, but not suited to the
exigcncies of the field Of honor. We
wrangled over good many ante-mortem
out-bursts, but | finally got him to cut
his obituary down to this, which he
copied into his memorandum book, pur-
posing to get 1t by heart
die that France may live
said that this remark seemed to lack
relevancy but he said relevancy was a
matter Of no consequence in last words
what you wanted was thrill
then wrote the following note and
carried it to VI. Fourtou's friend:
SIR N Gambetta accepts NJ Fourtou's
challenge, and authorizes me TO propose Pessis
Piquet rs the place of meeting tomorrow
morning at daybreall rs the time and axes
the weapons. ! am, sir, with great respect.
MARK TWAIN
NJ. Fourtou's friend read this note,
and shuddered Then he turned to me,
and said with a suggestion of severity
IN his tone
Have you considered, sir what
would be the inevitable result of such
meeting as this ?"
"Well, for instance, what would it
be g
.Bloodshed -
That's about the size of it," [ said
'sNow, if it is fair question, what was
your side proposing to shed?'
| had him there he saw he had
made blunder, so he FASTENED to ex-
plain it away. He said he had spoken
jestingly Then he added that he and
his principal would enjoy axes, and in
deed prefer them, but such weapons
were barred by the French code, and so
| must change my proposal.
After proposing Gatling guns. rifles,
navy pistols and brick bats, | left the
choice Of weapons to the other second,
who fshed out Of his vest pocket couple
of little things which carried to the
light and discovered to be pistols. They
were single barrelled and silver mount
ed, aud very dainty and pretty. | was
not able to speak for emotion. | silent
y hung one of them on my " atch-chain
and returned the other. Ny compan-
ion in crime now enrolled a postage
stamp containing several cartridges and
gave me one of them. | asked if he
meant to signify by this that our men
were to be allowed but one shot apiece
lie replied that the French code permit
ted no more. then begged him to 90
on and suggest distance, for my mind
was growing weak and confused under
the strain which had been put upon it.
lie named sixty-fve yards. nearly
lost my patience. l said
Sixty five yards, with these instru-
ments. Popguns would be deadlier
at fifty. Consider, my friend, you and
are banded together to destroy life,
not make it eternal.
But with all my persuasions, all my
arguments, | was only able to get him
10 reduce the distance to thirty five
yards and even this concession he made
with reluctance. and said with sigh
Il wash ms hands OF this slaughter;
on your head be it, :
There was nothing for me but to 90
home to my own hon-hsart and tell my
humiliating story. When | entered NJ.
Gambctta was laying his last lock cfhair
upon the altar He sprang towards me