The Plymouth Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1878-1901, 1879-07-17
SOUTHERN DUELLING.
A Northern Man Thinks They're Not so
Ready for Square Stand up
Fight After All.

/
resided some years in Mississippi, at
the close OF the war, he said, in refer
ence to the mootel duel between
Conkling and Lamar:
"You mark my words; II Lamar
can sneak out OF a fight and leave
the imputation on Conkling, some
how, he will do it. There are no
people in the world who dislike du-
ell more than the southerners. Their
love OF buster is inherent and keeps
them continually on the edge OF du-
els. but their fivorite way OF getting
rid OF an opponent is not ten PAGES,
but shooting him from behind a tree,
or when he is. unarmed and unpre-
pared. They are exceeding subtle in
all details OF a cartel. Through all
those southern communities are men
sharpened in the diplomacy of duel
ing; yet for the ammount of talk
they have on the subject there is
probably less dueling in the south
than any part OF the world Murders
are plentiful, but stand-up fights are
rare,
Il remember one instance" said
the gentleman, (which occurred
about the time of the Chisholm mas
sacre. You recollect it, that CHS
Il
holm was the leader OF the radicals
OF Mississippi, but he was doomed to
be assassinated. Ruffians broke in'o
the Jail and murdered the man, his
son and his daughter. II was one OF
the bloodiest transactions in any do
nestle history. About the time one
OF the federal office holders at Vicks-
burg published an article reviewing
the massacre. for which he was call
ed to account by the editor OF one OF
the Vicksburg papers. This latter
was a coward and loafer, but he had
managed on ono or two occasions 10
get up a reputation for dueIing. The
federal ollicial aforesaid had been
soldier from Illinois. aul was quiet
but deter mined fellow. He took his
pen and laihered the other chap
without stint. Then the most di-
plomatic duel maker in the town was
sent TO him for retraction. There
will be no retraction,' said the man;
L wrote that article intending to
have fight. and l mean music. /
shall cross the river to the island
this very day. and 1 shall expect
your man to come over. This is all /
hare to say.
"He took his seconds and surgeon,
and waited on that island all that
day, but the other chap didu't arrive.
On the following day "a boat came
over from Vicksburg. bearing a note
| from the fire eater. stating that he
had been arrested and put under
bond FOR $500 not to leave Vicksburg
to fight duel. The Illinois man at
once drew his check for $500 and sent
| it by the messenger.
Il will present him with the
amount OF his bond to come oyer
here and fight. Nothing short OF
that will answer
"All day elapsed and the shadows
OF night began to gather before the
aggrieved native put in an appear
ance. He had carefully waited until
night had descended, so that there
might be an excuse for not lighting
In the darkness. The Illinois man
was perfectly firm. Start two brush
fire he said, and give us an iIlumi-
nation. As am the challenged per-
son have the choice OF weapons; /;
here they arc!'
He then produced two Smith &
Wesson revolvers, and named the
distance at ten PAGES.
The Illinois man was about six
fee; and three inches high and broad
in proportion. 1t was as easy to hit
him as a barn door, but his nerve COM
pensated for the disadvantage. The
other side protested that it was too
dark, and not according to the code
to fight by freight. However. the
northern party, perceiviug their adj
vantage, were innexible.
Suddenly there was loud scream.
and boat landed on the island,
bringing the wife of the Vicksburg
editor. She walled and hOwled, and
could have been heard mile. This,
Of course, was part OF the arrange
ment. Perceiving that there was no
finch in the northerner, they had the
woman In reserve to create q scene.
The northern party merely said: The
woman has no business on the island.
Send her away and come down to
work.
Then, his last card played, the
boaster sat down by the light OF the
fire and copied retraction which
one OF the northern men wrote and
made hard enough IL cover the case.
! This retraction was delivered to the
Illinois man, and the southern party,
with their tails between their legs,
padded over to Vicksburg."
We would guard the young against
the use OF every word that is not
strictly proper. Use no profane ex-
preston, allude to no sentence that