The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1879-02-14
VOL. Knew SERIES.
THE GAMBETTADUEL.
How Mark Twain Distinguished Himself as the
Statesman's Second.

~>S" ~~1&N
Statesman's Second.
Mark Twain writes for the February
number of the AtlaRtic Monthly an account
of his participation in the recent duel be-
tween Gambetta aud Fourtou When he
had heard of the outbreak in tho Assembly,
he says that he called on Gambetta, whom
he found "stcopcd in a profound French
calm" Mr.. Twain, after being embraced,
began the conversation
l said | supposed he would wish ME to
nee as his second, and he said, "Of course.
l said must be allowed to act under
French name, SO that might be shielded
from ,obloquy in my country in case of ia
tai results. He wiuced here, probably at
the suggestion that dueling was not re.
gardcd with respect in America. However,
he agreed to my requirement. This ac-
counts for the fact that in all the newspaper
reports NJ. Gambetta's second was appar-
emily French man. First, we drew up
my principals will. I insisted upon this
and stuck to my point. said I had never
heard of man in his right mind going out
to fight duel without first making his will.
lie said he had never heard of man in
his right mind doing any thing of the kind.
When we had finished the will he
wished to proceed to choice of his 'slast
words" He wanted to know how the
following words, as dying exclamation,
struck me:
81 die for my God, for my country for
freedom of speech, for progress and the
universal brotherhood of man I"
objected that this would require too
lingering death it was good speech for
n MT iuo hnk A.
gencies of the field of honor We wran
gled over good many ante-mortem out
bursts, but fually got him to cut his
obituary down TO this, which he had copied
into his memorandum book, purposing to get
it by heart:
81 die that France may live"
said that this remark saemed to lack
relevancy but he said relevancy was mat
ter OF no consequence in last words-what
you wanted was thrill
1 then wrote the following note and
carried it to NJ Foartou's friend:
SIR; MIR. Gambetta accepts NJ. Fourtou's
challenge, and authorizes me to propose
Plessis.P Piquet as the place of meeting, to.
morrow morning at daybreak as the time;
and axes as the weapons. 1 am, sir, with
great respect, MARK TWAIN.
NJ. Fourtou's friend read this note and
shuddered. Then he turned to me and
said, with suggestion Of severity in his
tone:
"Have you considered, sir, what would
be the inevitable result of such a meeting
as ths?"
"Well, for instance, what would it be ?'
"Bloodshed !"
"That's about the size of it," I said
"Now, if it is q fair question, what was
your side proposing to shed 7"
l had him there; he saw he had made a
blunder, so he fastened to explain it away.
He said he had spoken jestingly. Then
he added that he and his principal would
enjoy axes, and indeed 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, Mr.. Twain left the
choice Of weapons to the other second, who
fished out of his vost pocket a couple of
little things, which l carried to the light
and discovered to be pistols. They were
single-barreled and silver mourted and
very dainty and pretty. was not able to
speak for emotion. =, silently hung one of
them on my watch chain, and returned the
other. My companion in crime now un-
rolled 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. He replied that the French code
permitted no more. then begged him to
go on and suggest q distance, for my mind
was growing weak and confused under the
strain which had been put upon it. He
named sixty five yards. l nearly lost my
patience. said:
"Sixty-ive yards with these instruments?
Pop.gans would be deadlier at fifty. Con-
slider, my friend, you and 1 are banded to.
gether to destroy life, not make it eternal"
But with all my persuasions, all my
arguments, was only able to get him to
reduce the distance to thirty-fve yards
and even this concession he made with
reluctance, and said with sigh:
II wash my hands Of this slaughter; on
your head be it,"
There was nothing for me but to 60 home
to my own lion. heart and tell my humilia-
ting story. When l entered M. Gambetta
was laying his last lock Of hair upon the
altar. He sprang towards me, exclaim-
ing; s,.f
"The weapon, the weapon, Quick what
ia the yyeapon ?" 'i