Daily Los Angeles herald., 1880-12-17
An Amusing Duel.

An old East Indian officer, in
giving some "reminiscences In
Chambers Journal, tells this story:
Tainton's regiment was stationed
at the Straits (5ingapore, Malaeca
and Penang, but be was ofiiciat-
ing as Brigade Major while the
real incumbent was absent on fur
Tough at the Cape. He was known
to be an extraordinary shot with
gun, rife and pellet-bow. Nothing
could ruf1e him outwardly, but I
pity the man who insulted him,
for TaintOn, with smile, would
think no more Of throwing him out
of q window than he would of kick.
Ing a cur down stairs. He was q
lamb In appearance, but q very
lion in strength and courage, and
neither drank, gambled nor quar-
relied; but In those duelling days
even he could not at times avoid
the "wager of battle" D., a
foolish, irats and somewhat tipsy
man moreover only late arrival,
took umbrage at some remark OF q
perfectly inoffensive nature made
by Taunton, and the usual chal.
lenge followed. There Ia q limit to
the greatest forbsarance, and my
gallant friend was tired of being
made Q target OF, SO consented to
60 out provided his terms were &C.
ceded to; and these were that they
were to be placed face to face at
fifteen yards or less, he to be
armed with his pellet-bow
alone and his adversary to
load his own weapon, and that
from the moment the word
"Load!" was given, each party
was to be at liberty to do with his
weapon what he chose. The Sec
onds knew Tainton well, and they
anticipated some fun from the
novel duel; so, while consentiug to
the terms, they made them known
all over the station. The day ar
rived. Tainton's adversary strongly
protested against such q strange
duel; but he was told he had no
choice, as the right Of choosing
weapons lay with the challenged.
30 D., more irate than ever,
went to the place of meeting, VOW.
Ing he would drill q hole through
his man for making such q fool of
him. The whole plain was crowd.
ed with spectators. The two stood
face to face - Talnton with his
pocket full of hardened pellets
and his bow, D. an ordinary
pistol. The word "LoadW being
given, D. lifted his powder flask,
when rap, rap, came two pellets on
his knuckles, and he dropped his
pistol and flask as If they had bsen
red hot. The bystanders screamed
with laug hter. D. got more
savage and hastily picking up pis.
tOl and flask tried to load, but q
similar visitation made him
drop them again, whilst another
rap, rap, made him turn, his back
on his foe.g The seconds now inter.
fered, and declared the duel at an
| end, because the conditions were
violated by D, who was led
on the ground foaming with rage,
| OuU y hVtiu AOAcCtlOu anu lILlIe
inquiry into the antscedents and
character of the antagonist he had
to deal with, convinced him Of the
folly of quarreling with such a
man, and q party was got up at
mess, where the two met aud
shook hands.
TaintOn's skill with the Indian
psllet-bow was something marvel.
Gus. He had been known for q
wager, with five pellets to knock
over three snipe; and the Sspoys
and native officers of his regiment
not only loved him, but believed
him to be possessed OF supernatural
powers, and were over fond of re-
lating the most improbable stories
of him, and nothing would con-
vince them to the contrary. One
story WAS, that with o hard pellet
he could drill hole In an earthep.
ware waterproof, and with a soft
one I'LL 1t up again.