Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-12-15

AN AMUSING DUEL.-An old East India
officer, in giving some "reminiscences in
Chambers journal, tells this story:
Tainton's regiment was stationed at the
straits (Singapore, Malacca and Penang),
but he was officiating as brigade major,
while the real incumbent was absent on a
furlough Mt the cape. He was known to
be an extraordinary shot with gun, yihe
and pelet-bow. Nothing could ruiIle him
outwardly, but pity the man who insult
ed him, for rainton, with smile, would
think no more of throwing him out of a
window than he would Of kicking a cur
down stairs. He was lamb in appear
ance, but very lion in strength and cour-
age, and neither drank, gambled nor
quarreled; but in those dueling days even
he could not at times avoid the wager to
battle" D., II foolishly rate and
somewhat tipsy man, moreover only a
late arrival, took umbrage ut some re-
marks of n perfectly inofensive nature
made by Tainton, and the usual challenge
followed. There is limit to the greptest
forbearance, and my gallant friend was
tired of beng made a target of, so con-
sented IN 90 1ut provided h's terms were
q ceded 10; mo lhese were that they were
to he placed fac. :. face at fl teen Yards or
less, he to be M ne1 wi h 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 seconds knew Tain
ton well, and they anticipated some fun
from the novel duel 80 while consenting
to the terms, they made them known all
low thn tnfi l,yy
Tainton's adversary strongly protested
against such strange duel, but he was
told he had no choice, rs the RIGHT of
choosing weapons lay with the challenged.
So D, more iratc than ever, went to
the place Of meeting, vowing he would
drill II hole through his man for making
such a fool of him. The whole plain was
covered with spectators. The two stood
face to face Tainton with his pockets full
of hardened pellets and his bow, D.
with an ordinary pistol. The word LOAD"
being given, D. lifted his powder
flask, when rap, rap, came two pellets on
his knuckles, when he dropped bis pistol
and flask as if they had been red hot The
bystanders screamed with laughter D.
got more savage and hastily picking up
the pistol and flask, tried to load but a
similar visitation rs before made him drop
them again. while another rap, rap, made
him turn his back on his foe The seconds
now interfered, and declared the duel at
an end. because the conditions had been
violated by D., who was led off the
ground foaming with rage. But little
reflection and little inquiry into the an
tecedents and character of the antagonist
he had to deal with convinced him of the
folly of quarreling with such man, and
party was got up at mess, where the two
met and shook hands. Tainton's skill
with the Indian pellet-bow was something
marvellous. He had been known, for a
wager, with five pellets to knock over
three snipe, and the Sepoys and native
officers of his regiment not only loved him,
but believed him to be possessed of super
natural powers, and were ever fond of
telling the most improbable stories of
him, and nothing would convince them to
the contrary. One story was that with
hard pellet he could drill hole in an
earthenware water pot, and with soft
one ii it up again.