The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-11-25
Lucky Escape OF Duelists.

Many duelists have owod their lives
to the brass buttons 80 much worn by
our grandfathers, and 1t was to this
that Captain Cuthbert Of the Guards
owed his lucky escape when he fought
duel with Lord Lonsdale In 1899.
The captain, 1t seems, was on duty near
to Mount street, in London, in order to
prevent any increasing disturbance in
that quarter, and one Of his orders
was to allow no carriage to pass that
way. Lord Lonsdale, who came In his
carriage to Mount street, was conse-
quently stopped, and finding he would
not be allowed 10 pass, his temper was
somewhat ru1lled. Addressing himself,
therefore, to Captain Cuthbert, he said
to that otticer: you rascal, do you not
know that 1 am peer OF tho realm 20
The captain promptly replied: IL don't
know whethor you are a peer Of tho
realm or not; but l know you are a
scoundrel to apply such term 70 an
officer on duty, and will make you
answer for it," A meeting Of course
took place as soon as the captain got off
duty and the prelimin aries could be ar
ranged, but after the discharge Of u
brace Of pistols OIL each side, it ter
minated without Injury to either party.
Lord Lonsdale's last shot, however,
would probably have been fatal, II tho
ball had not luckily struck button OF
Captain Cuthbert's coat, which repel-
led it. The seconds then interfer d,
and matters were amicably adjusted.
An even more wonderful affair hap
pened In 1887, when French officer
having said in an ungarded moment
that "the English army had moro
phlegm than spirit" he was soon after
ward challenged by an English officer,
Captain s., OF the Eleventh Regi-
ment Of Foot, for having made use OF
these words. AS the Chevaller La
B. refused either to apologize for
or to withdraw the expression, duel
took place, and the offence was oonsid-
cred by the Briton to be of so deadly
Kind, or rather one which nothing but
tho death Of tho utterer could exrenuate
that no insisted upon fighting at five
PAGES. IL the two arms and two pistols
are taken into account, this short dis
tance was, Of course, much reduced;
30 that apparently neither had chance
OF escaping. Seemingly they had tossed
or done something else, for "nrst tire,"
which the Englishman wong and Cap
tain SIS ball ".oGk place." as might
be expected on tho Chevalier's breast:
but by marvel of luck it was stopped
by metal hutton. The Chevalier,
who was touched by SO proyidential al
scape, magnanimous!y fired In the
air, and did not stop at that, but made
a full apology by stating the English
have both spirit and phlegm.
We read, elsewhere, OF another duel
let picking up Oh his way 10 tho place
OF meeting horse. shoe, which for
''luck" he placed inside Of his coat,
over HIS heart; and the bullet happen
Ing to strike tht 70, the horseshoe saved
his lie. General Bonnet, in his duel
with General Oruanl, in Paris, in 1914,
owed his llic.o having y hundred frame
piece III his wGistCuaL pocket; Il tale
Which calls to mind the story Of the
Jester Perpignan, who OH hearing that
one OF the part.es owed his lie to Il
hVe-ir"nc piece hlch happened 10 bv
III his pocket, replied seriously, "Ah!
but l should have been klllcu.'
"Whyf' was the natural inquly.
because, my dear fellow" he replied,
~ never have IL five france picco to
spend, much less TO put into my
pocket"