Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1880-12-24
AN AMUSING DU FL.
How nn English Officer Covered His
Adversary with RidicuIe and Drove
Him from the Field.

Him from the Fleld.
An old East Indian officer, i'll giving
some "reminiscences in Ghnnibers' J0ttr-
mi, tells this story: Tainton's regiment
was stationed mt the Straits Singapore,
Malacca and Penang, but he was Off
chatting ns brigade major while the real
incumbent was absent on furlough Mt
the Cape. He was known to be an
extraordinary shot with gun, rifle and
pcllot-bow. Nothing could ruillc him
outwardly, but pity the man who in
suited him, for Tainton, with y smile,
would think no more Of throwing him
out of the window than he would Of
kicking u cur downstairs. He was u
lnlnb in appearance, but n very lion in
strength and courage, and neither
drank, gamblcd nor qunrrcled; but in
those dueling days even he could not
ut times avoid the wager to battle"
| D., u foolishly rate and somewhat
tipsy mnn, moreover only il late arriv-
| nj, took umbrage ut some remarks of u
perfectly inoilcnsiye nature made by
Tainton, and the usual challenge fol
lowed. There is u limit to the greatest
forboarancc, and my gallant friend was
tired Of being made IL target Of, so con
scented to 70 ont, provided his terms
were aGceded TO; and these were that
they were to he placed face to face ut
fifteen yards or less, he to be armed
with his pellet-bow alone, and his nd
yersary to loud his own weapon; and
that from the moment the word "IoadW
WIS given, ench party WIS to be 1T
liberty TO do with his weapon what he
chose, The seconds knew Tainton
well, and they anticipated some fun
from the novel dueI SO, while consent
ing To the terms, they mndo them
known MI over the station The day
arrived. Tninton's adversary strongly
protested against such strange duel
but he was told lie had no choice, MS
the right Of choosing weapons lny with
the challenged. So D., more irate
than over, went to the place of meeting,
vowing hc would drill Il hole through
his man for making such II fool Of him
The whole plnin was crowded with
spectators. The two stood face to fnce,
Ialnton with his pockets full of hard
cncd pellets and his bow; D. with nm
ordinary pistol The word "Loadl' be-
ing given, D lifted his powder flask,
when rap, rap, came two pellets on his
knuclsles, and he dropped his pistol
and flask Ms il they had been red hot!
The hystnnders screamed with hugh
ter. D. got more savage, and
hastily picking up the pistol and flask,
tried To load; but Il similar visitation
Ms before made him drop them again,
whilst another rap, rap. made him turn
his back ON his foe. The seconds now
linterrered, and declared the duel III MI
end, because the conditions had been
violated by d, who was he'd or
the ground foaming with rage But il
little reflection and n little inquiry into
the antieedcnis and character Of the
Antagonist hc had to deal with CON.
vinced him of the folly OF qunrreling
with such II man, and Il party was got
UP At mess, where the two met and
shook hands.
Inintons skill with the Indian pellet
bow was something marvellous. He
had been known for ii wager, with five
pellets to knock over three snipe and
the Sepoys and native officers If his
regiment not only loved him, hut hc-
lioscd him to be possessed Of super
natural powers, and were ever fond Of
relating the most improbable stories
about him, and nothing would CON
vince them 10 the contrary, One
story was, that with hard pellet lie
could drill hole il nh carthrrnware
waterproof and with i soft ono fill il up
again