The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1880-11-18
AN AMUSING DUEL.

>
ing 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 ma
jor while the real incumbent was
absent on furlough at the cape. He
was known to be an extraordinary
shot with gun, rife and pellet bow
Nothing could ruffie him outwardly,
but | pity the man who insulted him,
for Taunton, with a smile, would
think no more of throwing him out
of window than he would of kick
ing a cur down stairs. He was a
lamb in appearance, but very lion
in strength and courage, and neither
drank, gambled nor quarreled; but
in those dueling days even he could
not at times avoid the wager to
battle D, a foolishly irate and
somewhat tipsy man, moreover only
a late arrival, took umbrage at some
remarks of a perfectly inoffensive
nature made by Taunton, and the
usual challenge followed. There is
a limit to the greatest forbearancA,
and my gallant friend was tired of
being madea target of, so consented
to 90 out provided his terms were
acceeded 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 weapon;
and that from the moment the word
Load was given, each party was
to be at liberty to do with his weap-
on what he chose. The seconds
knew Taunton well, and they antici
pated some fun from the novel duel,
while consenting to the terms, they
made them known all over the sta
ton. The day arrived. Tainton's
adversary strongly protested against
such strange duel; but he was told
he had no choice, as the right of
choosing weapons lay with the chal-
( lenged. So D-,more irate than
ever, went to the place of meeting,
vowing he would drill hole through
his man for making such a fool of
him. The whole plain was crowded
with spectators. The two stood face
to face. Taunton with his pockets
full Of hardened pellets and his bow;
D with an ordinary pistol
The word ''Load.' being given, y
- lifted his powder flask, when
rap, rap, came two pellets on his
knuckles, and he dropped his pistol
and flask as if they had been red hot!
The bystanders screamed with laugh
ter. D got more savage, and
hastily picking up the pistol and
flask, tried to load; but a similar
visitation as before made him drop
them again, whilst another rap, rap,
made him turn his back on his foe.
| The seconds now interfered, and de-
| clared the duel at an end, because
the conditions had been violated by
D, who was lead of the ground
foaming with rage. But a little
reflection and little inquiry into
the antecedents and character Of the
antagonist be had to deal with con-
WINGED him Of the folly of quarreling
with such a man, and a party was
got up at mess, where the two ne:
and shook hands.
Tainton's skill with an Indian
pellet-bOw was something marvellous.
He had been known, for wager,
with five pellets to knock over three
snipe; and the Sepoys and native
officers of his regiment not only low
ed him, bat believed him to be poss-
essed of supernatural powers, and
were ever fond of relating the most
improbable stories of him, and moth
ing would convince them to the con-
trary, One story was, that with
hard pellet lac could drill hole in
an earthenware waterproof, and with
a soft one fill it up again,