Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1881-02-10
nnaling OF the Last century.

! A man of the present age, not thor
oughly conyersant with the state of so
ciety in Europe during the eighteenth
century, would hardly be willing to be-
/ Iieve the truth of the matter. We speak
particularly of the duel. Really, much
Of the adventure on the so-called field of
| honor, of that time, is entirely unfit for
publication, and, if published, would be
| believed by but few. When reading OF
the duel in ireland, the impression rests
in our mind that the Emerald Isle must
| take the palm in the way Of horrors and
denominations of personal combat But
anon we visit England then France
then Germany Italy, Austria. Spain
| in short, wherever fashion had intro
duced the sword and pistol as social ar
biters go where you please, and read
of the doings there, and you will feel
that each in turn was the most bloody OF
the lot. In those times men fought just
| for the fun Of the thing.
These thoughts have been suggested
| by the following curious passage, which
/ comes to me from source not to be
/ questioned : During the reign of George
| /. two military officers of London-Maj.
| Walsh and Capt. Hudon--haying heard
repeated accounts of the success of two
Irish gentlemen in affairs of honor, de-
termined to go over and test the much
| boosted skill. To Dublin they came,
where Mr.. Fitz Allan and Col Callahan
! we're pointed out to them as the heroes
whom they sought. Welsh embraced
the first opportunity, at public ball,
and brushed rudely against Mr.. Fitz
| Allan. The latter turned, and saw
stranger; and, thinking the affair must
have been only an accident, he went his
way without further notice.
On the following day, Maj. Walsh, in
a tap-room where many gentlemen were
/ assembled, told of the circumstance
declared that he had purposely insulted
| Eitz Allan, who had not dared to re-
| spond.
Col. Callahan CHANGED TO be present.
He advanced to the Englishman, and
politely informed him that he was Fitz
! Allan's friend that he would take it
upon himself to declare that his friend
had sighted the insult, believing it to
have been an unavoidable accident and,
/ further, in behalf Of his friend, he would
extend a challenge, the fight to take
| place at once.
The Major accepted, and the other
went in search of his friend, who WIS
quickly found, and brought upon tine
scene.
Fitz Allan came in smiling. No words
were wasted. The company repaired to
an adjacent riding-yard, where the pre-
liminaries were arranged, and the COM
batants placed in position, sword in
! hand.
.sUpon my soul" said Callahan. adj
| dressing Capt. Hudon-the two acting
seconds to their friends, respectively
:" think we may as well take hand in
the pastime 1t is a pity to lose such an
opportunity.
Nothing, at that moment, could have
pleased the English Captain better He
consented Immediately, and the twain
| drew their swords.
1 And then commenced tll3 doable duel
! IA duel brought about on the merest
whim-to test the truth of flying rumor.
Callahan and Hudon being seconds, and
feeling that they ought to be ready to
attend to their principals, went at it with
| the quickest and most energetic move
ments. Very soon the Englishman was
surprised. He had fancied himself an
expert at sword-p play, but here was man
who bewildered him. The Irishraan's
blade flashed through the air like line
Of light leaving behind it network Of
flame that seemed TO create dazzling
veil of binding rays. So for ittlo
time, till the Englishman had been
wounded in three places, and then Cal
lahan gave the comp dc grace, passing
his point through between the ribs and
out at the back. AS he recovered his
swol he turned to his principal and
said
I'm attend to you now, Fitz. My
man is laid away p
"Oho Then, egad I'll finish
mine r And gathering himself for
feint-a twirl-and pass, that had new
er yet failed him. he spitted his opponent
through, from. side to side.
The two Englishmen were taken in
hand by the best surgeons and faithfully
nursed. For time their lives were
despaired of, both: bat they finally re-
covered, and lived to become warm and
ardent friends OF the men who had given
them so severe lesson in dueling,