The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1881-02-04
A DUEL WITH Cannon.
Terrible Affair Of Honor. in Which Heavy Ar
tiiiery 10 Used.

Viscount de Serrant, ss II Is well known,
challenged the fighting man Of the Little
Rock Gazette. This was, reckless, for the
fighting man Is so bloody in his disposition
that the proprietors of slaughter pens have
warned him not to hang around their places
of business. In fluent French the Vicount
demanded that satisfaction which alone the
most profuse quantity of blood can satisfy,
closing with the threat that If his demands
were not satisfied he would brand the news
paper man with redhot horseshoe, onwhich
should be engraved the word Coward"
The challenge was accepted. Time, twelve
o'clock the following day; distance, twenty
yards; weapons, siege guns Of twenty pound
or inciination. The Frenchman declared
that he much rather preferred to fight with
flint lock pistols, but the fighting man was
firm. "If we are going to fight" he said,
"let US choose weapons of most accommoda-
ting size. Iwould rather be killed with
cannon ball than wounded with bullet.
The Frenchmsn finally agreed, and yesterday
the parties went to the arsenal and borrowed
the guns. Four seconds were employed on
|. each side. The ground selected was in .
thick wood oar sss,v nvr.. kaA4i- l.--i--.,. Tina
cannons were drawn to battle by two yoke
of oxen, and when the fighting man rode
through the streets carelessly sitting between
the horns of his off oxen, his friends cheered
Justify. The Frenchmen rode astride his
gun barrel, and when he flourished an enor-
nous swab ladies shrieked and brave men
trembled in their boots and other articles OF
clothing. There was no attempt by the au-
thorities to prevent the engagement, and
nearly all the State and city officials came
out and cheered as they saw the heavy guns,
the viscount and the determined newspaper
| man.
"That's the way to run newspaper" said
the Governor. "Why, If had newspaper
| I'd put the city circulation in charge of an
experienced artilleryman and let him shoot
the papers around to the subscribers every
morning."
| The cannons were loaded and placed in po
sition. Being of primitive order 1t was nee
essary to discharge them with red hot pokers
Fires were kindled and while the poker
were heating men advanced, divided thei
coat tails and warmed themselves. The gul
director climbed UP q dogwood tree, and
standing in the first fork, took off his ha
and exclaimed:
"Gentlemen, We are now ready to vindI
cate the honor of the house Of Serrant, an
to give the fighting editor chance to win
himself. We have all heard about fghtin
editors, but few of US have ever seen one
Old men and children, fall back! Combat
ants sieze your pokers and stand about tw
feet to the right Of your guns. After aim
taken 1t shall be considered an act of cowart
Ice to change position" ...
"Ready, aim, fire." uu .'..
Two rife reports sounded almost simult
neously. In the excitement the newspap'
man nuneonsciousiy turned his gun, SO thu
when 1t fired the dogwood tree and the d
rector fell with crash. When the smol
, cleared away viscount was seen climbing
neighboring fence, while the fighting edito
mounted on the of steer, was travelling at
: fast trot In the direction Of town. .rr ...r