The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1882-09-02
AMh1 a Duel Was Not Fought.

Opposite the city resides Mr.. j. NJ.
Hav ey, gentleman who has lived a
very adventurous life. Emigrating from
a Northern or Western State more
thsn thirty years ago, he came to New
Orleans, where he settled, marrying
into very wealthy and prominent Gre
ole family. Previous to his settlement
in Louisiana Harvey was engaged in
the merchant service and had sailed on
several whaling voyages. Having mar
RED creole, Harvey strOve to conform
to creole ideas and usages. which were
quite opposite and repugnant to his old
notions and feelings. The transition
was certainly a very violent one, from
an old skipper. whose tastes had been
acquired aboard Nantucket whaler,
to the highly refined rules and Gus
toms which govern creole society in
Louisiana
o" AT a gay party at creole neighbours
one evening, where Harvey was pres
ent, game of cards was proposed, and
the game was proceeding quite pleas
antly when an alteration arose between
Harvey and creole gentleman of high
position and for many years an editor,
Albert Fabre. The dispute finally be-
insult from Fabre to Harvey and in q
knock-down from the heavy fist of the
latter the blow infiicting very dark
''black-eye" upon the unfortunate Gre
ole. The next day Harvey was waited
upon by friend of Fabre with a de-
mand for satisfaction and q request to
be referred to his seconds, with, whom
the terms of an early meeting might be
41.t.a,, 4 Al. IL
meant The second replied that he
wanted him to meet Mr. Fabre in honor
able combat, and thus atone for the blow
,he had given him. fL a.
But" replied Harvey, che grossly
insulted me and | returned the insult
with a blow. i think that makes us
even, or, if we amt even, I'll pay up
the balance"
The second was surprised to hear
such response from a gentleman who
had married into a creole family, and,
as a mutual friend. warned Harvey that
if he persisted in this view of the affair
he would be tabooed by all his wife's
relatives. The suggestion somewhat
alarmed Harvey, and he asked his Wis
itor what would be the terms of the
proposed combat. "''."'
The second, Frightening up at the sue
cess of his appeal to 9. the better feel
ings y of Harvey and at the prospect of
lively affair, quickly responded: "Oh,
of course, being the challenged party,
you have the choice of weapons.p
This announcement was great relief
to Harvey, who knew Fabre to be an
Experienced duelst skilled with the
pistol and rapier. He therefore asked,
with an air of great simplicity, what
were'the weapons usually employed by
gentlemen on such occasions. ,ii1
"Pistols, swords, rifles, shot-guns, or
any dangerous weapon in which you
may be skilled"
a." / understand you," Harvey replied,
"and my weapons are harooOns -hick-
Dry handles, ten feet in length; distance
! twenty feet apart. | have brace of
them, from which your friend can take
his choice te,..-. 3. ',,,.. ,,.... Ia.
The creole was .astounded. shocked
and puzzled; stll more Mortified was he
when Harvey showed him one of these
weapons, which had seen good service
on the Pacific. linn
,i9" Why" he exclaimed "do you
think my friend is a fish to be struck by
such tool as thisP'
Fish or no fish," Harvey replied,
"that is my~weapon. Your friend is
quite as skillful in handling sword or
pistol as, am with the harpoon. When
challenge him, he will have the choice
of weapons, and now claim the right.
as the challenged party, to choose the
only one which | feel can use with
skill and effect. ~. e. '.''l7
7hi" But, sir, your proposition is bizarre
and ridiculous, and will bring contempt
on all who are engaged in it. This is
serious affair, sir, and | expect you to
treat it seriously" o Ill. II
You'll find harpoons serious
enough" replied Harvey, at the same
time going through the harpoon exer-
else as practised on whaling ships.
The indignant creole retired in ex-
IRENE disgust. Andthe next day every
body in the city knew of this spoiled
duel. 1t may indicate the radical diff
ference of ideas of the two races that
while Fabre's creole friends reported
the incident as one which reflected great
disgrace on Harvey, the Americans
laughed over it most heartily as rich
joke and a fair commentary upon the
absurdity of the duello. -Nev Orleans
Cor. Philadelphia Times. '"'