The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-08-02

ter, however, was gut "Vo"N " s.".
a boat. ON which Claiborne and Clarke and
their respective friends embarked. Iney
sailed up the river distance OF 125 miles
"a Fort Butte. In the British territory OF
West Florida, and there met. At the first
fire Claiborne was dangerously and serious.
ly wounded. He recovered, however, ana
found his popularity In nowise affected py
his misfortune. Clarke's political fortunes,
ON the other hand, waned; he lost his Tor
tune, and finally died, possessed OF very
little. His daughter, the celebrated Myra
Clarke Gaines, the heroine OF more iitiga-
ton than anybody living, has been ngn'ihS
for more than fifty years Tor portion Vi
his property.
DETERMINED EDITOR.
Politics were frequent cause OF dueis u,
neutrality-suspicious. the most iIequen.
.a,,se n was generally expected that one
o. more g affairs - between the Horatii and
C,r;at,i ~ the rival parties would diversity
the canvass. These duels were the substi-
tmtes for stump discussions. Few public
or noiiiical men ever attained distinction
and popular favor in the State without
giving some proof OF their recognition OF the
code. TWAS q part OF q political candidates
capital to have fought one or more duels. III
| II was with fatal result it gave stronger
emphasis to his reputation and status.
knowing this, therefore, theyoung man VINO
desired 10 make political reputation pro-
yoked duel at rs early day as he could, 10
Give himself start in politics-often only
10 meet with sad fate. Such was the case
with Young Hueston, young man OF
! northern birth, who, moving TO Louisiana,
sought TO attain prominent position III tne
WING party. The duel which he provoked
for this purpose was one OF the most des-
peratc ever fought in the State. Hueston
became the editor Of the Baton Rouge
Gazette. a leading Wing journal. Under
his management il bristled with vindictlve
and violent personalities against the lead
ers of the Democracy. He cut and
slashed his opponents without mercy or
| moderation and was clearly seeking fight.
At last one Of his leaders was OF character
which all who were acquainted with the
PARTIES assailed in it declared as soon as
| they read it would inevitably provoke and
demand a combat, and probably fatal or
bloody one. This article was review OF
the characters and histories OF the Demo-
cratic candidates for Congress, in the
course of which the writer remarked the
great contrast between two OF them with
reference to their regulations for personal
proves and courage. In one OF the
districts, this article affirmed, the noml-
nee OF the Democracy appeared to
have been selected with sole re-
ference to his fighting qualities, he
having killed n distinguished political
antagonist in a duel; while in another dis
trict the chosen and popular candidate had
never given any other proof OF yalor than
| that of flying from an assailant and "court-
ing the protection OF some kindly petit
coats" The illusions were to General
Bossieur in the northwestern portion OF
the State, who, few years before, had
killed General Gaiennie in duel with rifles,
and to Mr.. Alcee La Branche, Creole gen.
tleman OF great popularity, who had once
had a recontre with John Il. Grymes, the
eminent lawyer, q false and burlesque
version of which had probably been COM
municatcd to Mr.. Hueston. The real
facts of the affair between Colonel Grymes
and Mr.. La Branche were that the
former, who was member OF the House
of Delegates OF the State, OF which La
Branche was Speaker, walked into the
House one day while the Speaker was in
the chair, and, drawing his pistol, fired de-
| lberately at him. OF course agreat COM
motion then ensued, and the parties en-
gagged in this affair and their friends were
forced out Of the hall into the street, where
the combat would have been renewed but
for the intervention of some ladies who
were passing. The enemies of 1lr. La
Branche manufactured from these Incl
dentsa very libellous story, impugning that
gentleman's manhood and valOr, which
story Hueston thought it quite smart and
telling hit to revive.
BOUND TO FIGHT.
The friends OF Mr.. La Branche were highly
incensed at this publication and vowed
revenge. They had not long to wait. The
No. of the Gazette containing the offensive
article had hardly reached New Orleans be-
fore Hueston appeared in person to justify
it to his friends and enemies. La Branche
hearing Of his presence in the billiard-room
of the st. Charles Hotel, could not restrain
his indignation, and, entering the room,
walked up to the small man pointed out TO
him as Mr.. Hueston, and asking his name
and receiving a prompt reply, proceed
ed to cane him with great violence, Sc
riously bruising and iniuring his per-
son. The attack was so sudden that
: Hueston could make no resistance. The
two, moreover, were OF unequal size and
strength, La Branche being a large and
muscular man and Hueston small and frail.
The parties were separated by the bystand-
ers, but not before Hueston had been
bruised and beaten into insensibilty. lie
was carried to his room by his friends,
where, thanks to his surgeon, he rapidly
; recovered his senses. His first demand was
! for duel "a duel" he declared, "must
; be arranged to come off as quickly as pos
sible. No child's play, either. The honor
: of the Wing party must be maintained.
I'll show those Creoles that they don't mo-
nopolize all the pluck and fighting qualities
s of the human race. Hurry up the affair,
S my dear fellow, as / must be back in Baton
V Rouge in two or three days"
I La Branche accepted the challenge and
S selected double-balTel shot-gilns, with q
;, bullet, and the distance TO be forty yards.
! These conditions were considered as very
a severe and as menacing an almost certainly
y fatal result, for Of all weapons known upon
= the battlefield OF honor none can compare
k in the number OF its victims with the fatal
n shotgun. The preparations for the due
!. were fastened, and thus before he had re-
81 covered from the effects of La Branches at.
Is tack on him, poor Hueston was taken out
e to the GENTLY Ridge, to meet in deadly
: combat an adversary who was In the full
Is possession Of splendid physical develop
q ment and who was reported to be an eX
IS pert in the use OF weapon which Is famil
y lar to all Creoles, especially to those who
te as had been the case with La Branche, ha(
y passed their lives on plantation; and We
no man ever went to the battlefield will
ne steadier nerves, more composed spirits, ant
VI a firmer purpose than Hueston manifested
re ON this occasion.
" A DESpEP ATE rNc0IrNTpp
n When the party reached the Gentill,
d Ridge, where the meeting had been APP
=, pointed. they found 0lljte n number n