Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1882-06-15
FIGHTING EDITORS.
A War OF Pens Transfer Il to One Of
Pistols,

I
| A duel was fought June 9th, in New
Orleans, at the aughter-house, be-
tween Mai. f. A. Burke. Of the Times
Democrat, and G. II. Parker, of the
Picayune Pistols were used, and five
shots exchanged. At the fifth ex-
change Burke was shot through the
thigh. The wound is not considered
dangerous. The trouble grew out OF
an article in the Picayune of June I'd,
under The caption, GLOW About the
Condition Of the General FUND.-" to
which Maj. Burke, who is state treas
urer, took exception. Friday last he
sent a peremptory challenge to Parker
to fight duel. Parker accepted. His
representatives, George L. Hall and
James A. Renshaw, named Mississippi
rides as the weapons. Burke had the
choice of distance. and James ID. Hous-
ton and Maj John Augustin, his Sec
onds, fixed it at two and q half PAGES
Though no reasons were given by
Buake's friends for naming so short
dists zee, it is generally understood
they did 80 because of the reputed ex-
pertuess Of Parker with the weapon.
The distance named not being satisfac-
tory, after q conference regular duel
ing pistols were agreed upon, distance
twenty PAGES. The ground selected
was in St. Bernard parish, near the
slaughter house Major Burke and
his friends arrived first, and were soon
joined by Parker and his friends,
Burke's seconds won the toss for posi-
ton, and Hall was selected to give the
word. Everything being in readiness,
the principals took position, and at the
word the weapons were discharged al
most simultaneously. Neither man
was hurt. An effort was made to adj
just the difficulty, but Burke's friends
held that their principal had been
wronged, and asked if the wrong would
be righted Parker's friends admitted
that Burke was a man of courage, and
thought that was sufficient. Burke's
friends claimed The Picayune had criti-
cised BIN too freely that the criti-
cisms were outside the pale Of journal
ism. Parker's friends stated that he
had right to criticise any public
official, and still reserved that right.
AS no compromise could be affected,
the principals took their positions for
u second shot, and, like the first, it WAS
ineffective. Unsuccessful attempts to
arrange the difficulty followed. Then
came the third shot, barren of results
as the first and second. A long parley
then took place, Burke's friends de-
manding that Parker should acknowl-
edge the bravery and personal and
official integrity of Burke, which his
friends claimed Parker had impugned
in series Of ARTICLES in The Picdy,trle.
Parker's friends could not make a salts
factory disclaimer, and further efforts
at a compromise were stopped. A
fourth shot was fired and no one hurt.
AT the fifth fire Maj. Burke was shot
through both leggs abaut eight inches
above the knee, and would have fallen,
but was caught by his second. When
Parkor's seconds discovered that Burke
was wounded, they asked permission
for their party to retire from the
ground. The request was granted by
the seconds on the other side. The
parties then separated. Burke was
conveyed to his residence on Camp
street, Parker going to The Picay,ae
off Ne.