Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-06-08
BLOOD DRAWN IN DUEL.
WAR BETWEEN SOUTHERN EDITORS
Major Burke, of the .'Times- Democrat
Shot in Both Legs by MIR. Parker, OF
the 60 Picayune-.Tbe Deadly insult.

Major Burke, of the .'Times- Democrat"
Shot in Both Legs by MIR. Parker, of
the " "Picayune-.The Deadly Insult.
New Orleans is excited over a duel.
1t was not one of the milE-and-water
affairs SO common in Virginia, but is
said to have been a genuine stand d-up-
and fight duel. The combatants were
Major E. A. Burke, editor of the Times
Democrat, and c. Fl. Parker. Of the
Picayune. They met at 6 O'Clock yester-
day moralng, and exchanged five shots.
at the fifth shot Burke was shot through
both thighs, though no bone was broken,
and the wound is not considered danger
ous The difficulty originated in comments
made b. the Pcayune upon Mr.. Burke's
Management of the "generai fund" while
t3e latter was state treasurer. The article
appeared On the 2nd inst. and Maj. Burke
W.; the challenged party. Parker accept.
ed, and his representatives George L.
Hall and James A. Renshaw) named Mis-
sissippi rifles as weapons. Burke had the
choice Of distance, and Jamas ID. Houston
and Maj jor John Augustine, his seconds,
fixed it at two and a half PAGES. Though
no reasoLs were given by Burke's friends
for naming SO short a distance, it is gen.
orally understood they did SO because of
the reputed experiences of Parker with
the weapon selected. The distance named
not being satisfactory, after conference
| regular duei.iig pistols were finally agreed
upon as the weapons to be used, and the
distance twenty PAGES.
Major Burke and friends arrived first,
and were soon joined by Mr.. Parker and
his friends. Burke's seconds won the toss
for position, and Hall was selected to give
the word. Everything being in readiness
the principals took the positions assigned
them. At the word the weapons were dis
charged almost simultaneously, neither OF
the gentlemen being hurt. An effort was
| made by the seconds to adjust the diff
Guilty. but Burke's friends held that their
principal had been wronged, and asked il
| the wrong would be righted. Parker S
friends admitted that Burke was man of
| courage, and thought that was sufficient.
Burke's friends claimed that the Picayune
| had criticised him too freely that the
| criticisms were outside tho pale of jour
nalism. Parkcr'; friends stated that he
| had a right to criticiss any public official,
| and still reserve that right.
AS no compromise could lie effected,
the principals took their positions for a
| second shot, which, ike the first, was
"lCIOuI ICSuiI. SusuCCCSSlut cilOTIS Sllnl
liar to those made after tho first fire fol-
lowed the second round. After tue third
round long parley cnsued. Burkc's
friends demanded that Parker should ac-
knowledge the bravery and personal and
official integrity of Burke, which his
friends claimed Parker had impu2ned in
| a series of articles in the Pic0yune. AS
Parker's friends declined to make salts
factory disclaimer, no further effort at
compromise was made. and the fourth
and fifth rounds followed.
At the fifth fire Major Burke was shot
through both legs, about eight inches
but was caught by his seconds. When
Parker's seconds discovered that Burke
had been wounded, they asked permission
for their party to retro from the ground.
This request was granted by the seconds
of the other side. . The parties tEen sepa-
rated, Burke being conveyed to his resi-
dence OH Camp street, and Parker rcpair-
ing to the Pcayune Office.
Those who witnessed the duel agree in
stating that the principals acted with re-
markable courage and coolness and that
the affair was conducted according to the
rules prescribed by the code. Drs. Scott
and Loeber, the physicians in attendance,
at once dressed Major Burke's wounds,
and say they have no reason to apprchcnd
serious trouble.
The duel was the subject of general con-
versation throughout the city, but tho
evening Pirayane makes no mention OF the
affair.