Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1883-08-03
MANIA FOR DUELLING

greed lOr SOlu, tne absence OF NOln-
anly influence. the open defiance of
the law, and the lack of healthy
public sentiment, without which the
law cannot be enforced. brought
about state of things heretofore
unparalleled in this country. Hostile
correspondence was often carried on
in the newspapers. and when meet
ing was determined upon the entire
town was on the qui rire. 1t was
made a sort of holiday, the people
turned out en- mdsse as they do in
Spain to see a bull fight, and the
amusement was not considered en-
tirely satisfactory unless one or both
of the parties were slain.
The next duel l recall was fought
between Col. Woodlief. noted
Texan duelist, who was reported to
have killed several men, and young
man from St Louis named Achilles
Kewen, who went out with John
Tracy Oh this city. The difficulty
which caused the meeting was an un
important atfair-a dispute of some
hind in a restaurant. Both had been
drinking wine, and Woodlief made
use of some offensive language to
kewen. and he drew his glove under
the fiery Texans nose, and the next
morning he received a challenge. An
impression prevailed that kewen
would not fight, but he accepted the
challenge and selected rifles at sew
enty yards. DIR. Wake Briarly, for
merly of the army. and John Tracy
were Kewen's friends. The fight
took place at Contra Costa, across the
bay. knew both parties. Woodlief
had been with us in Mexico. The
cause of the difficulty seemed so
trivial that 1 tried my best to bring
about an amicable settlement, but it
was of no use Kewen was ready to
apologize, but the Texan claimed that
thrusting a glove under his nose was
the same as blow. for which no
apology could be accepted. The
news of the affair was soon known
throughout the city, and the relative
qualities of the men were freely dis
cussed When the time came there
must have been from fifteen to 90
600 people on the ground. Every
available steamer was pressed into
service, and with bands playing and
colors flying all headed for the fight
ing ground. OF course the gambling
fraternity were cut in full force, and
the betting was largely in favor of
the Texan, and some were willing to
wager that Kewen would not come to
the scratch. When all the parties
were on the ground the Sheriff of
the county and posse made their ap-
pearance to arrest the principals and
their seconds, but the crowd inter
fered and gave him to understand
that they had come to see fight and
they did not propose to have it inter
fered with, law or no law, and if Mr.
Sheriff wished to save himself trouble
he had better make no attempts at
arrests. He saw that he was power
less against such q mob. and quietly
Joined the crowd as a spectator. So
confident was Woodlief of killing his
man that Lis wife accompanied him
in carriage. intending to bear her
husband back in triumph. Kewen
was kept in close carriage, and the
entire assembly was anxious to see
how he would carry himself. There
was some delay in
ARRANGING THE PRELIMINARIEs,
And the impression was whispered
about that the st. Louis boy was go
ing to show the white feather. Fin
ally. everything was in readiness, the
ground was measured, the pegs driv
en-, and Kewen sprang from his car
riage and took his place, looking will
the utmost sang fr0id upon the as
sembled thousands. The momen
Woodlief saw the face of his antag
onist, the expression of his owl
changed. He saw that at last he hat
foeman worthy of him. Whateve
hopes he may have built on the youth
inexperience and lack of nerve o
his enemy vanished when the time o
trial came. The weapons wer
placed in their hands. Kewen turne'
upon his opponent steady gaze, ant
at the word both rifles cracked. Th
Texans ball glazed the hair of Kew
ems head Just above the ear, Will
Woodlief leaped into the air and fel
to the ground a corpse. shot throug
the heart. From that hour Kewe
was hero, and singularly enough
he, too, became intimate with Walkel
accompanied him on his tilibusterin
expedition into Nicaragua and PEI
ished there with the others.
You see, duels became so common
, and the demands upon the army an
navy surgeons, Drs. Hitchcock an
Hastings, were so frequent that
) in self protection they made it a ru
to attend no duelist in such an affa
unless a retainer fee of $500 W,
paid in advance. This made upp'
}. tendon little careful about sendir
a and accepting challenges.-1St. Lou
GlObe-Democrat.