Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1883-08-09
IRISH INVITATIONS.
Story OF the Old Times and the Men Who Made
the Dueiiing Pistol Play a Prominent
Part In History.

the Duelling Pistol Play a Prominent
Part In History.
During the days of the old parlia-
ment in College green. Dublin, violent
alterations leading 20 duels were of
constant occurrence Crowds of fash
ionable ladies, as at the Spanish bull
fights, thronged the galleries to applaud
and encourage them. Grattan was a
capital shot, and gave up many hours
to practice, as 0'Connell admitted that
he did himself in early life. Para
graphs and pistols were Grattan's daily
employment near Luncan, where he first
lived. Caesars character of Brutus,
"Quid q1id Usst. Uatae uult,n which an
eminent western scholar translated,
what he wants. he wants like"
applied to Grattan in everything--in
hitting mark or sharpening sarcasm.
in satirizing the treasury bench or shoot
ing down minister.
Curran, whose humor was perfect,
and never deserted him, even on such
occasions, was once challenged by q
barrister named Burrowes, supposed to
be an incurable invalid. When they
met Curran's second came to him and
said: "The second of your antagonist
requests, as his principal is in a very
feeble condition, that he may be allow
ed to lean against the milestone where
he is standing during the exchange of
shots Certainly" said Curran,
with twinkle of the eye, provided
am allowed to lean against the next
milestone.
Hutchinson, the provost of Trinity
college, who himself fought duel with
Doyle, master in chancery, in which
three shots were exchanged, said, when
a pupil asked his advice about a course
of legal study: Buy II case of good
pistols, learn the use of them, and they
will get you on faster than Fearne or
Blackstone.
1t was favorite boast of the infa-
nous Lord Norbury that he began life
with ESQ note and brace of hair
trigger pistols. The last were the only
stock he brought to the bench. When
there he once checked a learned brother
by the significant hint that in becoming
a Judge he had not ceased to be a gen.
tleman. Lord Norbury made good use
of his pistols, or ''barkers," as they
were called in Ireland. He was re-
peatedly out one of his duels being
with Fighting Fitzgerald" whose con-
cealed armor Martin of Galway had
tried by walking coolly up and firing
two balls at him, saying, IF either of
those enter you, | am a murderer"
and who was afterward hanged for a
murder not according to the code.
OF course the ordinary ruck of small
gentry followed their leaders, and many
pleasant stories are told round Irish
firesides of the professional duelsts of
those DAYS. One of the most famous
was Pat Power, of Daragle. He was.
we are told, like Beirne, fat, robust
man, and was distinguished for his in
and his glowing face
Among many of his affairs of honor
was one with another fire-eater of his
time, Bill Brisco When taking aim he
said he still had n warm friendship and
a natural tenderness for such a gentle
man of honor, and would show it. So
he only shot eff Brisco's whiskers and
part of his ear. When travelling in
England Power had many encounters
with persons who were attracted by
his brogue and his clumsy appearance.
On one occasion he ordered supper in
a co1fee-room, and, while waiting for it,
he read the newspaper. After some
time the waiter laid two covered dishes
on the table, and when Power exam
ined their contents he found they were
two dishes of smoking potatoes. He
asked the waiter to whom he was in
I g., al g., for,
ed to two gentlemen in the opposite
box.
Power desired his servant to attend
him, and directing him in Irish what to
do, quietly supped off the potatoes, to
the great amusement of the English
men. Presently his servant appeared
with two more covered dishes, one of
which he laid down before his master
and the other before the persons in the
opposite box. When the covers were
there was found in each a
loaded pistol. Power took up his and
cooked it, telling one of the others TO
take up the second, assuring him that
they were at very pleasant distance
for a close shot, and if one fell he was
ready to give satisfaction to the other.
The parties rushed out without waiting
for second invitation, and with them
several persons from an adjoining box.
AS they were all in too great a hurry to
pay their reckoning, Power paid it for
them along with his own.
In ireland in these days dueling is at
a discount Some few years ago, even
in Galway, the home of Daily and Dick
Martin, where the custom had found its
last dwelling place, true bill was
found by the grand jury against one of
the principals in u duel in which the
other was killed. Yet in that same
county, buta quarter OF century be-
fore, a judge of assizes, johnson, in
charging a jury in a similar case, said:
at is my duty to tell you, gentlemen
that the law of the land makes killing
in duel u crime. At the same time it
is equally my duty to state, and | feel
pleasure in stating, that from the inter-
esting account given by the witnesses, |
never heard of fairer duelin the many
| have been a party to or witnessed in
my life. '-NelC York Sun.