Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-08-09
ITO THE DEATH"
A Fatal but Siagularly Novel Duel
Fought in New Orleans Over
Forty Years Ago.
Prussic Acid in the Shape OF q Pill the
Weap9n-A Woman the Cause
Of the Affair.

Nsw Orleans Times Democrat: A fatal but
rather novel duel occurred in New Orleans
over forty years ago. The young men were
Henri Delsgrave and Alphonse Riviere, and
the cause OF the duel was the SUCCESS of the
former in wooing Nine. Celestin. Rviere
sought out Delserave and found him in 2
gambling saloon.
As he nesred Delsgrave the latter turned
to confront him, when Riviere, with q vol
that seemed 10 come from behind the door OF
a tomb, said: "~Delsgreve, We cannot live on
this globe together; 1t is not large enough"
Delagrsve, quietly PufiDg his cigarette, in
a cold and impressive tone, replied: "Yes;
you annoy me. Il would be batter If Won
were dead" Riviere's face flushed, and
reaching forward, he laid the = rk CT his
hand gently sgainst Delagrave's cheek. The
game wss at once interrupted. Inc slap,
which was 30 light it did not even crimson
the young mans cheek, was enough to call
for blood, and leaving the house he sought
an intimate friend; to him he opened his
heart: SIT must be a battle 10 the DEATH"
Such was the enmity between himself and
Riviere, only a life could wipe it ou..
The old doctor, who had grown up, il
might be said, on tie field, shrugged his
shoulders and demonstrated, but at last &C.
quiesced and said: Very well then; it shall
be 10 the DEATH"
Few people knsw what sort of a party il
was dcivipg down the she'll road bordering
Bayou s.. John. Two carriages stopped just
on the bridge leaSing 10 the island formed
there by the bifurcation OF the bsyou, and
| four gentlemen aiighted. S4valle, a well
known character here forty years ago, &C
compsnied Riviere, and old DIR. ROGUE, was
with Dslagrave. The seconds had met pre-
| viously and arranged everything. D.lasravs,
as he stepped from the carriage, looked fur
| tivalv arnupd for tho aalaa 0f ntafnlS hnf
seeing none he was q little disconnected.
| Alter walking about a hundred yards from
the carriages. the party stopped and the doc
tor motioned them 10 approach closer.
When they had done 30, he called them
| by name and said: "Gsn,lemen, we have
| discussed this matter nearly all OF last
night, and both Mr.. Savalls and myself
feel satisfied that there is no solution to
| the difference etweeu you but the death
of one" The two nodded. Therefore"
! the doctor went on, 1--WE have agreed TO
make the arbilrament as fair as possible,
and let fate decide" He took out n black
morocco case, aud from it produced q pill
box containing four pellets. 'O1e of these"
said he, 'contsins a positively fatal dose OF
prussic acid, the other three are harmless.
We have agreed that each shall swallow two
| of the pills, snd let desti-y decide" Saville
inclined hi. head, and said, as the II presen.-
alive of Risiere, he agreed.
The two men were pale, almost bloodless,
but not a nerve trembled or muscle con-
trscted.
Gentlemen" said the doctor, eve will
toss for the first pill" SaviIle cried out
"~tails" as the gIittering gold piece r~evolved
10 the air. 1t fell in a bunch of grass, tbs
bled=s of which, being separated, sho we'd the
coin with the reversed head of ihe Goddess
of Liberty upPermos'. "Mr. Delagrave, you
have the first choicr," said the doctor.
R.posing ia the little bog, the four little
globss seemed the counterpart Of each other.
The closest scrutiny would not develop the
slightest difference. Nature alone, through
the physiological alembic CT the human
stomach, can tell OF their properties. In one
there Re SITS the pail OF eternity, lhs struggle
for breath, the failing of sight, the panor
ANA Of life rushing in sn instant through
the mind, the silence ard peace Of sleep for
evermore, the cerements, the burial case, tue
solemn cortege, and the close, noisome atuos-
phere of the grave. All thtss were contained
in one OF these little pellets. D.lsgrsve,
having won the i'st choice, stepped for ward
and took a pill. With a ca!muess which was
/ frigid he placed it on his tongue, and with q
cup of oiar-t, handed him py the doctor,
! washed il down.
. And now, NJ. Riviere," said the doc or.
Riviere extended his hand AMI took a pill.
I Like his opponent, he swallowed it.
The two men stood lookiog one another
in the face. There WIS not a culver 10 The
eyelid, no, a witch 10 a muscle. Elch wa,
thinking of himself as we'll as watching biz
adversary. Oae minute passed. Two min.
utes passei. Three. Foar. Five. "Nor
gentlemen"
This was the fatal cho;c'. B tn men wer,
ready for the faial cast Of the de. S vii
tossed the gold piece aloft and the doctor
cried out heads" "Heids" it was, and
Delagrave look q pill FROM The box, leaving
only one. NOW" aid the doctor. M. Ri
Were, the rem aiming one ia T r you. YoI
will please swallow hem together"
The two men rails ID thsir hands at The
same time and depo.ited the pills on theil
toogues and look a glass Of cl,ret.
.Oae second passed, and there as n NOV
mem. Then-"Good God! = exclaimed Riv.
irre, his Eyes starting from their sockets
He turned half around 10 The left, r,is.d hi
hands above his head, and shIiek,d a long
wild shrisk that belated travellers even {,
this day Fay they can lear on The shell TOAD
near the island.
He fell proue TO the ear;b, and, save a ner
vous contraction of the muscles OF the face
there was DO movemen'.
Delagrave took him by the hand as he la,
on the damp grsse, and said, in a tendel
voice, L regret II, but ii was 10 be-"
The funeral was one of the Largest eve
seen in New Oslsans, and fer weeks the cafe
were sgog with the story OF the duel. Tn
beautiful widow, Mortified at the affair, woult
never see Delagrave afterward. ard is row
happy goandmere on Bayou L1fourche, hsv
ing married a wealthy planter two years afte
the fatal event.
Delsgrsve, weighed down with The trials o
an unhappy life, ~rinkled and toiterire
stIolls aloog Cana street OF q warm afur
noon, assisted by a n'gro servant. Havin
a bare competency, he has never &C ,usll,
tufftr red fIr want; but he shows evidepcs 0
great mental anguish. The sight Of a pill
box makes him fhudder, add the taste O
claret will give him convictions.