The weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1883, 1883-02-07
A TERRIBLE DUEL,
Two South Carolina Gentlemen
Fight to the Point of Death.
From the Ralei0h Obserrey.

A bloody, cruel, and novel duel was
fought in the lower edge Of Guilford, be-
tween Ralph Johnston apd Sacks Will
liams, two young farmers Of that section,
sntit riitais 1ur rne anecttUns or a young
woman. Bad feelings had existed be-
tween them for some time, ending in
harsh words two days previous to the
fight, Soon afterwards Johnston sent
friend to Williams with letter demand
ing retraction of certain language used.
Williams declined to withdraw his re-
marks, and further correspondence re-
suited in an agreement to meet in hostile
combat the time being fixed for the Goth
ult. The articles drawn up specified
horse-whips as the weapons to be used,
something not heretofore recognized by
the code in South Carolina. These
weapons were chosen, it is understood,
in order that the parties could thereby
evade the penalties Of the duelling law,
which does not specify horse-whips AZ
deadly weapons. Under the rules Of the
fight each man was required to stand
upon line traced the ground, max
ing the distance between the combatants
about three feet. They were armed with
heavy horse-whips, especially selected
for the fight, and the second of Teach duel
list was supplied with an extra whip, to
be used by his principal in the event Of
the wearing.out or breaking of the weap-
on first used, The ombatants met this
morning. according to agreement. The
field selected was hard and level spot
about half mile from the main road.
The lines were made of rope fastened to
the ground by long staples. After vain
attempt had been made by the seconds
to adjust the difficulty, the men took
places for the fight. Both were in their
shirt sleeves, the provisions of the fight
being that no coat, vest, OF undershlrt be
worn. At seven O'Clock the question
was asked: "Gentlemen, are you ready?"
Each man nodded his head. The COM
mand Strike" was then given, and the
duellists fell to blows with vigor. Al
though the blows given were heavy and
fast, neither man finched. Upon the
hands and face of the combatants great
welts soon rose and the shirts of the men
soon gave evidence that the blood was
being drawn. At times they welded
their weapons with one hand, then with
both, and occasionally one or the other
was forced by the desperate assault of his
adversary to fall back from his line.
After fighting for half an hour time was
called, and the men nearly breathless,
were given brief resting spell. The
fight continued fer three hours, with
short intervals for rest The seconds
finally decided that the requirements of
the code had been complied with, and
forced the deullists to desist. tits under
stood that Johnston was more severely
hurt than his adversary, and that there
is not place on his body that is not
covered with welts. Many of the blows
gashed the flesh in a horrible manner
Williams is almost In the same condition
and both men are now suffering terribly
from the effects of their wounds, which
are such that they can hardly lie down.
Their feet are almost the only parts not
| covered with cuts. No arrests have been
made, and friends of the duellists are en-
deavoring to hush the matter up.
1t is calculated that no fewer than 800
different dialects are spoken in China
and India.
According toe Beecher man can be-
come "redolent with piety," but such
cases are very rare, About the time a
man begins to feel redolent he meets a
policeman.
Orpheus when he played made the
rocks come up; and lis power seems to
| have descended to great many popular
| singers. You have to come up with the
rocks if you want to hear them.