Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1883-06-14


Some time in the winter Of 1876,
received note from tue Hon. Daniel
N. Barrenger, then a representative
in Congress from North Carolina, ask
ing me to call at his rooms immedi-
ateiy upon the receipt of the note.
The request was complied with, when
was introduced to DR.. H, also from
North Carolina, and informed that a
duel was impending between DR.. J..
and Mr.. j., the latter a lawyer of dis
tinction, and. Doth gentlemen of the
very highest social position in North
Carolina. DIR. FL. was acting as the
second of DR.. j., and, not being vers-
edin the code duello, wished to be
advised by me First, whether, be-
ing the brother-in-law of DrsJ., he
could, consistently with the require
ments of the code, serve asshis second.
He was informed that a brother in
law, not being blood relation, did
not come within the degrees of con-
sanguinity prohibited by the code to
act as second. And If there was no
objection on the other side there was
certainly no objection to his serving.
He replied that they had expressed
their pleasure at meeting him in such
position and then stated, secondly,
that his principal had informed him
that he intended to throw away his
fire; and he wished to know if it
would be proper, with such knowledge,
TO accompany him to the field. He
was answered that this was a matter
to be decided by himself. It
was informed that the parties had
been intimate personal friends, and
that their present attitude grew. out
Of the charge of an improper intimacy
between DR.. J. and the wife of the
challenger. l was also informed that
DR.. J. had settled up his affairs in
North Carolina, and if he survived
the duel it was his intention to set
tie permanently in New Orleans, |
was further consulted as to the terms
of the meeting. and suggested the
placing of the parties at twelve PAGES,
back to back, and then wheel and
fire, the words to be, "Are you ready2
Fine. One, two, three; halt p
neither party to commence wheeling
until the word "6re," nor to fire after
the word halt" He also suggested,
if these terms were agreed on, that
DR.. III. instruct his principal to
drop his pistol to an aim in wheel
ing, receive his adversary's fire, then
elevate his weapon and fire in the air,
as he thought the movement of the
arm and pistol might in some meas
ure distract his adversary's aim; and
if after the fire his principal was I'M
hit, and the other side were unsatis-
fed and insisted upon another fire,
which was not probable, he could pro-
test, and take his principal from the
field. This would have necessitated
his procuring another second before
the matter could be renewed, and
the effect of such delay would proba-
bly, be the ending Of the affair.
The terms suggested were drawn up
and formally proposed, but We're
strenuously objected to by the other
side, who insisted that on account OF
the near-sightedness Of their princi-
pal the distance should be shortened
to ten PAGES, and that the firing take
place without the wheeling. / was
sent for and again consulted, and in
formed DIR. I'll. that the arrangement
of the terms of the meeting should be
mutual that he had no more right
TO dictate them than the other side
that the idea of the challenged party
having the privilege Of absolutely pre-
scribing the terms of a meeting was a
vulgar error. But, inasmuch as his
principal had communicated to him
his intention not to fire'at his adver.
sary, he might take advantage of this
supposed right, and continue to insist
on prescribing the terms in the inter.
est of saving him, as he was exposing
his life to one whose life he did not
intend to endanger.
4 ! left DIR. III. not long before mid
night, and as the controversy relating
to the terms was still going on,
did not suppose that any meeting
could possibly take place until the
middle Of the next day.
| About Q o'clock on the following
morning. thought | would caiI
upon Mr.. Barrenger, and ascertain
the result Of the negotiations, If any
had been reached, and while stand.
ing IN front Of his boarding house
exchanging few words with a PAS.
ser by, hack drove up, out Of which
sprang DR.. H. and the surgeon WHO
had been engaged to attend DR.. J. q