National Republican., 1883-07-28
A TERRIBLE DUEL.
New Orleans Forty Years Ago--"It Must
he to the Death"
NeD orleans Times Dcmocrdt.

NcD orleans Tines Democrat.
A fatal but rather novel duel occurred in
New Orleans over forty years ago. The young
men were Henri Dolagrave and Alphonse
Riviere and the cause of the duel was the
success of the former in wooing Mme Celes-
tin. Riviero sought out Delagrave and found
him in a gambling saloon.
AS he neared Delagrave, the latter turned
TO confront him, when Riviere. with voice
that seemed to come from behind the door of
tomb, said; "Delagrave, we cannot live on
this globe together; it is not large enoughg'
Delagrave, quietly putting his cigarette in
a cold and impassive tone replied Eyes, you
annoy me. 1t would be better if you were
dead" Riviere's face flushed and reaching
forward, he laid the back of his hand gently
against Delagraves cheek. The game was at
once interrupted. The slap, which was so
| light it did not even crimson tho young mans
cheek was enough to call for blood and
| leaving the house he sought an intimate
friend, to him he opened his heart ut must
be battle to the DEATH" Such was the en-
nifty between himself and Riviere only life
could wipe ii out.
| The old doctor, who had grown up, it might
be said, on the field shrugged his shoulders
and demonstrated, but at last acquiesced and
said, Very well, then; 1t shall be to tho
DEATH"
Few people knew what sort of party it
was driving down the she'll read bordering
Bayou st. John. Two carriages stopped Just
on tho bridge leading to the island formed
there by the bifurcation of the bayou, and
four gentlemen alighted. Savalle, a we'll
known character here forty years ago, accom-
panied Riviere, and old DR.. Rocquet was with
Delagrave. The seconds had met previously
and arranged everything. Delagrave, as he
stepped from the carriage, looked furtively
around for the cases of pistols, but seeing none
he was liJtle Disconnected After walking
about hundred yards from tho carriages the
party stopped and the doctor motoned them to
approach closer. When they had done so he
called them by name and said, Gentlemen,
we have discussed this matter nearly all of
last night and both Mr.. Savalle and myself
feel satisfied that there is no solution to the
difference between you but the death of one. B."
The two nodded. Therefore" the doctor
went ON, eve have agreed to make the arbit-
rament as fair as possible and let fate de-
eide" He took ovka black morocco case, and
from it produced v pill box containing four
pellets. lone of these" said he, contains a
positively fatal dose of prussic acid, the other
three are harmless. We have agreed that
each shall swallow two of the pills and let
destiny decide" Savalle inclined his head
and said as the representative of Riviere, he
agreed.
The two men were pale, almost bloodless
but not a nerve trembled or muscle con-
tracted.
Gentlemen" said the doctor, Eve will toss
for the first pill" Savalle cried out tails, "
as the glittering gold piece revolved in the
air. 1t fell in bunch of grass, the blades o.
which, being separated, showed the coin with
the reversed head of the Goddess of Liberty
uppermost. "Mr. Deagrave, you have the
first choice" said the doctor.
Reposing in the little box, the four LITTLE
} globes seemed the counterpart of each other
The closest scrutiny would not develop tn,
slightest difference. Nature alone, through
the psychological alembic of the human
stomach, can tell of their properties. In ont
there rests the pail of eternity, the struggle
for breath, the falling of sight, the panorama
: of years rushing in an instant through thu
, mind, the silence and peace of sleep forever
more, the cerements, the burial case, tn,
solemn cortege, and the close, noisome atmos
J phere of the grave All these were contained
in one Of these little pellets. Delagrave
having won the first choice, stepped forward
aud took pill. With q calmness which wa
frigid he placed it on his tongue, and with
cup of claret, handed him by the doctor
f; washed it down.
4 "And now, M. Riviere," said the Doctor
Riviero extended his hand and took pill
Like his opponent he swallowed it,
5 The two men stood looking one another il
the face. There was not quiver to the eye
} lid, and not twtch to muscle. Each wa
thinking OF himself as well as watching hi
adversary. One minute passed. Two min
utcs passed. Three. Four. Five Now
gentlemen"
, This was the fatal choice. Both men were
. ready for the cast of the die. Savalle tossed
1 the gold piece aloft, and the Doctor cried
out "heads." "Heads it was, and Delagrav,
took IL pill from the box, leaving only one
3 "Now," said the Doctor, IN. Riviere, the re
Il | m nlpngI
: swallow them together"
The two men raised their hands at the sam,
time and deposited the pills on their tongue
y and took draught of clarct.
3 One second passed, and there was no move
ment. Then-Ciood God !" exclaimed Riviere
his eyes starting from their sockets. HI
n turned half around to the left, raised hi
: hands above his head, and shrieked lonj
wild shrek, that belated travellers, even to thi
: day, say they hear ON the shell road, near th
| island.
: He fell prone to the earth, and, save nerv
, GUS contraction of the muscles of the face
there was no movement.
;, Delagrave took him by the hand as he Ia.
on the damp grass and said, in tende
! voice, !" l regret it, but it was to be-"
, The funeral was one of the largest eve
> known in New Orleans, and for weeks th
cafes were agog with the story of the duel
= The beautiful widow, mortified at the affair
3 would never see Delagravc afterward, and i
now happy grandmere on the Bayou La
: fourche, having married a wealthy plante
two years after the fatal event.
= Delagrave, weighed down with the trials o
:, an unhappy life, wrinkled and tottering
" strolls along Canal street of warm after
J, noon, assisted by negro servant. Having
D bare competency, he has never actually suf
fered from want but he shows evidence o
u great mental anguish The sight of pill
" box makes him shudder, and the taste o
claret will! give him commissions.
'; The Sprague Property.
D. PROVIDENCE, r. l., July 27.-The Spragu
- property at Central Falls was sold at auction