Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1883-09-01
A FEW FAMOUS IRISH DUELS
Stories OF Curran. Lord Norbury,
Pat Power,land Other Irish Fighters
New York Sun,

New York Sun.
| During the days of the old parliament
in College Green, Dublin, violent alter
cations leading to duels were of con
slant occurrence. Crowds of fashion
able ladies, as at the Spanish bull fights,
thronged the galleries to applaud and
encourage them, Grattan was capital
shot, and gave up many hours to prac-
| tice, as O'Connell admitted that he did
himself in early life. Paragraphs and
pistols were Grattan's daily employment
near Lucan, where he first lived.
Caesars character of Brutus, "Quid quid
| vult, yalde vult," which an eminent
western scholar translated, what he
wants, he wants like -" applied to
| Grattau in everything-in hitting a
mark or sharpening sarcasm, in satir-
| izing the treasury bench or shooting
| down a minister.
Curran, whose humor was perfect,
| and never deserted him, even on such
| occasions, was once challenged by bar
| rister named Burrows, supposed to be
| an in cnrahIc Invalid. When they met
Curran's second came to him and said:
''This second ofyour antagonist requests,
| as his principal is very feeble condi-
ton, he may be allowed to lean against
the mile stone where he is standing dur
ing the exchange Ofshots." Certainly"
said Curran, With twinkle of the eye,
provided | am allowed to lean against
the next mile stone"
Hutchinson, the Provost of Trinity
College, who himself fought duel With
DOYLE, master in ChaHcery, in which
oh ntS 4
a pupil asked his advice about course of
legal study: 'Buy case of good pistols,
learn the use of them, and they will get
you on faster than Fearne or Black
stone"
It was the favorite boast of the in-
famous Lord Norbury that he began
life with a $50 note and brace of hair
trigger pistols. The last were the only
stock he brought to the bench. When
there he once checked learned broth
er by the significant hint that in becom-
ing Judge he had not ceased to be
gentleman. Lord Norbury made good
use of his pistols, for Darker. ;" as they
were called in Ireland. He was epeatedly
out" one ofhls duels being with eight.
ing Fitzgerald" whose concealed armor
Martin Of Galway had tried by walking
coolly up and firing two 0alls at him,
saving: "lf either of those enter you
am a murderer" and who was after
ward hung for murder not according
to the code.
Of course the country ruck of small
gentry followed their leaders. and many
pleasant stories are told round Irish fire.
sides of the professional duelists of those
days. One of the most famous was Pat
Powers, Of Daragle. He was, we are
To q Hnt H.,o
was distinguished for his intemperance
and his glowing face. Among many of
his affairs of honor was one with anoth-
er fre-eater of his time, Bill Brisco.
When taking aim he said he still had
warm friendship and natural tender
ness for snch gentleman of honor, and
would show it. So he only shot off Bris.
co.'s whlsker, and part of his ear. When
travelling in England Power had many
encounters with persons who were at
tracted by his brogue and clumsy ap-
pearance. On one occasion he ordered
supper in coffee room, and while wait
ing for it he read a newspaper. After
some time the waiter laid two covered
dishes on the table, and when Power
examined their contents he found they
were two dishes of smoking potatoes.
He asked the waiter to whom he was in
debted for such fare. The writer point
ed to two gentlemen in the opposite box.
Power desired bis 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 b)x. When the covers were |
removed there was found in each load |
ed pistol. Power took up his and cooked |
it, telling one of the others to take I'D |
the second assuring him that they were
at very pleasant distance for close |
shot, aud if one fell he was ready to |
give satisfaction to the other. The par
lies rushed out without waiting for a
second invitation, and with them sew
sral persons from an adjoining box. AS
they were all In too great q hurry to
pay their reckoning, Power paid it for
them along with his own.
In Ireland in these days dueling is at
4 discount. Some few years ago, even in
Galway, the home of DAILY and Dick
Martin, where the custom has found its
asst dwelling place, a true bill was found
~ the grand jury against one of the
principals in duel in which the other
vas killed. Yet in that same county, but
quarter of century before, Judge of
1ssizes, johnson, in charging jury in
imilar case, said:
ut is my duty to tell you, gentlemen,
hat the law of the land makes killing in
duel crime. At the same time it is
equally my duty to state, and feel pleas
ire in stating. that from the interesting
ccoHnt given by the witnesses, have
lever heard Of fairer duel in the many
have been party to or witnessed in
ny life"