Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1883-09-14

\ Terrible Duel-Weapou-. Hiil>--NeW
Orleans Forty Wears ago-"It Must lie
to the Death"

n fatal but rather novel ullel Oc-
CURED in New Orleans oven forty
years ago. The young men were
Henri Delagr2ve and Alphonse Ri
Were. and the cause of the duel was
the success of the former III wooiDg
Nine. Celp,tin. Riviprc sought out
Delagrave and found hlm in gambl
ing saloon.
As he neareI Delagrave tie latter
turned to confront him. when I,iviere,
with voice that seemed to come
from behind the door of a tomb, said:
''Delagrave, we cannot live on ,his
globe together: it is not large
enough"
Delegrave, quietly putting his
cigarette. III a cold and impressive
tone, replied: Yes: you annoy me.
1t would be better if you We're dead
Rivieres face flushed, and. reaching
forward, he laid the back of his
hand gently against Delagrave's
cheek. The game was at once inter
ruptcd The slap, which was SO light
it did not even crimson the young
mans cheek, WAS enough to call fol
blood. and leaving the house he
sought an intimate friend; to him he
opened his heart: 1T must be bat
tie to the death" Such was the en-
nifty between himself and Riviere
only life could wipe it out
The old doctor, who had grown up
it might be said, on the field, shrug
ged his shoulders and demonstrated
but at last acquiesced and said: Very
well. then; it shall be to the death"
Few people knew what sort of q
party it was driving down the shell
road bordering Bayou st. John Two
carriages stopped just on the bridge
leading to the island formed there by
the bifurcation of the bayou, and foul
gentlemen alighted. Savalle, a well
known character here forty years ago
accompanied Riviere. and old DIR
Rocquet was with Delagrave. The
seconds had met previously and ar
ranged Everything. Delagrave. rs he
stepped from the carriage, looked
furtively around for the cases OF
pistols. but. seeing none. he was &
little disconnected. After walking
about 100 yards from the carriage:
the party stopped and the Doctor
motioned them to approach closer
When they had done so. he called
them by name and said: ''Gentlemen
we have discussed this matter Bearly
all of last night, and both Dr. Savallt
and myself feel satisfied that there Is
no solution to the difference between
you but the death of one" The two
nodded. Therefore" the Docto,
went on, i've have agreed to make
the arbitrament as fair as possible
and let fate decide" He took out a
black morocco case, and from it pro
duced pill box containing foul
pellets. "One of these said he
contains positively fatal dose OF
prussic acid, the other three are harm
less. We have agreed that each shall
swallow two of the pills, and lie,
destiny decide" Savalle inclined
his head, and said, as the represent
alive of Riviere. he agreed.
The two men were pale, almost
blOodless, but not nerve tremblet
or muscle contracted.
"Gentlemen," said the Doctor. 1--WE
will toss for the first pill" Savallt
cried out tails" as the glitterine
gold piece revolved in the air. 1t fel
in bunch of grass, the blades o.
which, being separated, showed the
coin with the reversed head of the
Goddess of Liberty uppermost" Mr.
Delegrave, you have the first choice
said the Doctor.
Reposing in the little box, the foul
little globes seemed the counterpart
of each other. The closest scrutiny
would not develope the slightest diff
ference. Nature alone. through the
physiological alembic of the human
stomach, can tell Of their properties
In one there rests the pail of eternity
the struggle for breath, the failing Of
sight, the panorama OF years rushing
in an instant through the mind, the
silence and peace of sleep forever
more, the cerements, the burial case
the solemn cortege, and the close
nciso,ne atmosphere of the grave
All these were contained in one OF
these little pellets. Delagravc, hav-
ing won the first choice, stepped
forward and took a pill. With q
calmness which was frigid he placed
it on his tongue, and with cup OF
claret, handed him by the Doctor
washed it down.
"And now, Nj. Rlviere." said the
Doctor. Riviere extended his hand
and took pill.
Like his opponent, he swallowed it.
The two men stood looking one
another in the face. There was not
culver to the eyelid, not twitch to
a muscle. Each was thinking OF
himself as we'll as watching his adj
versary. One minute passed. Two
minutes passed. Three. -Four. Five
Now, gentlemen"
| AAio Wdo Iuo Adbdl CuOICe- Dull
men were ready for the cast of the
die. Savalle tossed the gold piece
aloft. and the Doctor cried out
''heads." "Heads" it was, and Della
grave took pill from the box, leav-
ing only one. 'Now," said the
Doctor, IN. Riviere, the remaining
one is for you. You will please swal
low them together"
The two men raised their hands al
the same time and deposited the pills
on their tongues and took draugh,
of claret.
One second passed, and there was
no movement. Then-Good God.'
exclaimed Riviere, his eyes starting
from their sockets. He turned hall
around to the left, raised his hands
above his head, and shrieked long
wild shrek that belated travellers
even to this day say they hear on the
shell road, near the island
He fell prone to the earth, and
save a nervous contraction of the
muscles of the face. there was nc
movement.
Delagrave took him by the hand as
ho Inv on tho Ia,o,, rrrocc onl co;I