The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1883-07-08
IRISH DUkLLTsrs.
oteries Of Csrran. Grattau, Fat P.,v.,. ..s
Other Famsus F,-As...

40 sADo 'A"Aoo VI uuelS anu rumOrH of
oueis nwiil be interesting TO recall anecdotes
OF some OF the famous duelists Of the past.
among whom were included such men Al Cnn
ming. Sheridan. Wellington, Grattan Flood
Clare. Castlercagh. Curran. Dick Martin. and
Lord Dunsaudle. OF whom his creator, Sir Rob.
OFT Feel who was declared duellist, and wanted
10 challenge Disraeli In 1S46. said: I'm AM
oimculty give me DAILY Of Galway. He will
either got you on with flying colors or bring
you In the best form to the ground" During
tho days OF tho old Parliament in COLLEGE,
Green. Dublin. violent alterations leading
TO duels were OF constant occurrence.
Crowds Of fashionable ladies. as at
tho Spanish bull fights. thronged tho gal
leries to applaud and encourage them.
drattan was capital shot. and gave up
many hours to practice as OConnell admit
ted thathe didhimself In early life. Paragra phs
ana pistols were Grattan's daily employment
near Lucan, where he first lived. Caesars
character OF Brutus. "Quid guild pun palie ruh."
which an eminent Western scholar translated,
What he wants. he wants like -" applied
TO Grattan in everything-in hitting q mark or
sharpening sarcasm. In satirizing the Treas
ury bench or shooting down Minister.
But Curran was the greatest Of the fighters.
Between Fitzgibbon. afterward Lord Glare and
Lord Chancellor daring figure on the canvas
OF that day. and Curran there was a conspicu-
GUS repulsion OF character. which produced in
each most bitter hostility and at last incurn-
bio alienation. This mutual repulsion carried
through many conflicts eliminated In debate
on Aug. ID. 1889. In which Fitzgibbon ex-
claimed: II ireland seeks to quarrel with
Great Brtai n. she Is besotted nation.
Great Britain Is not easily, aroused nor
easily put down" Curran retortsd: What the
right honorable gentleman said Of his country
debate FtbbSn d5sSry ana the
c9mbatants. being duly placed we're loft to fire
Mhsa Released sSa s and
malignant than that Of Fitzgi6bon. After, / had
could not heip exelaimne 70 him: Mr. Xiior-
then then The climax OF daeies sbsurd Hg0S Was
Teached when C9rran challenged Major Hobart.
clnred he would submit to the greatest depriva-
ton which could befall any man and do with
fight such a fellow; but. AZ the man was a
Eevenue officer. Curran. maintained tina. Major
or xh IN his sd Ths Ss
murrsd but. as C.rran insisted. he referred the
who assasa has the
OF State fighting for an excsemnn would be
rather bad precedent. but a Major. in the
and must fight anybodS that asks hhHi m." So
Curran and the Major exchanged shots. Cur
ran, whose humor was perfect. and never de-
serted him. even on such occasions. was once
challenged by II barrister named Burrowes.
they met Currnn's second came to him and
said: The second of your antagonist requests.
that he may be- allowed to lean against the mile
soaS where he aIng the
lean against the Stmile stons."
MutGhns3p thu Provost Of, Of Trinity College.
changed. said. when pupil asked his advice
good pistols learn the use OF them. and they
Will get you on faster than Fearne or Black
In truth. most OF the barristers OF that gem
Sraton fought their way to the beRchNnota;
who enjoyed the distinction Of q place with
Jeflries and Page in a hanging trio. Of one Of
Nhom-Page-POpe wrote. after Horace:
SANDER or poison dread from Deli.'s rage
Hard words or hanging II your Judge 10 Page.
Curran spitomized Norbury's character when.
IN reply to question OF his at the bar mess.
mat dhun oss, Ssl9s su XIV ia the
you try It," II was q favorite boast OF Nor
barys That he began life with a 600 note and a
only stock he brought TO the bench. When there
he once checked . learned brother by the Sig
cesssd to e Lord No s %aS
made good use Of his pistols. or barkers." as
tutS were ctlIcu III lTtIHuu. hG was TcpGitLeu-
iy out" one q his duels being with Flight
ing FItzgerald," whose concealed armor Martin
s ba r as h h c and y,
those enter you. am murderer and who
vas ait t. hanged for murder not accord
Another ease OF the use OF armor like Fitz-
eras o was hy an emgrans IN
said he: Fireball Mcnamara. the name by
which Major MeNnmarra, for many years N. i.
the famous duel in which he shot D. Esterroges.
@ called op,
nsnce to claim something Tor the ' French i at
t Fonttenoy They fought with swords, near the
S Shs sna theSgh the Major
was in g great quandary. when suddenly
the rich native tongue from hedge alongs ide,
where some Irish emigrants like ourselves had
Xileen do YOU think Of how they killed 1 The
cattle In the ould country 2 and taking the
throat. which was unprotected. and stretched
,o 0Gh%nne i, , viii BE- rssmembssed never
generally known that on going to communion.
Ways wore his right hand swathed in linen.
H. said he would not approach mis- Re
the life Of fellow man.
0f course the ordinary Iuck OF small gentry
rfes are told round irish fresides Of the pro- pro-
fessional duelists Of those days: One OF the
most famous was. Pat Powered Daraele He
was. We are told like Beirne, q fat robust man.
and was distinguished for his intempcrance
and his glowing face. Among many Of his af-
fairs Of honor WAS one with another fire eater
Of the time, Bill Brisco. When taking aim he
said he had still warm friendship and a nat
and would showit. SO he only shot oil Bris-
c cI,i, whlsker and part OF his ear. When trav-
with persons who were attracted by his broeuc
anu ms clumsy appearance. On one Occa-
sion he ordered supper IN a, coffee room
and. while waiting for It. he read the
newspaper. After some time the waiter laid
two covered dishes on the table. and when
Power exam ned their contents he found they
TSsre two dishes Of smoking potatoes He asked
Are The waiter pointed to two gentlemen in
we opposite box, Power desired his servant to
attend him. and. directing him In Irish what
TO do. quietly supped of tho potatoes to the
great Amusement OF tho Englshmen.
PRESENTLY his, servant appeared with
DOWN before his master and the other before !
the persons In the opposite box When the GOV
ers were removed there was found In each u |
loaded pistol. Power took up his and cooked |
u. telling one Of the others to take up the Sec
ond. assuring him they were ut very pleasant |