The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1883-01-17
ALEXANDRIA, La, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY - 188g -
A FIaEMAN'S DUEL-THE FOLLY
OF THE CODE.


OF THE CODE.
In the thirties dueling was an a
most daily habit among the he
hoods of New Orleans, and ne
c'mers' even from the sober city
Brothe'ly Love, soon fell into tn
discrcditable. habit. During the d,
cade between 1880 and 1910 the n,
cess'ty OF establishing a Hose Con
pany in this city was so. fully al
mltted as to ripen into a practics
conclusion. The organization too
place in 1895, there being fifty mem
bers, mostly merchants, hank presi
dents, cashiers and others who he'll
an advanced position 10 com ercia
and financial circles.
Their hose carriage. paid for b,
i
themselves, cost over $4,000. It va
grand silver mounted affair, con
structcd in Philadelphia, and wa
exhibited in the Philadelphia Mer
chants Exchange for several dav
previous to its shipment to New Or
leans.
OF the original fifty members o
the company, several we're born i,
Philadelphia, and all save three o
four have long since returned to thei
mother earth. The company's frs
president was cashier of the Bank q
orleans; Its treasurer was the sheriff
OF the Parish, and one of the mem
bcrs was Mayor of the city and Col
lector Of the Port.
AT fire which occurred one even
ing a disagreement arose between two
OF the members, both from Phila.
"e'ph'a and one originally Quaker.
Words ran high between lAem. but
finally the matter was referred to
two of the officers of the company
and was settled to the satisfaction Of
all parties in interest. Subsequent
~ at social gathering which took
place at Banks Arcadia BUILDING
which then occupied the grounds
where the St. James Hotel now
stands-some outsider remarked .ha,
"the settlement between these two
tony firemen, without a duel, arose
rom the cowardice of one of the
PARTIES" This observation was
promptly resented, and the result
vas that the quarrel was re. opened
cartel in due form was exchanged.
md the parties, with their seconds
md surgeons, went out to settle the
natter according to the code.
Hearing OF this, the two gentlemen
rho had acted as peacemakers re.
aired to the dueling ground in the
ear of Daniel Clarke's mansion on
he Bayou road, where they sup.
osed the duel would take place
hey were, however, disappointed,
Or the meeting occurred in the rear
I the United States Barracks.
Vhen the word "fire'' was given, G.
|. discharged his weapon without
feet, and R. B., who had no fancy
n such a business, retained his fire.
!. B. then stated that he was ready
meet his antagonist half way, and
bake hands and thus settle the mat.
II, especially rs his purpose in com
g out was simply to prove that he
as no coward by standing up to be
lot at. But The second of G. M.
ould not, agree to this proposition.
I'd another test of r. BIS courage
as demanded. Again the parties
ere placed in position; this time
9TH fred and G. NJ. fell dead in the
ms of bis second. |,
Thus was q life wantonly sacri-
led under the brutal exactions of
e code, and the life of the survivor ,
as made miserable ever after. In. {
the day be died R. B. felt that he |
ID the stain of blood upon his +
'nds. -[City Item. .
MIR. Paul Tulane has rendered
other service to the cause of edu.
ton 10 Louisiana by donating $40 2
0 toward freeing the academic de- 8
rtment Of the University of Louis 6
Ia from the debt incurred in the q
rchase Of the Mechanics Institute u
ilding. OF this sum $1,000 was
ed to pay of the balance due on !,
building, and the remaining o
700 will be used in repairing and IL