Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1884-02-14
A STRANGE DUEL.
Magruder's Fight With q Doctor In .
Restaurant
lAlta California;


During the autumn Of 1852, IN Los Angeles,
Cal, Col ,snoo distinguished n.ral il
the Confederate army, and now deceaseD J.
Bankhead Magruder, Third artillery, q. s.
A., who was visiting that city from Saa
Diego, commenced an evening at Hurry
Monroe's restaurant, in company With three
Or four other congeniL follows, by ordering
. champagne dinner CT an elaborate charnc-
ter. 1t was not long after the initial move
ment Of the real old d If Gordon sherry from
which was rapidly anG radiantly heightono1
may rest assured; 90 that after
the "feast Of reason ami flow Of soul" had gov
completely under way, the nocturnal way
farer might have misin terpreted the medley
Of vociferation for sounds Of rsvelry second
only to those attributed to the beauty aud
chivalry Of Belgiums capital upon a mo-
Harold's Pilgrimage" In other words, an
nproarious controversy had quickly fcllowel
the gastronomic discussion, during which
Magruder declared, with his characteristic
suavity, that Andrew Jackson was "the
greatest man who ever tlod In shoe leather"
Col. John o. Wheeler tossed off goblet OF
men, Henry Clay" while Thompson Burrill
4uaffed placidly away to the memory Of
"Danicl Webster, the greatest man ths world
over produced"
A certain disciple Of Esculapius, who was
present, then arose, as ostentatiously as it
was possible for him to rise under the circunl-
stances, and said: "My father, who was sheriff
Of Cayuga county (New York;. was the great
- ,l.,,.
replied, vehemently: doctor, you're q
damned fool!" The doctor at once challenged
Magruder to fight, which cartel of defiance
was at once accepted, tho combat to take
place on the spot, and over tho dining table.
from end to end, distance twelve feet;
weapons-derrineer pistols. Maj. Horaco
Bell, in his exciting book entitled "Remi-
nscences Of a Ranger" presents his readers
with the following description Of the duel:
Wilson Jones, the doctors second. got the
word, and the principals. without shaking
hands, took their respective stations the mo-
jestic form of Magruder towering above that
Of the diminutive doctor, who palel aud
shuddered when brought face b face with
the grim -visaged son Of Mars
All was suspense. The word was to be:
Ready firel One, two, threel At the word
"reudy,' to the dismay OF ALL the doctor
blazel away. When the smoke cleared some
what, to the horror of the valiant disciple
OF Esculapius bis antagonist stood as stiff and
defiant as an avengiug demon. The doctor
quailed; Magruder glared savagely On him
for full minute The spectators, spell
bound, looked on with horrible foreboding
Magruder took two ''side steps to the right"
which brought him clear of the end of the
table. He then advanced the fright foot to
the 'front.'" with his glaring eyebals bent
Hercoly on tho now terrified doctor. He
then brought the loft foot up to the level OF
the right heel and leveled his derringer at the
ghastly face Of the trembling doctor Then he
advanced the right foot as before, and in this
way with firm and unrelenting tread, he
slowly advanced on tho now thoroughly
frightened doctor, who made a movement
toward the door. The spectators interposed,
and cut or the possibility Of retreat in that
direction. Th. doctor tried to flank The
colonel by skirmishng around the table. Ma
gruder faced to the left, as though moving on
pivot, and kept the direfu der'inger aimed
directly ut the doctors pallid countenance
In tho excitement the doctor ran under the
table, crawled through, grasped the knees Of
the irate hero and atfectionately embracing
them, said: "Col Magruder for the love Of
God, spare me for my family" The colonel
gave him kick and said: "D-n you! I'll
spare you for the hangmon." And, so saying,
he handed the weapon to his secund, and the
festivities were adjourned.