The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1885-09-03
Challenging Thirteen S!idshipmcn.

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1--WE were all boys together then.
said Admiral -. '.but Judson was
the youngest OF the lot, and ought to
have received more consideration. He
was only Is years Old when he was
made q midshinman and sent among
Us. He had been Il mere boy before
the mast, and had been promoted TO be
IN officer. That's what made the
troU Die. The navy was very aristo-
cratic-tive times as aristocratic as it
is now. Boys were appointed because
their fathers were rich, or distinguish
ed. or influential i'll some way, and il
was rumored around that Young ,jud-
son 5 folks weren't ANYBODY, and that
he had been appointed midshipman for
GOODNESS and judgment in saving life
when his gig was run over by a Fulton
ferryboat, and he only common sail
or. OF course this showed that he was
brave, but we assumed that he was
plebeian, and he wouldn't have it, and
when he was assigned to the Levant we
revolted against the intruder. Three
or four stood by the boy, including past
midshipman, now Admiral Murray, but
thirteen OF us cut him dead and gave
notice that we would not mess with
him. We were not little astouished
next day when he sent us thirteen chal-
lenges TO fight him under the rules Of
the dueling code. There was no such
thing as a declnation known among
gentlemen, but several of the officers
whom he had challenged rcconsidered
the grounds Of their refusal to mess
with him and withdrew their obiec-
tons. BY the time we had reached
Florida Gt was in 1850 only seven Of
US stood out for what we called 'disci-
pline'-thatis, the right OF rich men S
sons to monopolize the navy. can
see now that il was not very chival-
rous cause to fight for. | went with the
party down the coast below Pensacola
to see the first of the seven ducts.
Murray was JudsOn's second. The
challenged party insisted that his own
dueling pistols should be used by both.
Murray demurred, but finally acqui-
esced if JUdson could have one shot to
try the weapon. i his was conceded,
and Murray, pointing at Il magnolia
leaf that hung down from branch a
dozen PAGES OF, said: 'Judsou. cut off
the stem OF that leat' lie Immediate
ly raised the pistol and obeyed the or
der accurateiy-thc Leaf came tlutter-
ing to the ground. That pistol IS all
right, said Murray. 1t almost caused a
panic. The seconds conferred, cot the
principals together, matters We're COM
promised, and Judson's antagonist
acknowledged his social and gustatory
equality.
But when we thought about it next
day 1t looked to us like 4 surrender
We made Il tacit agreement to fight,
aud as a matter OF fact six other duels
came off that fall-three in Pensacola,
one near New Orleans. and one or two
in Havana. Judson wasn't scratched
except by a pick in the cheek with a
sword, out he wounded four out of the
six. Yes, said the aged officer, snil-
ing. Il was one of the four; but never
mind about that. 1t settled the CUES
ton about his being good enough to
eat with. He resigned from the navy
forty years ago, should think. He
lives in Stamford, Delaware County, n
y, and those who have seen him late
ly think he will live forever. "-Phita-
dejphia 1 lines.