Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1885-03-07
A DUEL STOPPED.
An Affair i'm Which JEFF Davis was Con-
cerned The Trouble of Which q Bright
Eyed Beauty Was Indirectly the
Cnuse-A CHALLENGE.
e York Times.

Cause-A Challenge.
New York Times.
When JEFF Davis, in his twenties
during his Western service, had OBJ
tanned his commission in the Fifth
dragons he was given a furlough.
After a brief visit to the Capitol and
a brief s%ojourn among his Kentucky
relatives, the young officer drove post
haste to luxurious Charleston, where
all the wealth and beauty of the South
ern planters world was conferred. OF
course there was an attraction for the
West Pointer in Charleston. This was
a bright eyed beauty, a Miss Colby,
whose reputation as a belle is famous
in South Carolina annals.
Colonel Charles Colby, a wealthy
Ashley river planter, during 1920 or
1921 had left his only daughter staunch
Episcopalian though he was, to the
guardianship of DIR. John England,
first Catholic Bishop Of Charleston.
just how Lieutenant Davis became
acquainted with the planters helress
1 have not learned. But q few nights
after his arrival in Charleston al invi-
tation was handed the young officer to
attend a ball in the famous Town Hall.
Davis card had been sent up to DR..
England's Episcopal residence almost
before he bad taken the dust of travel
from his shoes with, of course, a billet
addressed to Miss Colby. The hours
must have dragged YEARLY on the day
proceeding the ball. The city was all
agog with excitement and the plan
tiers coaches, rolling over the stones in
rumbling haste, were within view OF
the anxious young officer watching
from an upper story window of a
strange hostelry.
UnacCompanied the youth made his
way into the ball room. and leaning
against a pillar eagerly scanned each
new arrivals face. The solderly bear
ing OF the ex-cadet, the fine eyes, light
ing up a manly, scholarly face, possibly
won admiring comment from the lips
Of C~harleston's naughty DANES and
damsels. He was observed to change
his istless attitude and suddenly start
toward the ball room doorway, through
which Miss Colby, all at her loveliest,
was entering on the arm OF Il dark,
lmperiOus looking gentleman in full
evening dress of the period. Unde-
TERED by the sight of her escort, a
Louisianian of proud Creole family,
Davis was soon at the beauty's side,
who smiled her welcome as she eX-
tended her hand. While basking in
the light OF the fair ones eyes the
youth, fresh from the rude surface Of
the frontier, shook off his bashfulness
and all melancholy faded from his
cOuntenance; when he was given the
btssful privilege of escorting his part
ner to the banquet room, regardless of
the claims of her escort his cup of
pleasure ran trimming oyer.
An exact account of what subse-
quently occurred has come to no
mans ears. But this much at least /
believe is true: The stern looking
cavalier who had been Miss Colby's
original attendant had watched with
blazing eyes the assiduous attentions
of the Kentuckian and had entered
the supper room close upon his heels.
The sitting at table, according TO the
custom of that old fashion time, was
prolonged. Champagne was quafied
in cordial Southern way, and a certain
i'll suppressed excitement seemed to
pervadc the atmosphere in the neigh
borhood Of Davis and the beautiful
Colby. As tie lady rose from the Ia
BILE the Lieutenant leaned forward to
remove her char. Hardly had his
hand touched the back of the seat
when the Creole sprang toward him
and tore the grasp away. 1t was but a
seconds work for Davis to thrust him
slef between his assailant and Mss
Colby, pale-eyed and trembling ,shrank
back atirighted to the door. Friendly
hands had interposed, and Lieutenant
Davis placed the object of his attention
within the ball room. Before he could
follow her the enraged LouisianIan
sprang upon him, striking him full in
the cheek with his unglOved hand.
The West Pointer promptly retaliated
10y striking his insulter to the floor.
On re-entering the grand hall great
was the officers chagrin to learn that
Miss Colby had retired. Discounted
and i'll at ease Davis returned to his
hotel. Hardly had his door been
closed upon him when a waiter knock
ed and presented the card of Il well
known CharlestOnian. The visitor
came as the bearer of a challenge from
the fiery Creole, and before he left the
future idol of the lost cause was
pledged to Il duel at daybreak IL on
the old Ashley shell road.
Just MS the sun was glinting the bay
beyond the forts a party of five gentle
men stepped out from the palmetto
shadows. a brief consultation was
held. the principals separated, and the
seconds, after loading w murderous
dueling pistols, slowly began to make
the fatal PAGES. But the galloping
sound of Il horse was heard upon the
hard white road. \ horSeman thickly
euveloped in a heavy cloak, leaped to
the ground. And there at early morn
as stern words as were ever LAUGHED ut
culprits head were uttered. The tor
rcn Of reproach changed to Il pathetic
appeal, and finally the duelists timidly
advanced and shook hands. The tall
which stood uncovered, arriv-
ing just in time to prevent another of
those murders sanctioned by acode OF
the peculiar ethics then in vogue was
John England, bishop of Charleston,
the first man south of Mason and
DIXons with fearless courage sufficient
TO raise his voice against the duello.
Lieutenant Davis went next day
Charleston, and it is not related
he ever again met the beautiful
Miss Colby, who did not lack for low
crS, though, as traditions still fresh