Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-06-11
DUEL WITHOUT SECONDS.

look place III NaSuVllle, 1ouu. iV "a' 1oi
enormously begun and ended, and the prin-
cipals-who dispensed with seconds, and
the usual formalities prescribed by the code
were prominent citizens in their State.
| One was Felix K. Zollicoffer, then editor of
the Nashville Banner, who afterwards be-
came general in the Confederate service,
| and was killed at Mill Spring in 1862 His
| antagonist was John l.. Marling, editor OF
The Nashville Unioa The former was &
whig organ, the latter democratic. Captain
James r. Bell, who was an eye witness OF
the duel, gave graphic account OF it the
other day to reporter of the Nashville
american.
"Marling," said he, ''was aself-made man.
He has risen from the typos stool to the
tripod. Ambitious, of course; that was the
keystone Of his success; dressy to il nicely,
affable and gentlemanly, but his eye could
CLEAN with dangerous light and men had
| never seen him quail Zollcoler has passed
into history. His traits are we'll known
He was unique; his nerves were iron; he
never grew excited; austere, but generous;
quiet in manner, yet lion hearted. He had
| but one lung, and believe he trained him
self TO keep cool in order to preserve his
| health.
IQ6 uu6l grew uuSCCiS Ouu VI ~ CoAViO-
versy about the site of bridge across The
Cumberland. That was the match, but the
| powder lay in their inherent rivalry, which
was ready at any moment to cause an eX-
| plosion.
THE only bridge we had was then ocat-
ed below the Methodist Publishing House.
A new one was needed. Hollicoffer wanted
it placed at the foot of Church street; Mar
| ling elsewhere. The public grew interest
| ed, the Banner and Union became warmer
and warmer in their advocacy OF their posi-
tions One morning the Union came out
with an editorial insinuating that the Ban
ner was mercenary in its motives. Iollicof-
fer replied the next morning. He owned
large property at the foot of Broad street,
where Wells store now is, and he said that
| if he had any motive outside Of his desire
| for the public good in advocating q site for
the bridge. he would have expressed him
self in favor of locating it at the foot OF
| Broad street, where his property would be
enhanced in value. This had no effect on
Marling, and the following day, in an edi
torial, he boldly charged Zollico1er's expla
nation was fraudulent and he was bribed to
| write as he did, People who knew the men
| felt that trouble was imminent.
II watched for Zollicoffer. About $50 he
| came in He was as cool as ever saw him.
He sat down to his desk and turning to me
said Jimmie, I've stood enough from Mar
| ling. You know that tried to avoid a diff
fculty, but can't stand it any longer. Go
and tell Mat Brown that want to see him.
| "Yes, the same Mat Brown who is our
City Marshal He is quiet old man now;
| but in those days he was the most powerful
whig leader in the city, and at elections he
was an awful rustler.
II went after Mr.. Brown aud brought him
to the office. Zollicofter moved a cigar from
his lips, shook hands with Mr.. Brown and
said: Mat, go to Marlng and tell him that
at 10 o'clock l will be in front of his Office 10
denounce him.
and then left. We knew that trouble was
near at hand, and the boys in the Office
moved about nervously, every now and then
gancing at the quiet figure which sat in
| the front office with his feet on the green
baze desk and light rings Of smoke curling
above his head. A little after nine O'Clock
l saw Mr. Zolicoffer pick up his hat and
leave the Office He went over to the east
side of the public square, where he boarded,
and asked his wife for his pistol. 1t was an
old powder and ball weapon had been
loaded for some time, and she wanted to re-
load it. He told her that it was useless put
it in his hip pocket, and after slipping a few
caps in his right vest pocket be left.
1.-THE clock struck ten, and sounded to
me like funeral knel. looked across
the street and saw Marling standing just at
the foot of the stairway leading from the
editorial rooms to the street. He was dress
ed in navy blue suit with brass buttons on
the coat. He was in full view Of Iollicotier.
They looked at each other moment. Zol-
/ H. Ill h,,9 To
Marling 81 came here to denounce you as
an Internal scoundrel," at the same time
drawing his pistol AS the words of
insult fell from Zollicoffer's lips, saw Mar
ling's hand drop like flash to his hip
nocket. and in second he had drawn and
| fred. The ball went high and broke pane
of glass IN the second story of the house over
ZoIlicoffer's head No other word was spo-
ken. zollicofer extended his pistol, took
deliberate aim and pulled the trigger; it
missed fire. Without moving out OF his
tracks he held the weapon close to his face
looked intently at it a moment, and then
passed it from his right to his left hand,
resting it obliquely over the left wrist. He
then looked up at Marling, put his right
hand into his vest pocket, drew out cap,
slipped off the one which had failed to tre,
blew away the powder dust, put the new
cap on the nipple and was just in the act OF
raising the pistol q second time when saw
Marling advance pace, take quick aim and
fire. He had quietly watched the removal
of the cap without offering to shoot This
was courage in its highest form.
Markings second ball, I afterward found,
passed close to Zolicoffer's head. Hardly
had the smoke of the second shot been
blown away ere I SAW Zollicofer, still as
cool as an iceberg, extend his arm and take
deliberate aim. He since told me that he
aimed at the highest brass button on Mar