Omaha daily bee., 1885-02-04
A DUEL.
On Top of the Blue Ridge-A Ro-
mantle. Story of the Late War.

"There i. no doubt" said an old sol
der yesterday, 'that many singular
things occur as we journey through life, u
and he looked as though memory was
struggling with some sad feature of his
existence. He sighed as he continued:
Il remember as though it was yesterday
the march of Bills corps along the wind
ing Shenandoah up to the famous Luray
gap. Who could ever forget that marchi
The road winding with the beautiful
river, aud oveihung with the majestic
chain of Blue Ridge mountains, while
across the crystal lake the magnificent
valley, with its charming cottages dotting
the bounteous land with white-like balls
But the most engaging and
lovely object paled into insignifi,
canoe beside the peerless women OF this
blessed country, and you may well be-
lieve that when the camp was struck the
soldiers lost no time in making their
way to the surrounding cottages. Soon
the music of the violin was
heard, and the shutting feet
kept time to the music, while, for a
time, the soldiers face was lit with old
time Joy. At one of these cottages the
belle of the valley reigned supreme, while
several southern soldiers We'd with each
other in paying homage to the queen.
Among others were two young soldiers
one from Georgia and the other from
Mlssissippi-who were specially ener-
getic in their attentions, and 30 marked
had this become that those present
watched the play with constantly incres.
inc interest, fully believing that both ex.
hlblted a case of love at first sight. This
surmise on the part of those present was
only too true, as the tragic event which
followed fully proved. The Georgian
seemed to have the lead on the Missisip-
plan, and when the dancers were called
to take their places he led the belle of
the valley to q place In the set. At this
point the Mississippian was seen to ap-
proach the couple and heard to claim the
lady's hand for the dance. An a~lterca.
ton ensued, but both were cool, brave
soldiers-two of the best shots in the
army-who did not believe In a war of
words. So 1t was ended by the Georgian
dancing with the lady, and the significant
remark of the Missiasippian that 81 will
see you after this set"
"When the dance was over the
Georgian was seer to seek the Mississslp-
ian, and together they each calleda friend
from the crowd and departed. When
outside both claimed that an insult had
been passed, which could only be wiped
out in the blood of the other, and that a
duel to the death should be arranged at
once. A full mooh was Just appearing
above the tops of the surrounding forest,
and this talk of blood in the silence of
the night was anything but pleasa mt
No argument, however, would
avail with these .nens 30
1t was arranged that the duel should take
place on top of the Blue Ridge, near the
center of the road that passes through
the gap; that the weapons should be
pistols at fifteen PAGES, and to fire at or
between the words 'one, two or three
firing TO continue until one or both were
dead.
"The point was reached, the ground
measured off, and the men took their
positions without a tremor. The moon
shed its pale light down on a scene never
to be forgotten. A moment or two and
the silence was broken by the signal:
"One, two, three" At this word ''one"
the report of two pistols rang out on the
midnight air, but the principals main
tanned their respective positions. The
Georgisn's left arm was seen to drop
closer to the side, but the Mississippian
was immoyable,, and still held his pistol
to the front. Again a pistol shot wa.
heard, coming from the Georgian, and
the MlsEissippian still held his position
but he did not fire. The Georgian pro-
tested that he had not come there to
murder him, but No answer was returned.
The Mississippian's second approached
his principal and found him dead, shot
through the aye on the first discharge OF
the weapons. Death it seems had been
instantaneous, 60 much so as not even to
disturb his equilibrium. i may forget
some things, but the midnight duel on
the top of a spur of the Blue ridge, with
its attendant circumstances, is not n OF
them"