Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-03-22
NOT AFRAID TO BE SHOT AT.

How Gov. Marmaduke Fought q Duel
With GEN. Walker-InfimatiOns that
He Would Not be Unwilling to Go
Through the same Experience With
the Hated Rainwater as His Antago-
nist-'t One Time He was a Dead
Shot at Thirty PAGES.
Neo York World.
AUSTIN, TEX, March 16-The Marina
duke-Rsinwater controversy has reached
this section. and, as the two men are we'll
known here, the matter has, of course
attracted wide attention and much gossip.
Especially Is this the case among the
members of the Legislature, many of
whom are well acquainted with the two
men. Marmaduke has The reputation
mere OF being man of unfiinching nerve,
ana those who read the letter over Mai
Ralnwater's signature were willing to bet
dollars TO dimes that the cost of it would
be his life, even though Marmaduke holds
the position of Governor. There are those.
TOO, who remember Mai. Rainwater, and
assert That no Drawer man ever shOudeTed
a gun, and that if they should face each
other the Governor would find IN Rain
water an adversary who was as mucn d
stranger TO fear as himself, and who
would be lis equal with almost any dead
ly weapon. The trouble has also BROUGHT
to mind the meeting between Gen. Marsh
1858, when those two gentlemen were
leaders IN the army of the Southern Con-
tederacy. Gen. Walker was from Men,
phls, a soldier of magnificent bearing,
and universally esteemed by the officers
and soldiers of his command. He was
ABOUT SIX feet in height, and as hne a
specimen of physical manhood as could
De found among those who wore the gray.
When Walkers CORPS reached Little
a m frTlr nv1l Il
there, and as Marmaduke and Walker
were Officers Of the same rank some dis
pute arose to who should be recognized
as the commanding officer, Marmaduke
refusing to waive his right to the position
and Walker refusing TO recognize him as
his superior officer. There is a member
OF the House here at present who was in
the rank and file of Walkers command,
and who had been made a sort OF aide.de.
camp before the arrival at Little Rock,
but who did not retain that position after
the arrival OF the forces there Still, he
had access to the headquarters of
Gen. Walker, and frequently heard
him express his regret at
the misunderstanding between Mar
maduke and himself and the hope that the
trouble would soon be- over and pleasant
relations restored once more. While
Marmaduke seemed TO regret the matter,
OF the trouble, and continued TO assert
that Walker was exercising authority
which he usurped. Walker finally found
IL necessary to order Marmaduke under
arrest until the question could be settled
by the proper authority. This so incensed
Marmaduke that be could not restrain
himself, and be denounced the action of
Walker in language fOrcible, branding
him in manner that lett the latter no al
Tentative but tn figh: or resign.
The old ex-COntederate says that if his
memory serves him well it was on the
evening OF Sept. ., 1868, that Marmaduke
was visited by an officer and Informed
that he need not longer consider him elf
under arrest, at the same time handing
him an envelope which contained chal-
lenge to meet Walker the next morning 1t
such hour and place as friends of the two
Gen rails might agree upon. Marmaduke
soon found one of the trusted officers and
instructed him to proceed at once with
the details. 1t was arranged that the
meeting SHOULD take place at daylight the
next morning at point six miles distant
from Little RICK. The cartel specified
that the duelists should use their side
arms at thirty PAGES, advance and fire
until one or both men tell. When Wal
ker appeared at the fighting place next
morning he was in the most cheer
iul spirits, laughing and chat
ting with the two men who accompanied
him, and remarking in a jOcular way that
8 OOting at Marmaduke was like shooting
at ramrOd, he being at That time muca
more slender than at present. Walker
was much heavier, and his rotund form
would, as he expressed it, make as fine a
target as a barrel for Marmaduke's pistol.
The latter made his appearance last, and
there was nothing in bis cOuntenance to
indicate that he felt as little concern about
the meeting as the cheerful Walker, whom
he was about TO slav. He had little to say
tn his second, but gazed at the ground in
a thoughtful way, constantly biting at his
thumb-nail, habit which characterized
him just before entering an engagement
throughout the war.
Onls ftw moments were consumed in
measuring off the ground and placing the
men. At the word tn crack of beth
pistols sounded as one; the men advanced
and fred again, and the third snOt from
each revolver was heard when Walker
threw his hand to his breast and fell, two
of the three shots fred by MaFmaduke
having taken feet, while the Latter
walked away without Scratch Walker
exp red in few seconds after he fell and
never uttered word. The body was not
taken in until coffin had been procured
and arrangements made for the funeral,
which occurred on the evening of the
same day. The body reached Little Rock
about O'Clock, and its arrival there was
the first tidlngs his men had Of the sad
fate of their commander. No blame at
tached to Marmaduke, however, and
nothing more than expressions Of regret
followed the unfortunate occurrence.
Marmaduke succeeded to the command
and shortly afterwards conducted the re-
treat of the Confederate forces from Little
Rock, when they were both pursued by
the Federals and the fighting was almost
continuous and verv serious in the num-
Der of lives lost. At every opportunity
Marmaduke threw himself in the way Of
danger, and his bravery almost amounted
to fOOlhardness. He had been more prud-
ent in former engagements, and the reck-
lessness displayed in this retreat was at
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