The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1885-05-27
A DUEL WITHOUT SECONDS.
xHE MEMORABLE FIGHT OF zoLLr.
ooFFER AND MAELIN9.
Iron Nerve Displayed by Two SOuth-
era Editors i'm the streets of Nash
vtIle-What Caused the Fight.


and the principal-who dispensed with
seconds and thel usual formalities pre-
scribed by the code-were prominent citi-
zens in their State. One was Felix X.
Zolicoffer, then editor of the Nashville
Banner who afterward became q general
in the Confederate service, and was
killed at Mill Spring in 1862. His an
tagonist was John L. Marling, editor of
the Nashville Union. The former was
Whig organ, the latter Democratic. Cap
tain James T. Bell, who was an eye witt
ness Of the duel, gave graphic account
of il the other day to reporter of the
Nashville american.
''Marling," said he, ''was self-made
man. He had risen from the typos
stool to the tripod. Ambitious, of
course; that was the keystone of his sue
cass; dressy to nicely, affable and gen.
tlSmanly, but his eve could CLEAN with
dangerous light and men had never seen
him quail Zollicoffer has passed into
history. His traits are we'll known. He
was unique. His nerves were iron; he
never grew excited; austere, but gener-
Gus; quiet in manner, yet lion. hearted.
He had but one lung, and l believe he
trained himself to keep cool in order to
preserve his health
1.-THE duel grew directly out of a con-
troversy 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 explosion.
''The only bridge we had was then
located below the Methodist Publishing
house. A new one was needed. Zolli-
Golfer wanted it placed at the foot of
Church street; Marling elsewhere. The
public grew interested, the Banner and
Union became warmer and warmer in
their advocacy of their positions. One
morning the Union came out with an edi-
torial insinuating that the Banner was
mercenary in its motives. Zollicoffer re-
piled 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 ex-
pressed himself in favor of To-
eating 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
editorial, he boldly charged that Zolli-
Golfers explanation vas fraudulent and
he was bribad to write as he did. Peo-
pie who knew the men felt that trouble
was imiment.
81 watched for Zollicoffer. About
$3.50 he came in. lie was as cool as |
ever saw him. He sat down at his desk
and turning to me said: Jimmie, I've
stood enough from Marling. You know
that tried to avoid difficulty, but
can't stand it any longer. Go and tell
Mat Brown that l want to see him.
eyes, the same Mat Brown who is our
city marshal. He is a quiet old man
uow; but in those days he was the most
powerful Wing leader in the city, and at
elections he was an awful rustler.
81 went after Ar. Brown and brought
him to the Office. Zollicoffer moved a
cigar from his lips, shook hands with
MIR. Brown and said Mat, go to Mar
ling and tell him that at 10 o'clock will
be In front of his Office to denounce
him.
MAT conversed with him a minute or
so and then left We knew that trouble
was near at hand, and the boys in the
office moved about nervously, every now
and then glancing at the quiet figure
which sat in the front Office with his feet
on the green baize desk and light rings
of smoke curling above his head. A. lit
tie after o'clock l saw Mr.. Zollicoffer
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 pow
der and ball weapon; had been loaded
for some time, and she wanted to reload
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 he
left.
"The clock struck ten; it sounded to
me Ikea funeral knell. 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 dressed in a navy blue suit with
brass buttons on the coat He was in full
view of Zollicoffer. They looked at each
other a moment. Zollcoffer broke the
silence by shouting 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 Zollicoffers lips, l saw Marling's
hand drop like flash to his hip pocket,
and in a second he had drawn and fired
The ball went high and broke a pane of
glass in the second story of the house
over Zollieoffer's head. No other word
was spoken. Zollicoffer 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 OBJ
liquelY 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
fire, blew away the powder dust, put the
new cap on the nipple ana was just in
the act Of raising the pistol a second
time when saw Marling advance pace,
take quick aim and fire. He had quietly
watched the removal of the cap without
OffarinO in shoot This vJos couro,,c l.,