Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1885-08-26
Ned Buntline's Thirteen DueIs.
from the Philadelphia Times I


owe were all boys together then, "
said Admiral -, but E. q. G. Judson
Ned Buntline) was the youngest of
the lot and ought to have received
more consideration. He was only Is
years old when he was made mid
shipman and sent among US. He had
been a mere boy before the mast and
had been promoted to be an officer.
That's what made the trouble. The
navy was very aristocratic-fvet times
as aristOcratic as it Is now. Boys
were appointed because their fathers
were rich or distinguished or infuen-
tial III some way, and it was rumored
around that young Judson's folks
weren't anybody, and that hehad been
appointed midshipman for GOODNESS
and Judgment in saving life when his
gig was run over by a Fulton ferry
boat, and he only common sailor
OF course this showed that he was
brave; but we assumed that he was a
plebeian, and we wouldn't haveit, and
when he was assigned to the Levant
we revolted against the intruder
Three or four stood by the boy, in
Guiding Past Midshipman (now Admir-
all Murray, but thirteen of US cut
him dead, and gave notice that we
would not mess with him. We were
not a little astonished next day when
he sent us thirteen challenges to fight
him under the rules of the dueling
code. There was no such thing as a
declinatiOn known among gentlemen,
but several Of the officers whom he
had challenged reconsidered the
grounds of their refusal to mess with
him, and withdrew their objections.
By the time we had reached Florida
lit was in 1880 only seven of us stood
out for what we called discipline
that is, the right of rich mems sons to
monopolize the navy. / can see now
it wasn't a very chivalric cause to
fight for. went with the party down
the coast below Pensacola to see the
first of seven duels. Murray was Jud-
sons second. The challenged party
insisted that his own dueling pistols
should be used by both. Murray de-
INJURED, but finally acquiesced II judi
son should have one shot to try the
weapon. This was conceded, and
Murray, pointing at a magnolia leaf
that hung down from a branch a doz-
en- PAGES off, said: 'Judson, cut off the
stem of that leaf He Immediately
raised the pistol and obeyed the order
accurately-the leaf came futtering to
the ground. THAT pistol is all right
said Murray. It almost caused a
panic. The seconds conferred, got the
principals together, matters were COM
promised, and Judson's antagonist
acknowledged his social and gustatory
equality.
''But when we thought about it
next day it looked to us like surren-
der. We made tacit agreement to
fight, and as matter of fact the six
other duels came off that fall-three in
Pensacola, one near New Orleans, and
one or two in Havana. Judson
wasn't scratched, except by a pick in
the cheek with a sword, but he
wounded four out of the six. Yes"
said the aged officer, smiling, I was
one of the four; but never mind about
that. 1t settled the question about
his beinggood enough to eat with. He
resigned from the navy forty years
ago, I should think. Helives in Siam
ford, Delaware County, New York, and
those who have seen him lately think
he will live forever.