The Arizona sentinel., 1886-01-23
A BLOOD-STAINED LEAF.
It Kept Alive the Memory of Two
 Fatal Duels.

Two fatal duels fought within few
 months of each other on the same spot
 the life-blood of two men staining lit
 tie shrub, which, too, was sapped to
 death-are the bases of a story as true
 as it is hideously romantic. Every one
 who was in New Orleans in the summer
 of 1872, and is still living, must remem-
 Der the Rhett-Cooley duel. Judge
 Cooley resigned his position as Judge
 in one of the courts of the Parish of Or deans to challenge and fight R. B. Rhett,
 then editor of the New Orleans Picayat'ae
 Colonel Rhett had published an ex- tremely abusive article, impugning the Judges motives and viciously assaulting his character. The duel was arranged, and Bay St. Louis, Miss, on the other side of Pearl River, fifty-two miles from New Orleans, was selected as the ground. 1t is unnecessary to mention the names of those who witnessed the said affair; one, in addition to the principals, will be sufficient to explain the remarkable coincidences of which this reminiscence treats.
 Carson Nudge was at that time the most prominent dealer in guns and sportsman's materials in the Crescent City. He was known by all sportsmen and liked. The weapons selected were double-barreled sbotguns loaded with ball. The manner of loading the gun is an important factor when accuracy is desired, as every sportsman knows. MT. Nudge did this service for Colonel Rhett. at the earnest solicitation of the seconds. He had performed similar favors before, but up to that time the arm of his man had not been as true, nor the intention as deadly, as those which characterized and governed Colonel Rhett. It was to be duel c routrance, and MT. Nudge did his best.
 Two parties of men left New Orleans on an early train for the bay, and ar rived at about ten o'clock. Carriages were taken to Nicholson avenue broad lane running from the edge of the Mis- sissippi Sound to the railroad, a mile distant Just half way from the railroad track forty yards were stepped off and the positions drawn Colonel Rhett's two seconds stood over Nudge as he carefully measured the powder, weighed the ball and wrapped it in a small piece of cloth, until the leaden missile had grown with its covering to a size to tightly fit the bore. It was driven home, few mo- ments after the same operation had been performed among the little cluster of anxious men who stood across the lane The principals parted with the surgeons with whom they had been speaking, and were led to their places. Both men stood erect, their faces showing deter imitation, deadly hatred, but no fear.
 Facing Colonel Rhett were orange trees just beginning to bud, and in front of Judge Cooley was long row of ole anders, whose blushes contrasted strongly with the spotless white Cape jasmines that alternated with the acacias dotting the rear of large, inclosed gar den.
 The Sound lay in Gmitless space on the east, gleaming like polished brass in the dancing rays of the sun. The bar rels of the shotguns, too, were gleam- ing, but the glints were the smiles of a Mephisto.
 The mocking birds were still singing their morning welcomes to the bright day when the word was given:
 Are you ready?"
 The two men nodded assent.
 ''Firei One, two."
 The reports were almost simultane- ous, and the duel was over
 Judge Cooley had washed out the stain on his honor in his blood. Col. Onel Rhett had sustained his by killing his adversary.
 The birds had been frightened into silence, but only for a moment, and again their carols went up and their music blended in the ethereal with the | perfume of flowers. A man had been | killed and that was all-it had been done | in gentlemanly way One glance of | the surgeon satisfied him; one look at | the face of their friend told the tale to | the seconds. Carson Nudge had loaded | well, the bullet had gone to the heart of | the game and the sportsman was satis- fled.
 The two sets of seconds were satis- fed; all said they were satisfed-but | one.
 A little scrub was growing where Judge Cooley fell, and as the red stream flowed from his breast two drops drip ped upon two of its leaves. It was a sprjg of deer grass, a succulent little green vegetation, tender as the sensitive plant The two thin leaves swelled and dropped with the blood of the dead, and, sent the surplus through their veins to the stem.
 The dead was removed and the living to the city.
 The newspapers at the time published detailed accounts of the affair, as repre- of all the journals were pres ent and vouched for the perfectly fair manner in which question of honor had been decided under the code There hat been no interruption by law officers, and no subsequent judicial cognizance was taken of the case. Colonel Rhett to his old home in South Caro- IiDa, and edited a newspaper.
 Though the people who lived near the scene of the duel could see spots of