Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-11-05
A GOOD SHOT M NV.
The Good Fortune OF a M,ch,,
In Gnha cF

III Cuba.
Soon after the Cubans vo,
PEELED to surrender the yi reie e
Uncle Sam I landed in Harassin lus
agent of an American apricnitm"snaaa as
Fortunately for me, in this casa wod
chatter away in Spanish WIKI l co co
them, and, though 1 was 'i ha, any
reared i'll Ohio, I was supnos nJ'n
an Englishman. Had I given VEN ~, 10
l was a straightforward Yan ~.
chances of being mobbed or lA!s
shot would have been excel,a na''ed
feeling against Americans was , o.
bitter that one from the Stot ~ v
liable to insult and violence ~
public streets. VI
/ had been there about a woo,.
an American named Charles w! W
from Michigan, arrived there VIII ai.l
wife. Whitley was an invalid s ana
had come to Cuba by the advice ~
! physician. l remember him M y !.
pale-faced, and extremely conn.,
gentleman, while she was a littla l u
woman who was all hope and vi
shine. 1t SO happened that I ~
their acquaintance the first dav ' ~
they landed, and 1 felt it INV dr. a.
warn Whitley of the feeling entert.;
against our nationality. My adv;aa
him was to keep close for a time e
to carefully avoid being mixed M
any discussion of q public nature Up
had been there week without .
thing being said to him, when ono
as he sat in the hotel readine-roos
couple of Cubans who spoke yery aa
English came in and took seats %,
us. There was no doubt in nv W;
from the first that they meant to dr
Whitley into a trap. They began
abusing and maligning Americans
wishing for war, and when he pers;
emily refused to take notice Of tn
one of them deliberately turned mn
him and said:
Havana is no place for such as yoI
The gentleman is an invalid |
piled.
"But he is also a Yankee" coptinu
the Cuban. "Our Government sho]
not permit them to even land on !
island"
Whitley's face grew paler, and he
his lips to keep back the hot wo1
which wanted to come, but he made
reply. The larger of the two men, "
appeared to be a native tire-eater WI
ed for moment, and then rose IN
said to the Michigander:
"All Yankees are towards! I ms,
You! Demand satisfaction if you dard
Il do demand it'll" answered Wlitle
in low voice. "You evidently want
duel! You shall have It'll"
"Good!" Kissed the other. y
friend here will arrange the details wi
your friend. You have more couya
than thought for"
He walked away with nod to ID
and was followed by his friend, VI
promised to return in half an hour.
"You can't mean to fight him." l !
| quired OF Whitley when we were ao!
But 1 do He insulted me as
American, hoping to provoke du
and as an American / will fight hind
But your health?"
"Never mind my health. All | wa
is to keep the affair from my wife nj
it is over with. Arrange to fight b
tomorrow morning."
with what weapons
II never had a sword in my hal
and I have had no experience with
tolls. Choose pistols, however. l kn
enough to sight and fire one. and
must take my chances"
There was no doubt that the man
an experienced duelist, but the moro
argued with Whitley the more Diet
mined he was to fight. Under all I,
circumstances it would have been
disgrace for him to refuse, but from !
very first his mind was made up. SUI
affairs are easily and quietly arrangl
in Cuba. When the second return
we settled on pistols for weapons, al
he was kind enough to say that
would arrange for q surgeon to
present. We were to be at certd
spot about four miles distant at q
tain hour in the morning. The felld
was a pink of politeness, and carrll
the idea that 1 had been mixed up
several afIairs of the sort, and that 4
principal was not green hand on Il
field OF honor.
1 did not see Whitley again until \
took a carriage in the morning to dr1
to the grounds. He was calm al
self-possessed, and on the way out !
ranged with me about sending his WI
home in case Of his death, and pr
vided for other emergencies. II
little woman had not received t!
slightest hint OF what was on the tap1
We found the other parties waiting \
us, and the details were speedily /
ranged. The men were placed fiitea
PAGES apart, and it was understo9I
that they were to fire until one or 4
other was killed or wounded. In ca
either was wounded and wanted to CO.
tiuue the fight the duel should go Q
The two pistols were loaded az
handed to the principals. and the aS
ward manner in which Whitley ne
his made the Cubans smile. Ihad 10
him how to stand so as to present "
smallest possible target to his opp
nent, but as they took their places
was Mortified to see him present
full front. 1t seemed as if any Q!
who could sight pistol must bore III
through at the first fire. lie was
trifie paler than usual, but he s'o'
firm on his feet and was in good letS
The word was finally given-ole
two-three-fire, and both pistols We