The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1886-06-16
DUELING In OLD TINES.
AN INTERESTING ACCOUNT OF THE
CODE AS III WAS.

Incidents of the Field of Honor I'm Ante BrlIun,
Days--Onc of Paddy OCorks Best Sketches.
The Career of McCiung--IIis skill with a
Pistol--Othcr Interesting Incidents.
(From the Atlanta CONSTITUTIONS
However barbarous may be the custom
of dueling, as such, it is still fact of
historical value that no dueling commu-
nifty ever yet failed to send out good sol
diers in time of war / have been told
by old residents of Mississippi that the
career of McClung at first stimulated ap-
peals to the lex tahonis, but that towards
the last it acted as deterrent example.
Tho duel ceased to be duel in the ordi-
nary acccptation of the word and became
butchery. McClung, of course, ran
little or no risk, and it filed tho public
generally with n sickcning contempt to
realize that the leading men of Nlissis-
sippi lived practically by the sufferance
OF mailman. To refuse to fight duel
with him was, of course, out of the
question: This was not allowed by the
code. 10 fight him meant death. His
OF DIR. Carver or Buffalo Bill with the
rifle, difference in weapons being con
sldered. On one occasion he killed n
black bird hopping about on the ground
20 yards distant.
once heard Mr. jefferson Davis
reprimand second who boosted that he
had brought his principal out with fly
ing colors, to the utter confusion of his
antagonist, By n little piece of general
ship. He explained that the seconds
were supposed to be arbitrators each rep
resenting both parties, and that it was
the duty OF the seconds to see perfect
fairness, both III arranging terms of set
tlement and on the field.
One of the most charming and anus
ing little works | have hit upon recently
is by III. S. Fulkcrson, of Vicksburg.
Miss. He calls it "Random Rccollcc-
tlons OF Early Days in Mississippi" In
this he gives description Of II notable
duel that occurred in his own obscr,a-
ton. he tells the story well, and /
wish to show my appreciation by para
phraslng 1T Tor the readers of the -.
The event took place on Grand Gulf, on
the Mississippi river, then place of
l,2OOlnhabitants, and rival of Vicksburg.
1t was almost duel of professions Allen
being n lawyer tnd Marstellcr Il physi-
clan.
Allen was tall, slender, smooth faced
fellow; Marstellcr was rather plump and
heavy set and wore whiskers. Allen
was married and Marstellcr was bnchc-
lor. 1t is not known what was the cause
of the duel. The usual prcliminarics re-
suited in bringing the two together upon
the field of honor. Allen was excited
and vociferous, and expressed the abso-
lutte certainty of his conviction that he
would kill his enemy He stripped him
self 70 the waist, absolutely nude, and
Marstoller threw off his coat. AS the
second called out, "Gentlcmcn, are you
ready?" Allen answered "no," and pro-
ceeded to explain to the second how The
word should be given. The object was
to unnervc Marstcller, who, however
quietly lowered his pistol and waited.
"Thc second" continues Mr.. Fulkerson,
''callcd out distinctly but with trembling
voice: Gentlemen, are you ready? Fire!
Ono! two! thrcc!' They fired, both of
them SO nearly together at the word one,
that it seemed to tho bystandcrs to be
but n single loud report. A great volume
of smoke completely cnvcloped them,
and we all looked on in profound silence
till it rose and disclosed the two figures
standing and looking savagcly at each
other and each with apparent astonish-
ment that his adversary was not prone
upon the earth, and we, the spectators,
equally surprised Immediately Marstcl-
lor began to sink slowly to the ground
and Allen turned away bloody and limp
ing in the direction of my perch. |
reached him as he sat down upon n log
near by. A single ball had
passed through both thighs, high up A
single ball had struck Marstcller in the
hip and he lay upon the ground, where
he had stood" Allen was carried home.
Marsteller soon recovered, arose and de-
manded that Allen be brought back MS
he desired another shot, saying: 81 am
not satisfied" He went to his room un-
aided, probed his wound, extracted the
ball and never lost day by it. This is
what We now-a-days call nerve" Peace
was made between the two, but Marstel-
Ter always had lingering desire for
another shot, circumstance that often
threatened to cause renewal of the
difficulty.
Speaking of New Orleans, reminds me
of the celebrated Howell and Henry duel
that took place mt the so-callcd Half
Way. The various accounts of this
affair contain SO maly conflicting details
that follow the one that strikes me as
being most plausible. Joe Howell, q
giant six feet six inches in his stocking
feet, brother-in-law of Mr.. jefferson
Davis. had been with Walker in Mica
ragua, and while there had had an alter
cation with Major Henry, wonderful
character, combination of Hudibras
Casanova AID knight of the Leopard.
The recorded feats of his bravery put to
the blush Leatherstocking and all his
kind. The cause OF the difficulty was
never known. On the way out Howoll's
second gave his principal some good ad-
vice which the latter received with 'Tut,
tut, my boy; teach your grandmother
how to suck eggs" An immense con-
course OF people had preceded the adj
versaries to the field.
Both parties were noted for their
bravery, GOODNESS and determination,
mud hOth wera scanned with scars from