The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-01-20
A BLOOD-STAINFD 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 lfe-blood of two men staining a lit
tie shrub, which, too, was Slapped to
death-are the bases of story as true
as it is hidcously 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
i'll one of the courts % the Parish of Or
leans 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, tifty-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
condolences of which this Renaissance
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 shotguns loaded with
ball. The manner of loading the gun is
an important factor when accuracy is
desired, as every sportsman knows. Mr..
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. 1t was to
be duel routrance, and Mr.. Nudge
did his best.
Two parties of men left New Orleans
on an early train for the bay, and az
rived mt about ten o'clock. Carriages
Were taken to Nicholson avenue broad
lane running from the edge of the Mis-
sissippi Sound to the railroad, 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 small piece of
cloth. until the leaden missile had grown
with its covering to size to tightly fit
the bore. 1t was driven home, a 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
mination, 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 bushes 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 limitless space on
the east, cleaning 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
Mephisto.
The hooking birds were still singing
their morning welcomes to the bright
day when the word was given:
''Are you ready?"
The two men nodded assent.
"Fire! One, two"
The reports were almost simultane-
Gus, 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
i'll 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 |
WIZ SsHiiiS s'ho thS otoi S'ihoii vas StspAS
fed
The two sets of seconds were salts
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. 1t was a
sprig of deer grass, succulent little
green vegetation, tender as the sensitive
plant. The two thin leaves swelled and
dropped with the blood of the dead, and,
saturated, sent the surplus through their
veins to the stem.
The dead was removed and the living
returned 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
in. which a question of honor
had been decided under the code. There
had been no interruption by law officers,
and no subsequent judicial cognizance
was taken of the case. Colonel Rhett
returned to his old home in South Caro-
lima. and edited newspaper
Though the people who lived near the
oe tha dueI nnu11 COO snnts Of