The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1886-06-17
DUEEING In OLD TINES.
AN INTERESTING ACCOUNT OF THE
CODE AS IT WAS.

Incidents of the Field of Honor In Ante BeIIum
Days--One of Paddy UCork's Best ketches--
The Career Of McCIung-- His Skill With n
Pistol--Other Interesting Incidents.
(From the Atlanta Constitution.)
= However barbarous may be the custom
OF dueIng, 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. L have been told
by old residents of Mississippi that the
career of McCJung OF first stimulated ap-
peals to the lex talionis, but that towards
the last it acted as n deterrent example.
The duel ceased to be duel in the ordi-
mary acceptation of the word and became
n butchery. McClung, of course, ran
little or no risk, and it filled the public
generally with a sickening contempt to
realize that the leading men of Missis-
sippi lived practically by the suferance
OF q madman. 10 refuse to fight duel
with him was, Of course, out of the
question. This was not allowed by the
code. TO fight him meant death. His
skill with the pistol was fully up to that
of DR.. Carver or Buffalo Bill with the
rifle, difference in weapons being con-
sldered. On one occasion he killed q
black bird hopping about on the ground
20 yards distant.
L once heard Mr.. Jefferson Davis
reprlmand u second who boosted that he
had brought his principal out with fly
ing colors, to the utter confusion of his
antagonist, by little piece of general
ship. He explained that the seconds
wore supposed to be arbitrators, each rep
resenting both parties, and that it was
the duty of the seconds to see perfect
fairness, both in arranging terms Of set
Element and on the field.
One of the most charming and anus
ing little works 1 have hit upon recently
is by II. S. Fulkerson, of Vicksburg,
Miss. He calls it "Random Recollec-
tions of Earl y Days in Mississippi" In
this he gives description of notable
duel that occurred i'll his own obscrva-
ton. He tells the story well, and I
wish to show my appreciation by para
phrasing it for the readers of the -.
The event took place on Grand Gulf, on
the Mississippi river, then place of
l,2OO inhabitants, and rival of Vicksburg.
1t was almost duel of professions, Allen
being lawyer fnd Marsteller physi-
clan.
Allen was tall, slender, smooth-f faced
fellow; Marstcller was rather plump and
heavy set, and wore whiskcrs. Allen
was married and Marstelicr was q hache-
lor. 1t is not known what was the cause
OF the duel. The usual preliminaries re-
suited In bringing the two together upon
the field Of honor Allen was excited
and vocifcrous, and expressed the abso-
lutte certainty of his conviction that he
would kill his enemy. He stripped him
self to the waist, absolutely nude, and
Mnrsteller threw off his coat. As the
second called out, "Gentlcmen, are you
ready?" Allen answered ''no," and pro-
ceeded to explain to the second how the
word should be given. The object was
to- ltpnerve Marstcller, who, however,
quietly, lowered his pistol and waited.
"The sGaoad," continues Mr.. Full1erson,
F'called out distinctly but with trembling
voice: Gentlemen, are you ready? Fire!
One! two! threer They fired, both of
them SO nearly together Mt The word one,
that it seemed to the bystanders TO be
but single loud report. A great volume
of smoke completely envclopcd 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
npon the earth, and we, the spectators,
equally surprised. Immediately Marstel-
Ter began to sink slowl y to the ground
and Allen turned away bloody and limp
ing III the direction of my perch. [
reached him as he sat down upon log
near by. A single ball had
passed through both thighs, high up. A
single ball had struck ,Marsteller in the
hip and he lay upon the ground, where
he had stood" Allen v Is carried home.
Marsteller soon recover ID, arose and de-
manded that Allen be Thought back as
he desired another shot, saying: 'T an
not satisfied" He went to his room I'M
aided, probed his wound, extracted the
ball and never lost day by it. This is
what we nowadays call 'ncryc," Peace
WAS made between the two, but Marstel-
ler always had n lingering desire for
another shot, a 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 at the so-called Half
Way. The various accounts o. this
affair contain so many conflicting details
that [ follow the one that strikes me as
being most plausible. Joe Howell, q
giant six feet six inches in his stocking
1eet, brother-ip-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 and Knight of the Leopard.
Inc recorded feNts of his bravery put to
the blush Misunderstanding and all his
nnSar maa, The The cause of the difficulty was
never known. On the way out HowclPs
second gave his principal some GOOD nd.
wee which the latter received with t"Tnt
tut, tut my ny ,l"} Boy; ter teach your grandmother
course con- @ Of 9f'I peogfe ogs' had AN immense con
versaries to the field. 'i'o ''''-
Both parties were noted for their
bravery, GOODNESS and determination
&nd both were scanned with scars from,
head to foot. The duel was REGARDED T oa
the homans might have regarded the he
meeting OF two half fanished Numidion
To- H., 4 Il. n