The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1888-03-31
Governor Manufactures Duels

| It is as d man Of wonderfully un,
flinching nerve that Governor Marma.
duke is best known. He was tail:
slender young man of twenty when he
entered West Point in June. 1853. Ii
was there he fought his first duel. Nc
reference has ever been publicly made
to this duel, because at the time it was
necessarily sab rosa, for duel;ng was
against the rules of the institution. II
was big event i'll the small coterie Of
cadets who were cognizant of THE
fight. but never became known to The
authorities or General Marniaduks' 6
career as d solder might have ended
ABRUPTLY. The dicl arose over slight
dispute in which d question Of pei
sonal honor arose with a fellow-cadet
named Presley Cra'g. A challenge
passed between the two and was
promptly accepted. The weapons
chosen were pistols. the time sunrise.
and the place Filtration Walk. The
cadets met at the Apo ntel time and
place with their seconds and exchanged
shots. Fortunately neither was hurt.
and the seconds arranged settlement
which prevented secohd exchange OF
| shots
1t was at Bayou Metre that tile I'd
NOUS duel between Generals Marina
duke and Marsh Walker took place. in
which the latter was He'd. The cir.
cumstances of the duel are fam liar.
General Marmaduke ma le some re-
marks in regard 10 General Walker in
the battle of Bayou Metre. near L tile
Rock. which the latter resented. Mar
maduke refused 10 retract the remark
and challenge followed from General
Walker. The duel was fought at stin-
rise, seven IN les south of L tile Rock.
One version of the battle is that Gen.
eral Marmaduke, during the battle. was
hard pressed on the field and sent for
General Walker, at his headquarters,
10 know what he should do. as Walker
was tho senior in command. Walker
visited the field. but left soon
after. and Marmaduke made q
remark which came to Walkers cars.
Another version is that an officer
visited the hospital to see n friend and
on leaving said the hospital was only
lit for wounded men and towards.
Walkers headquarters were at the
hospital. and the remark became COM
mon talk. When told to Marmaduke
he Endorsed the remark, and Walker
hearing of it sent the challenge.
General Walker was determined to
kill Marmaduke, and ut the first fire
aimed to kill. but Marmaduk's pistol
was discharged first and disconnected
him SO much that he failed to hit his
man. Marmaduke's quick firing was
9 Their lucky accident or it was
clever trick. He declared to his
friends that hc did not want TO k II
Walker, aud his first shot indicated
that such was the fact When the two
men faced each other at their respec-
I've positions both were cool and
calm. Walker had o determined look
Oh his face which BODIED i'll for his
antagonist VIII e Marmaduko carried
himself SIN linglv.
At The word Walker brought his
pistol down and carefully and dcliber-
ately took accurate aim. but Marina.
duke simply threw his pistol out and
fired at once. The discharge made
Walker finch. Us the bravest man will
do under similar circumstances, and
spoiled his aim. so that the bullet just
missed Marmaduke's leg. TIL ratified
Walkers nerve to some extent and
made him uncertain. but Marmaduke
had been forming his plan for the next
shot He could not see Walker dis
tinctly. but he noticed three weeds in
line with him. Tho two nearest Mar
maduke were short and tho third.
about midway to Walker. was tall and
had n small bunch of seed at the top,
about on level with Walker s stomach.
The weeds gave him tho line Of his
shot, and when the next word was
given he raised his pistol in line with
the nearest weed and amod ct the
head of the tallest. H aim was true,
and the bullet passed through General
Walkers stomach Chicago Tribune.