The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-06-07
DUELING BY FLIES.

~ was " 10" years uSOi csPO'i"'iJ III tho
southern States, where, according to the
Cincinnati Commercial Gazette and a few
other papers oflike caliber, the principals
used to sit on h8witzers placed muzze TO
muzzle and touched them off, the seconds
standing quietly by with collins and GER
tifcates OF death already made out and
signed. No physician attended these duels
Of course; neither did any one else for
that matter. Bat the petulant pop Of the
pistol in the baiids of the southern duellist
is becoming less frequent every year, and
especially is thiBthc case with Memphisand
vicinity, where nothing Of the kind has
happened for 10 these many years. True
we have our "spring fights" on the corner
OF Madison and Main between prominent
citizens, but these are harmless fisticufis
which never result in anything worse than
an eye put in mourning ora tooth knocked
out may be, threat that "this won't be
the last OF it-youl hear from me again."
when the matter is amicably adjusted by
mutual friends and everything after that is
lovely and serene.
Perhaps the greatest novelty however in
the way OF a southern duel was that which
was witnessed by an APPEAL reporter a
few days ago in n beer saloon on Second
street. The reporter was in there, let us
say for charity's sake, to light a bad cigar
given him by man he had been inter
viewing too much, when two men entered
and called for beer. The proprietor, a
stout, rosy checked German, fixed lot OF
foam and little beer into two glasses and
placed them upon the counter. As one of
the men was about TO raise the cooling
beverage TO his lips fly got ahead Of him.
tumbling into the glass The man set the
glass down and was evidently Illuminating
on the subject of whether he should scoop
him out with his finger, blow him out or
call for another beer when the pestiferous
insect settled the matter by kicking him
self out OF the difficulty, crawling out on
the rim OF the glass, and after wiping him
self of with his legs ilying away.
you've got your flies trained pretty
well, remarked the man whose nectar
had thus been dcsccrated. 10 the bar
keeper.
'llow vas dot2' asked the man of the
white apron and tcuton accent. The
accident was explained
"Oh, dots nothing | can make dose
flies do peter Ms dot alrctty sometimes"
Flows that?" asked both the men.
IL can make some flies duel fight nit
swords"
A few remarks OF incredulity, such as
Come OF, Hang your hat and sing"
"1tonly weighs five pounds, etc. followed,
but II didn't phase the barkeeper much.
| lie just reached under the counter and
presently produced smooth medium sized
cork; from this he cut two circular slices
about sixteenth Of an inch thick, stick
| ing in the center OF each wooden tooth
pick. These he placed upon the counter
and while the two men and the reporter
watched the proceedings curiously cut out
two little pieces OF cork in spherical shape
about hall the size Of an ordinary buck.
shot. Into each Of these were stuck a
splinter Of another toothpick about half
an inch in length. Then the barkeeper
turned his attention 10 his prospective
duelsis. There were hundreds OF them
on the counter sachezing around,
tumbling over each other and scrambling
for front row seats in the orchestra circle
left by the becry rims Of glasses which had
been removed. LT---one Of these crowds
the fat hand Of the Gci\lan swept, and
when he opened IA half \ dozen OF the
pests were found TO have been caught
Selecting the stoutost looking one OF these
the barkeeper took up the large flat cork
and rum the pointsdf the toothpick which
was on II up into the hollow part Of the
ily's hack, bctwecn the wings this left
the insect in Perpendicular position, un.
able 10 use its wings, and with its legs
clawing tho air hclplcssly. Another ily
was similarly impaled and both placed
upon the counter. The barkecper now
took up one Of the cork balls with the
small piece Of toothpick or Sword" nj.
taohcd, and placed the cork part within
reach Of one OF the hy's legs, when the
insect instantly grabbed Il and com.
mcnccd swinging Il around with
| great dash and energy; the other ny
was in like manner armed, and when
placed within distance Of about an inch
and n half from each other the insects en-.
gagged in a most ludicrous combat, crossing
swords and making pretty fair rcposen.
tation Of several OF the movements made
| in bona tido fencing contests OF coune
the fighting was not real, the flies simply
| turning tho cork balls around with their
! legs, but II gave them the appearance OF
/ fighting very earnestly. A they were
| fixed stationary, there was no opportunity
for any deadly thrusis or lunges, but the
movements Of quartz, ticrcc and scconde
were executed admirably, and after a
fierce and exciting combat OF few sec.
onds, one Nv disarmcd the other by knock.
ing his tooihpick sword out Of his hands
or icet-amid the applause aud laughter
Of the little group OF spectators that had
now gathered.
ON bet dime on that fy, anyway, II
YOU can make him fight again." said some
fellow in the crowd.
"rll take Il and ~ YOU a nickel better"
replied one OF the men Who had frst come
| in
The sword was again placed within
range II the kicking legs oi the vanquishcd
insect, when the duel was resumed. The
bet was raised now to n quarter and the
| excitement became intense. II was curioul
To sec the interest the two ridiculous In.
sccts created. Presently thcp was a yell,
and the reporter saw that the vanquishcd
ily was now the victor After n few mon
rounds fresh ilies wvw caught and placed
upon the dueling ground, the kind-hcartcd
bartender releasing the former combatants,
saving, M they crawlcd or on the counter
Ia daEcd SORT Of a wuy Ivy don't Kill.
dcm9 because dosc fics done noitings q
me, und, mine gracious fght - WILL.
some mems don't hght peter ~ dose flies,