The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-11-30
MEN WHO MIGHT FIGHT.
Congressman Who Are Said to be
Quick on the Trigger.

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From the Washington Star.
There are probably not many dueling men
in congress. A few have the reputation of
being quick on the trigger, and a number
are said to carry pistols Some of the most
courageous and quickest TO resent an insult
never go armed Several of the members
of the Fiftieth congress are crack pistol
shots and expert swordsmen. Two or three
of them can defend themselves with their
fists skilltully.
The B!ackburn-Rucker affair brings up
the discussion of the courage of public
men. Il is a great mistake TO imagine that
southern men are the only ones who are
ouick with gun No one would suspect
fne mild and courteous little member from
New York, who has just been sent to Spain,
Perry Belmont, of being fire eater.
Yet il is advisable for a man who wants to
avoid duel not to attempt to put an insult
uuon him. He is one of the best shots aid
most expert swordsmen in this ccuutry,
and he has proved his courage.
BELMONT AND BLAINE.
1t IS not publicly known how near be and
Mr. Blsiae came to having meeting on
the field Of honor. During the tilt between
them, when the famous Peruvian lnvestlga-
tion was in progress, both men got very
angry. Yet the publicity t1at was given
TO the affair was annoying to both. Either
would have been very glad to have got
out Of il honorably without more ado. Mr.
Belmont confided to friend the fact that
he would be willing at any time, il agree
able with Mr.. Blaine, TO 20 with him out
side the jurisdiction Of the United States
so as not to violate the laws Of the country,
and settle the matter according to the law
Of the code, with either pistols or swords
Somehow or other the affair was 50 con
Quoted that no challenge actually passed
between them, but Mr.. Belmonts DISPOSE
ton was known to Mr.. Blaine, or to his
friends.
TIE COUNT SOUGHT SAFETY IN FLIGHT.
When Mr. Belmont W as in Paris he had
an affair OF honor on hand, but his antag-
onist, French nobleman, ran away TO
avoid the conflict.
At that time an engagement between Mr..
Belmont and a beautiful young lady, who,
besides being BEAUTIFUL was worth several
million dollars, had just been broken of. A
romance Of that sort, involving people Of
such wealth and prominence on both sides,
was, OF course, much talked of in society
and at the clubs. There was much specula-
ton as 10 the reason for the break
ing OFF of the match. The parties
interested were silent A certain count,
who was prominent club man, and withal
a great gossip undertook 10 give the rea-
son. Publicly at the club, i'll the presence
of several Of Mr. Belmont's friends but III
that gentleman's absence, he proclaimed
loudly that the engagement had been broken
of because of Mr.. Belmout's dissipated
habits This was in the face of the well
known fact that Mr.. Belmont was not in
the least dissipated. His friends reported
the matter TO him, and he at once sent a
friend to the count with challenge. The
count denied having made the statement,
and put the denial in writing. Mr.. Bel
mont refused to accept this state
friends had heard what was said,
and no denial could be credited. He de
manded a hostile meeting. His seconds
went back to the count with this message.
Mr. Belmont's skill, both with swords and
with the pistol, was well known in Paris,
and the count had no desire TO test it, He
sent a message back that he now remem-
nered having used some very foolish Ian
guage while under the influence Of wine the
evening before, and that he was very sorry
for it. To this message the second added
the following:
''If this is not satisfactory you win have
to telegraph further communications. The
count has gone 10 England"
The counts action was made public at the
club, and that ended the affair Mr.. Bel
mont may be depended upon to maintain
AEc S1lLcA A-oh at bub bpuhlbn tdBI-
tai. and will do credit to the Yankee repu-
tation for pluck, if necessary. But he is
not braggart, and has not a disposition to
quarrel.
SENATOR BLAIR MIGHT FIGHT.
A few months ago Senator Blair, who
comes from the staid old state of New
Hampshire, supposed still to preserve intact
Il large measure of strict puritanical princi-
pies, caused considerable talk by public
statement to the effect that he would fight
a duel if challenged. He said at that time
that ne believed the late war might have
been averted IL northern men had enter
tanned other notions on dueling He rea-
soned that the notion that had got abroad
in the north that northern men lacked valor
had much influence. A few duels before
the war, he thought, might have corrected
this opinion.
A PICTURE OF JACK THE RIPPER