The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-06-06
AVS "All imputations Of cheating at

says: "All imputations Of cheating al
play, races, etc, are TO be considered
equivalent to a blow, but may be recon.
ciled after one shot on admitting their
falsehood and begging pardon publicly"
Another rule says: I'm slight cases the
second hands his principal but one pistol;
but in gross cases two, holding another
case ready charged in reserve" The
American code sanctions no such multi
plicity OF weapons in any case.
In general II may he said that the late
code justilies the claim OF the codiiier,
that his desire was 10 prevent duels that
may be avoided without infractions OF the
law of honor, while the aim Of the Irish
men seems 10 have been 10 make II as
easy as possible for q man determined to
| fight to get at his adveBary's gore.
One interesting point relative to the re-
finement Of dueling was the gradual elimi-
nation of the clumsier weapons. Every
reader on the subject knows that weapons
of almost every description have been used,
| from the quarter-stan OF early DAYS to the
seven-shooter Men have shut themselves
in dark rooms, armed TO the teeth They
have, II is said, gone into other dark
rooms in which there were numbers OF
remain until one or the other was bitten.
They have fought across handkerchieis
with one loaded and one unloaded pistol
with knives; with shotguns; and, in short,
in almost every conceivable way 10 which
the death OF one or both could be insured.
| There came 10 be, after time, q strong
! prejudice against such choice OF weapons,
and OF late, as an ANONYMOUS writer ten
40 I,l,
have been recognized as Legitimate"
weapons for ducling purposes. These are
/ the pistol, the napier or small sword, and
| the saber or broad sword.
This writer says: proficiency in fcnc-
ing can be urged as fatal objection to
the use of rapier or sabcr when one prin-
cipal AYERS his ignorance in the art Of
handling either. But against the pistol
rs a weapon no protest can be entertained,
provided its make and fashion accord with
The requirements OF the code. The rapicr,
Tor centuries portion Of habitual cos
tune, and still conserved ~ feature in
State and court dress, has long since been
dropped from the list OF American duellng
weapons, having been used oflatc years only
10y creolcs OF louisiana, and foreigners 30
iourning in this country. Although not es-
certainly are rifles, fowling pieces reyoly-
ers, bowie knives and similar destructive
implements, 20 suggest employment OF the
small sword for present ducling purposes
would he regarded as an attempted evasion
OF the cartel, or craven endeavor 10 take
advantage Of an unskilliul antagonist. In
almost u similar light would be viewed
choice Of the saber, which, while
Il. a
weapon for civilians, has been reserved
wholly for the use OF gentlemen attached
TO the military and naval arms OF service,
cutlas being ut times substituted for the
regulation cavalry sword 10 accommodate
heroes Of the marine branch. The favor.
lie and most legitimate duellng
weapon of the present century is
the pistol and the one indirectly recon.
mcndcd 10y the code. The 1ippcrary code
sanctions the employment of holster pis.
tolls IN a duel, but since the days Of Turpin
and King, few gentlemen dcign 10 practice
with such highway implements, and con
scqucnily for duclling purposes they have
been superseded by that artistic and costly
piece ol workmanship known as the duel.
ling pistol par excellence, case OF which,
thirty ycan since, formed an indispensable
feature in every sporting gcntlomans ar
mory."
There IL little doubt that the killing Of |
Jonathan Cillcy, a congressman from |
Maine, by William J. Graves. congress.
nan from Kentucky, in q duel in Fcbru.
ny. 1883, wns one Of the prime causes Of
he Revision OF popular feeling against
lucling In this country. II was a combat
which could hardly have terminated fatally
II the seconds had understood their duties
and exercised their powers firmly, for II
turned upon tcchnicality, and two shots
we're exchanged without harm to either
'ariy. Cillcy had satisfied Graves demand
,nd his second might "honorably" have
-ciuscd 10 allow another shot.
DAVID A. Curtis,