Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1888-03-28
CHALLENGED TO FloHr.


CHALLENGED TO FIGHT.
An Unpublished Romance In the Late
Banker Coro0ran's Career.
Few know or remember, perhaps, that the
deceased Washington philanthropist, Mr..
w. w. Corcoran, once in his life had been
challenged to duel, says the New York
1eegrum. Strange as it may seem, this in-
ofensive, prudent, benevolent and wealthy
banker was called upon to fight with !.
deadly weapons according to the dueling
code.
While duels take place sometimes be-
tween hotspur politicians and those In
high public station, professional men, or
others who assume to be gentlemen, they
are almost unknown among the class OF
people engaged in banking and large busi-
ness transactions to which Mr.. Corcoran be-
longed.
But the challenger was Of q different
class. He was a proud young Spaniard,
holding an official position in this country
for his Government, who imagined he was
bound to maintain the dignity of his name,
character and station by demanding satis-
faction at the point Of the sword or mouth
Of the pistol for having been roughly treat
ed and humilated by Mr.. Corcoran.
This gentleman was Mr.. Murnaga, the
Secretary of the Spanish Legation In Wash
ington at the time Mr.. Tassara was Min
lister and while Mr.. Buchanan was Presl-
dent of the United States. The present
Spanish Minister at Washington, Senior
Don Emilio de Murnaga, presumably is the
same person, for he has in full the same
name.
In the circumstances which led to the
challenge and in subsequent events con-
cerning those who were connected with the
difficulty there is story as interesting as
a romance.
Mr.. Corcoran had daughter, an only
child, who had just reached the age of wom-
anhood. he being rich, there was no heir
ess In the country then, probably, with the
prospect Of inheriting larger fortune than
Miss Corcoran. She had been brought up
with great care and had all tho advantages
that wealth could bring to young lady
under rather strict though affectionate
guardianship.
Being delicate, her father deemed it pru-
dent not to overtax her with study; hence,
while she was well educated, she was not
remarkable for accomplishments or intel
lectual ability. She was, however, SEN
sible, good, gentle and sweet-natured young
woman.
Her father, in his great love for her, ap-
peared to be overcareful and restrictive, SO
that she saw little society except such as he
entertained at their residence, and her life,
therefore, was too much like that of re-
cluse., For the benefit of her health sho
was accustomed to ride horseback along the
roads outside of the city, and, whether
friends were with her or not, she was at
tended by a groom.
Mr.. Murnaga, who was good-looking and
an accomplished little fellow, and always
well dressed, used to ride in the same di-
rection as Miss Corcoran. BY some means,
whether in regular form or not, he became
acquainted with her, and this acquaintance
ripened into love in the young lady, at least,
Tor she admitted Murnaga to stolen or secret
interviews, which she would hardly have
done had she not been fond of him.
Miss Corcoran evidently was afraid TO let
her father know she had u lover, particu-
larly as the gentleman was foreigner and
held no higher position than that of Secre-
tary Of Legation. The residence of the
Spanish Minister, where Mr.. Murnaga
lived, was on street near that of Mr.. Cor
coran, and, therefore, convenient for the
lovers to meet when the way was clear.
When Mr.. Corcoran was supposed to be
safely away from home Miss Corcoran re-
ceived Mr.. Murnaga in her drawing-room
or parlor How often these stolen meetings
were repeated is not known. At last Mr..
Corcoran heard of them and determined at
once to break the acquaintance of his daugh-
ter with the Spaniard.
One of the most prominent public men In
the country at that time was Jesse Bright.
United States Senator from Indiana. and he
was particular friend of Mr.. Corcoran. To
him, therefore, the angry banker went for
advice. Having trusty informer, plan
was devised to pounce upon the unsuspect-
ing lovers at the time the Spanish Secre-
tary might be in the house of Mr.. Corcoran
The opportunity soon came, and Mr. Cor
coran, accompanied by Senator Bright. re-
turned home unexpectedly In terror Miss
Corcoran urged Murnaga to hide himself
under the piano. But her father knew he
was in the house, and, after searching a few
minutes, dragged him from his hiding-place
and hustled him out OF the house in a rough
manner.
This was humiliating, of course, to proud
Spaniard, and Mr.. Murnaga, after consult
ing with friends, sent challenge to Mr..
Corcoran. Among these friends was one
who visited and dlned frequently with the
Spanish Minister. This was Mr. John
Eustis, a Representative in Congress from
Louisiana, and refined, charming and
handsome gentleman, who had hardly
reached the middle age of life Had duel
been fought he probably would have partici-
pated as second of Murnaga or a witness.
To the friends of Mr. Corcoran, as well as
to that gentleman himself, no doubt, the
idea of accepting challenge to fight duel
under the circumstances appeared absurd.
In fact, the thought of this venerable and
benevolent man of sixty years of age fight
ing duel under any circumstances could
not be entertained for a moment.
1t was understood that Mr.. Murnaga and
Miss Corcoran never saw each other after
this distressing and abrupt check to their
courtship. An intimation was made in
formally and kindly to the Spanish Minister
and his Government, either by Mr. Buchan-
an or some others in high station, that it
might be well to remove Mr.. Murnaga TO
another post, and not long after that gentle
man left the United States. Possibly he
might himself have asked to be removed.
Certainly he was not disgraced in the eyes
OF his Government for what had occurred
In Washington.
The curious sequel to this story is that Mr..
John Eustis, Murnaga's friend, and who
might have been Murnaga's second had
there been duel, subsequently courted
Miss Corcoran himself and married her.
The Eustis children, offspring Of this mar
riage, both parents being dead, now inherit
the vast wealth Of their grandfather, Cor
coran..