The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1888-06-30
STRANGE WAR DUEL.
An Interesting Incident Reoordsd by an
Ix-COnfcderats surgeon.

Ex-Confedsrats surgeon.
On the 18th Of June, 1868, witnessed
duel between Captain Jones. com
manding Federal scout. and Captain
Fry, commanding Confederate scout,
in Greene County East Tennessee.
These two men had been fighting each
other for Sis months, with the fortunes
Of battle In favor Of one and then the
other. Their command was encampcd
on either side Of Lick Crcel, a large
and sluggish stream, too deep 10 ford
and too shallow for fcrry-bOat, but
there q bridge spanncd the stream for
tho convenience Of the travelling public
Each Of them guarded this bridge that
communication should 20 neither north
nor south, rs the railroad train track
had been broken mp mO1ths before.
After fighting each other several
months aud contcsling the point rs 10
which should hold the bridge. they
agreci 10 hght ducl. the conqucrOr 10
hold the bridge undisputel for the
time being. Jones gave the challenge
and Fry accepted. The terms were
that they should fight with navy pistols
Mt twenty yards apart. deliberately
walking toward each other and firing
until the last chamber Of their pistols
was discharged, unless one or the other
fell before all the discharges were
made They chose their seconds and
agreed upon n rebel surgeon CAS- he was
the only one in either command) 10 at
tend them in case Of danger.
Jones was certainly liuc-looking
fellow, with lighl hair and blue eyes.
five feet ten inches Ia height looking
every inch the military chicftain. He
was man soldiers would admire and
ladies regard with admiration. never
saw man more cDol, determined and
heroic under such circumstances.
have read Of the deeds OF chiyalry and
knight-euanlry la the Middle Ages and
brave man cmbalmcl in modern pOrsy,
but whom / saw Jones come to the
duolists scratch. lighting, not for real
or supposed wrongs 10 himself, but, ~
he honestly thought, for his country
and the glory Of the lag, ! could not
help admring the man, notwithstand-
ing he fought for the freedom of the
negro, which was opposed to.
Fry was man full six feet high,
slender, with long, wayy, curling hair,
jot-black eyes, wearing a slpuch hat
and gray suit, and looked rather the
demon than the man.
There was nothing fcrocious about
him. but he had that soll-suiliccnt non
chalanco that said: 81 will Kill you. ~.
Without n doubt he was brave, cool
and collected, and although suffering
from a terrible flesh wound in his left
arm, received week before. ho mani
fostod no symptoms Of distress, but
seemed ready for the fight.
The ground was stepped of by the
seconds, pistols loaded aud exchanged,
and the principals brought face TO face.
Thoy turned around and walked back
10 the point designated. Jones second
had the word Fire and rs he slowly
said "Ono-two- three -irc!' they
simultaneously turned at the word
zone" aud instantly fired. Neither
was hurt. Thoy cooked their pistols
and deliberately walked toward each
other, firing as they went At the fifth
shot Jones threw mp his right hand
and. firing his pistol In the air, sank
down. Fry was in the act of firing his
last shot but seeing Jones fall, silently
lowered his pistol, dropped it on the
ground and sprang to Jones side,
taking his head in his lap rs he sat
down aud asking him il he was hurt
discovered that Jonos WAS shot
through tho region of the stomach, the
bullet glancing around that organ aud
coming out To the left of the spinal
column; besides he had received three
other frightful flesh wounds in other
portions Of the body dressed his
wounds and gave him such stiumlapts
M had lie afterwards got well.
FRY received three wounds - one
breaking his rightarm, one the left aud
tho other in the right side. After
months of suffering he got woll and
fought the war out 70 the bitter end,
aud to-day the two are partners In
wholesale grocery business, and cert-
fying the sentiment of Byron, that IA
soldior braves death" etc. Georgia