Daily Yellowstone journal., 1889-06-04
A MIDNIGHT DUEL


On Top Of the Blue Bidge-A Romsntis
Story Of the Late War.
There is no doubt that many singu-
Lar things occur as we journey
through life, and he looked as though
memory was struggling with some
sad feature Of his existence. He sigh
ed as he continued. | remember as
though 1t were yesterday the march
of Hills corps along the winding
Shenandoah up 10 the famous Luray
gap. Who could ever forget that
marchl The road winding with the
beautiful river, and overhung with
majestic chain Of Blue Ridge noun
tains, while across tine crystal water
the magnificent valley. with its
charming cottages dotting the bounte-
Gus land with white like balls of snow
roped in flowers But the most en-
gaging and lovely objects paled into
lnsignlticance beside the peerless wo-
men Of this blessed country, and you
may well believe that when the camp
was struck the soldiers lost no time in
making their way 10 the surrounding
cottages. Soon the music Of the vio-
lin was heard and shutting feet kept
time 10 the music, while. for a time,
the soldiers face wa lii with old time
Joy. AT one Of these cottages the belle
Of the valley reigned supreme, while
several southern soldiers We'd with
each other in paying homage 10 the
queen. Amoug Others were two
young soldiers-one fro1 Georgia and
the other from Mississippi-who were
specially energetic in thelr attentions,
and SO marked had this Decome that
those present watched the play with
constantly increasing interest. fully
believing that both exhibited a case of
love at first sight This surmise on
the part Of those present was only too
true, as the tragic event which follow
ed fully proved. The Georgian seemed
10 have the lead on the Mississippian,
and when the dancers were called TO
take their places, he led the belle of
the valley TO a place IN the set At
this point the MissIssippian was seen
TO approach the couple and heard TO
claim the lady's hand for the dance.
An alteration ensued, but both were
cool, brave soldiers-two Of the best
shots in thearmy-who did not believe
in war Of words. So il was ended by
the Georgian dancing with the lady and
the significant remark OF the Missis-
sippian. Il will see you after this set"
When the dance was over the Geor-
giau was seen 10 seek the Mississip-
plan, and together they called each q
friend from the crowd and departed
When outside both claimed that an
insult bad been passed which could
only be wiped out in the blood of the
other, and that a duel 10 the death
should be arranged at once A full
moon was just appearing above the
tops OF the surrounding forest, and
tell you this talk Of blood in the ST.
lence OF the night was anything but
pleasant No argument however,
would avail with these men, so it was
arranged that the duel should take
place on top Of Blue Ridge. near
the center Of the road that passes
through the gap; that the weapons
should be pistols at fifteen PAGES, and
TO fire at or between the words, lone,
two, three" firing 10 continue until
one or both were dead.
The point was reached, the ground
measured off, and the men took their
positions without tremor. The moon
shed lis pale light on scene never TO
be forgotten. A moment or TWO, and
the silence was broken by the signal:
Zone, two, three" At the word lone"
the report of two pistols rang out ON
the midnight air, but the principals
maintained their respective positions
The Georgians left arm was seen to
drop closer to his side, but the Mis-
sissippian was immovable, and still
held his pistol 10 the front. Again a
pistol shot was heard, coming from
the Georgian. and the Mississippian
still held his position, but did not fire.
The Georgian protested that he had
not come there 10 murder him, but
no answer was returned. The Mis-
sissippian' second approached his prin-
cipal and found him dead. shot
through the eye on the 6rst discharge
Of the weapon. Death, il seems, had
been instantaneous, so much so as not
even to disturb his equilibrium. may
forget some things. but the midnight
duel on the top Of spur Of the Blue
Ridge, with its attendant circum-
stances, is not one Of them. Detroit
Free Press. Ss5 &c.