The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-05-15
RECALLING A FORGOTTEN DUEL.
Preacher and a Doctor Who Fought For
n Girl That Neither Got.
Isan Eranci.cn Cnrnninlnl


Something like fifty years ago two young
men, one lawyer and the other doctor, loved
the same girl in the town of Grand Gulf, Miss.
Both could not have her, and neither could
live without her. They decided TO fight for
her. 1t was to be duel to the death. There
was no insult to be avenged by discharge of
firearms; no stain on a reputation to be wiped
out by few drops of blood. The death of the
one was demanded by the other. The lawyer
said it was to be duel POutrance. The ar
engagements for massacre were complete. The
principals were armed with rifles revolvers
and bowie knives. They had more confidence
in their hate than in the accuracy of their aim.
The rifles were to be discharged hrst at twenty
PAGES; if neither combatant was killed they
were TO advance, firing their revolvers at will,
and if they still lived the battle was to be con-
tinued with the knives.
1t was early morning when the party of four
men, principals and seconds, LETT the little
town of Grand Gulf, and sought a grove few
miles distant. No effort at reconciliation was
made; no time was lost in the preliminaries.
The men were placed, the word was given TO
fire, and the rifles echoed the signal. The law
yer stumbled forward and fell, the blood
streaming from his mouth. He was uncon-
sciOus when his second raised him, and IL was
found that the bullet had entered one cheek,
torn away section of the jaw, and had made
its exit through the other side of the face.
There was no more fighting, although the doc
tor gave his opponent more than the time al
lowed by the marquis of Queensberry rules.
The craftsmanship of the physician did not
win the young lady. Some talk was made
about the fight, and she was removed to an
other part OF the state The lawyer recovered
and went to Holly Springs, where he became
an episcopal minister. The physician came to
San Francisco, and three weeks ago, after fifty
three years, appeared in the Office of DIR. NOr-
HES, the well-knOwn oculist. He is DR.. S. NJ.
Tibbits, who for many years was one of the
best known physicians in the state. He gave
up large and lucrative practice some time
ago, as the burdens OF his years proved too
much for him. \ cataract on his eye rendered
him sightless, and his visit to DIR. Norhies was
that of patient to a physician.
With the assistance of Drs Taylor and Lane,
DR.. Vorhies removed the Opaque substance,
and the hero OF the duel in Grand Gulf, Miss,
had his sight completely restored, and, al
though now Lightweight years of age, sees re-
markably well. While in the operating room
Dr. Tibbitts was asked how he had lived for
many years in Mississippi and retained his self
respect without fighting a duel. Then he said
he had engaged in q battle, but had forgotten
the name of his opponent. Through the mist
of sixty years. he said, the cause of the duel
was nothing, but it seemed right worthy cause
when he accepted the lawyers challenge.
A few days later S. Todd of Stanislaus Wis
tied DR.. Norhies Office to be treated profession
ally, and while there, said he had lived at
Grand Gulf for a number of years, long before
the war. He was asked il he knew doctor OF
the name of S. NJ. 1ibbitts.
Eyes; many, many years ago. was his sec
ond in duel once" was the answer.
'With whom did he fghtY he was asked.
The old man studied for moment and said
'lngraham Joe lngraham; afterward the
Rev. Joseph II. Ingrsham of Holly Springs.
He was Joe, then. lawyer and a good man."
81 knew him well, exclaimed DR.. Vorhies
''I saw him die"
"Wel, we'll" said Mr.. Todd, "had he an af-
lection Of the eyesY
81 was at Holly Springs in 1862 when Grant
had occupied the territory down there. One
Sunday l went to the episcopal church. j
knew no one there and went to service 10 pass
the time. The Rev. Mr.. Ingraham was preach
ing, and his subject was the war The times
we're stormy, and a man then had to back up
his sentiments with deeds. The sermon was a
powerful one, and stirred up the people The
preacher finished it and sat down. AS he took
| his seat report was heard, cry followed, and
the minister pitched forward on his face in the
pulpit, and was dead almost before any one
| could reach him. He had revolver in his
pocket, and when be sat down it was acct
dentally discharged.
By that discharge darkness fell on the intel
| lect Of q bright and brave man. The Rev. Mr..
/ Ingraham was a scholar and a writer of note.
| His religious works have been widely read, and
| his 'Pillar of Fire" prince of the House of
David" and THE Throne of David" have had
! as great circulation in Great Britain as here.
His other writings included "Laftte" and
Burton; or the Siges" The biographies OF
] famous men have little of the life or death OF