Omaha daily bee., 1889-08-05
FUN ON THE FIELD OF HONOR,
The Code Duello is Not Without It's
Humorous Features.
HE FIRED UP THE CHIMNEY.
The Engiishman Meant Wen, But He
Brought the Frcnchman Down
A Legislator who Had More
Discretion Than VaIor.
Stories About DuelIinr.

OF Jne Long lSldnu SOuDu steamers,
says a writer in the New York Mail and
Express, and an intelligent-looking
member of the party, who smoked
cigarettes, related the anecdote of
Curran, the celebrated Irish barrister,
who fought a duel with n man much
larger than himself. His opponent OBJ
jected on the ground that, being the
largest, he stood in the most danger OF
getting hit. But Curran said that
should make no difference. They could
chalk off space on his adversary's
body the exact size of his own form,
and he would promise to shoot within
the lines. The proposal was not ac-
cepted, but the duel was harmless
one.
THAT reminds me-" said another,
tipping back his chair, "of an English
gentleman who told of duel fought
between an Englishman and French
man. The weapons were pistols, and
the place "a room of pitch darkness.
When the time came 10 fire the Eng
lishman, not wishing to have the blood
OF another on his hands, discharged his
pistol up the chimney, and he brought
down the Frenchmanl Now" said the
gentleman who related this, 'whene yer
l tell this story in. France 1 always
send the Englishman up the chin
ney."
Then another told Of an incident that
occurred in Georgia many years ago.
A Judge, celebrated as q duelist, who
had lost a leg and who was known to be
a dead-shot, challenged a Colonel some
body, humorous character and u man
of great at tainments. Friends tried to
prevent the meeting, but to no effect.
The parties met on the grounds, when
tn colonel was asked If he was ready.
mo-" he replied.
what are you waiting for, then?"
inquired the judges second.
why, SIR" said the colonel, 81 have
sent my boy into the woods to hunt a
bee gum to put my leg in, for don't in
tend to give the Judge any advantage
over me. You see he has a wooden
leg
broken up. The colonel was afterward
told it would sink his reputation.
"Well," he replied, sit can t sink fhe
any lower than a bullet can"
'But the papers will be filled about
YOU"
"Well," said he, II would rather fill
| fifty papers than one coffin"
This recalled a duel of an entirely
| different character between De Witt
| Clinton, once governor of New York,
with plucky opponent, who was
| slightly wounded at the first fire.
"Are you satisfied?" asked Clinton.
"No, l am not" angrIly responded
| the other.
They exchanged shots once more and
| he was wounded again. The former
| question was repeated, but he still de-
| manded satisfaction.
The third time he was wounded, and
Clinton asked, "Are you satisfied aow?"
"No."
s'Then go to HI for satisfaction"
exclaimed Clinton, and, flinging down
| his pistol, he left the field.
''That's different" said one of the
company, as he scraped out his pipe
| bowl with his penknife, from an oc-
currence at Albany, probably about the
time of Governor Clinton" And then
he related the following;
''It was during session OF the legls-
| lature, and a word spoken in debate by
some members touched upon the pri-
vate character of u brother member and
resulted in a challenge, which was
promptly accepted. The messenger
from the challenging party asked the
| g ntleman who accepted the challenge:
| w nen can we expect your friendT
Don't want any friend" was the an
swer. 81 waive all such advantages.
| He can have Q dozen il he wishes
"'This is magnanimous, but is not
according to the code. However, If
am to confer with you directly, what
weapons?"
| " Broadswords.'
| "The timeH
| "'Day after tomorrow at IL o'clock
| at noon precisely. The place on the
banks of the ST. Lawrence. Your prin-
cipal shall stand on one side of the river
and 1 will stand on the other, and we
will fight it out"
joking NATTER he said, you are not Sc
rious'
"'Yes, am, too. Hasn't the chal
lenged party choice of weapons and
placeT
Certainly, but not TO unusual wea-
pons and unusual places,
Well, pistols will not be objected to
Z" Assuredly not, if it is the gentle
mans weapon
"'Good, then. We will meet to-mor-
row at IL o'clock precisely we will fight
on.top of sugar Loaf Hill, standing back
TO bnck, marching ten PAGES, and then
a turing and firing. Will that arrange
ment be satisfactory
est will: we shall be theres'
"Sugar Loaf Hill was exactly what its
name imports-a sharp, conical pillar OF
ground, remarkable in all the country
around for its peculiar formation At
the time specified the parties appeared
at the places designated. After reach
ing the apex of the hill and taking time
to catch their breath, the challenger
and his second surveyed the situation.
"'Sir," said the second, what Kind
of a place is this to fight duel9 Why,
both parties would be out OF sight at
eight paces, let alone ten; and then in
turning to fire, you must fire into the
side hill.
$50 much the better for both of us,
answered the party of the second part.
I'VE are on terms of perfect equality,
then, which is not always the case in
modern duels."
"'Sir!' roared the challenging princi-
pal to his opponent, 'Sirl you are cow
ardp
"'Well, sposin' am? You knew l
was or you wouldn't have challenged