Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-09-13
HISTORY OF DUELNG.
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AND OTHER COUNTRIES


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AND OTHER COUNTRIES.
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Arthorities differ on The origin Of dnaing
Among the ancient Greeks and Romans On
putes we're frequently sestied by PERSONAL -
counters, bot there are no records q ~
meetings which resembied the more modsn
duel. with It's elaborate code Of rules - 70
Challenge, seconds and 50 forth
Practically the arss duel on record Was to 4
yindicass the chastity VI Gunhied, danghserE
Of Hardknut, and wife Of Henry III Of Eng
aod According 70 Blackstone, the 6fss y
mi mention Of dnels Is 70 be found In the
laws Of Guniebald. published in sol. and
preserved in the Burgundian code Ths
ORDEAL by battei" was to settle civil and per
sonal disputes
FIGHTING \ WHOLE DAY
On the day appointed, a piece OF ground
ytxty feet square was inclosed with lists, and
on either side Was set a court for the judges
Of the common pleas, who were present IN
their scarlet ROBES. The court sat at sun
rise, the combatanrs were bound 10 nght TIL
the stars appeared in the evening The cham
pions were dressed in a coat Of armcr, bare
legged from the knee, bareheaded end with
arms barred TO the elbow Their only weapons
were u target or four cornered shield OF
leather and q baton or stavs Of an ell long.
Each swors two oaths. first as to the right Of
the issue and second against sorcery and en-
chantment
II have this day neither eat, drank, nor
have upon me either bone, stone, ne gras,
nor any enchantment, sorcery or wttchcraft,
whereby the law Of God may be ahased. or
the law Of the devil exalted"
Then they were let loose to belabor each
other with their primitive and harmless
weapons until tiss stars appeared And the
conditions were such that II the tenants
champion maintained his ground and made
it drawn battle, Judgment was given for
him as being already in possession On the
other hand, if either combatant yielded be
became infamous, and ceased to be ''lber
ct legalis homo"
The ordeal could be refused by women,
priests, infants, or persons over sixty, or
lame, or blind, by peers Of the realm on &C
count Of their dignity, and by citizens OF
London by charter; and also in cases OF very
strong prima facie evidence.
In 1903 u duel was fought between Sir
George Wharton and Sir James Stuart, both
of whom were killed During the last quar-
ter Of the Seventeenth century dueling was
In full swing in England In 1852 Mr.. latter
ward Lord Jermyn was severely wounded
in old Pail Mall by Col Howard In 1867
Sir H. Bellasis fought close friend, and
Pepys In recording the event, says: 1T Is
pretty to see how the world talk Of them as
a couple Of fools that killed one another out
Of love"
The most trivial circumstances led to duels.
Two doctors quarreled early in the century
as to which was the better physician. They
fought under the gate Of Gresham college.
One slipped his foot and fell. Take your
hfe," exclaimed the other. Anything but
your physic,n was the answer, and the mot
seems to have ended the dispute.
Among American statesmen duels were by
no means uncommon. In 1904 Aaron Burr,
vice president, killed the celebrated Alexan-
der Hamilton in duel In 1905 Andrew
jackson, afterward president. killed Charles
Dickinson In duel, and was himself danger
ousIy wounded. In 1926 Henry Clay, the
well known statesman, fought with John
Randolph Clay had given his vote in favor
of Quincy Adams for the presidency, which
was denounced by Randolph as coalition
of Puritan with blackleg," for which Ian
guage he was challenged by Clay. Two shots
having been exchanged without effect, the
duel was terminated by the seconds
Even Sir Walter Scott was quite ready to
fight duel with Cen Gourgaud on account
of some reflections he had made on that Off
Ger in his Life Of Napoleon" Writing to
ond In case he is challenged, Scott says: III
the quarre, should I've thrust on me-why,
will balk him, Jackie. He shall not dshonor
the country through my sides, can assure
him"
PISTOLS AND COFFEE"
Duels in England were generally fought
with swords until the time when il, ceased to
be fashionable to wear sword with plain
clothes. Then pistols were generally used
The French code of 1856 named fifteen PAGES
as the proper distance for contestants, but
Byron speaks of twelve yards, and this was
the Usual English distance.
Another method was volonte, when the
comba ants We're placed at distance Of
thirty five to forty PAGES, and each allowed
to advance to one of two lines drawn at an
interval of tifteen PAGES Another was called
a ligne parellee, the combatants advancing
along parallels traced at a distance of fifteen
PAGES. Occasionally other less orthodox
methods were observed, such as La barriere,
in which the opponents were placed 50 many
PAGES from a fixed line, to which they were
compelled to advance. each firing when he
chose II one Of the parties fired and missed
he was compelled to advance to the barrier
and then receive his adversary,s shot
A story Is told of duel of this kind where
young officer was opposed by notorious
duelst, whom he missed His opponent
marching up To the barrier brutally said, Il
am sorry for your mother" and shot the
wretched youth through the brain
In Ireland, may be expected, dueling
throve. But, paradoxical as it may seem,
ireland had rs much to do with the decay of
dueling as with its rise Hot headed sensi-
tive and RASH Irish gentlemen fought on
every provqcation Aud the people, delight
ing in fight, and feeling that morbid pleas
nre in death which is their characteristic
still, supported them with their presence,
and made matters easy tor them III the jury
box. Men Of the highest dignity and most
responsible position were ready to eat fire or
taste steel
Ridicule had a great deal to do with the
abolition Of dueing. The order Of Pistols
for two and coffee for one was supplemented
by a message sent by Mrs. OConnell to two
combatants: Mrs. OConnell presents her
compliments 10 the two gentlemen and hopes
the survivor will come to supper" Such re-
marks we're repeated and quoted until duel
ists earned more ridicuie than honor
The practice dies slowly in Europe. In
France there are still duels, but they partake
largely Of farcical nature, and the alleged
beiligerants generally take care that they
run no risks In Germany the practice Of
dueling still continues, and although fatal re-
suits are guarded against and are very rare,
wounds are frequently inflicted At the uni
versities, German students, bepadded. be-
glovei and tevisored, still switch at each
others moss. and check bones with double
edged rapiers. capable of slicins at least three
inches OF skin from the face Of All opponent,
and consider that they thereby maintain the
honor Of their families or their corps-St
Louis 6lofs- Democrat
Doubtful.
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