The morning news., 1889-05-31
THE ROMANCE OF & DUEL.
Curious Fate of the Principals After
Many Years.

From the San Francisco Chronicle
Something like fifty years ago two young
men, one lawyer and the other a doctor
loved the same girl in the town of Grand
Gulf, Miss. Both could not have her, and
neither could live without her. They de-
cided to fight for her. 1t was to be a duel
to the death. There was no insult to be
avenged by a discharge of firearms; no
stain on a reputation to be wiped out by a
few drops Cf blood. The death of one was
demanded by the other. The lawyer said
it was TO be n duel q d'Out1dHcs. The ar
rangements for massacre were comUlete
The principals were armed with riff $, re
volverS and bowie knives. They had m re
confidence in their hate than in the accu-
racy of their aim. The rifles were to be
discharged first at twenty PAGES; if ne ther
combatant WAS killed they were to advance
firing their revolverS at will, and il they
still lived the battle was to be continued
with the knives
1t was early moraing when the party of
four men, principals and seconds, left the
little town of Grand Gulf aid sought
grove a 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 lawyer stumbled
forward and fell, the bio d streaming from
his mouth He was unconscious when his
second raised him, and it was f uud that
the bulleJ had entered one cheek, torn away
a section of the jaw and had made its exit
through the other side of his face. There
was no more fighting, although the docto-
gave his opponent more than the time al
lowed by the Marquis of Que.nsberry
rules.
The craftsmanship Of the physician did
not win the young lady. Some ta k was
made about the fight, and she was removed
to another part of the state. The lawyer
recovered and went to Holly Springs,
where lie became an Episcopal minis err
The physician came to San Francisco, and
three weeks ago, after fifty three years, ap-
peared in tne Office of DR.. Norlie the
well-known oculst He is DR.. S. M. Tib-
bits, 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. A cataract on his eve
rendered him sightless, and his visit to Dr.
Vorhies was that of a patient to a physi-
clan.
With the assistance of Drs. Taylor and
Lane DR.. Vorhies removed the opadae sub
stance, and the hero of the duel in Grand
Gulf, Miss, had his sight completely re-
stored, and, although now IS years Of age.
ing room Dr.. Tibbitts was asked how he
had lived for many years in Mississippi and
retained his selt-resp.ct without fighting
duel Then he said he had engaged IN q
battle, but had forgotten tle name
of his opponent Through the mist of
sixty years, he said, the cause of the duel
was nothing, but it seemed a right worthy
ca lse when he accepted the lawyers cbal-
enge
A few days later S. Todd, Of S anislaus,
visited DR.. Vorhes' Office to b. treated pro
fessionaily, and while there said he had
lived at Grad Gulf for number Of years
long before the war. He was asked if he
knew doctor of the name of s. NJ lib
bits.
'Yes; many, many years ago. was his
second in duel once" was was Il the answer.
The old man studied for moment and
said:
"Ingraham, Joe Ingraham, afterward
the Rev. Joseph Fl. Ilgraham, Of Holly
Springs He was Joe then, lawyer and a
good man.
81 know him we'll" exclaimed Dr. Vor-
HES. 81 saw him die.
"Well, well, said Mr.. Todd, "had he an
affection OF the eyes"
Il was at Holly Springs in 1sG3 when
Grant bad occupied the territory down
there. Oae Su day | went to the Episco-
pal church. | knew no one there, and went
TO service to pass tha time. Tao Rev. Mr..
Ingraham was preaching, and his sub jsct
was tho war. The times wer5 stormy and
a man then hal to BIC up his sentiments
with deeds. The Sc mon was a powerful
one, and stirred up the people. The
preacher finished it ald sat down. As be
took his seat repors was heard, cry fol-
lowed, and the minister pitched forward on
his face in the pulpit, and was dead am Jst
before anyone could reacn him. He had
revolver in his pocket and when be sat
down it was accidentally discharged