The Opelousas courier., 1889-05-25
A Forgotten Duel.
A FIGHT TG THE DEATH IN MISSISSIPPI

Fate makes some startling combinations
on the checker board of life. Me n appea
to move voluntarily, but before the game
is finished a force is acknowledged that
seems to have been the guide in the action
of the pieces. They meet and drift apart,
and after many years they are thrown to-
gether unexpectedly under circumstances
that seem to have but little to do with the
life back there. The stories that pleasing
fiction tells of these meetings, partings
and reunions are held to be of less interest,
when weighed in the balance of the weird
| and strange, than the histories furnished
by Flooding truth.
Something like fifty years ago two
young men, one a 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 decided to fight for her. 1t was to
be a duel to the death. There was no in
suit to be avenged by a discharge of fire.
arms, no stain on a reputation to be wiped
out by a few drops of blood. The death
of the one was demanded by the other.
The lawyer said it was to be a duel q
l'outrance. The arrangements for q mas
sacre were complete. The principals
were armed with rifles, revolvers and
bowieknives. They had more confidence
in the continuation of their hate than in
the accuracy of their aim. The rifles were
to he discharged first at twenty PAGES if
neither combatant was killed they were to
advance, firing their revolver5 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
lot men, principals and seconds, left the
little own of Grand Gulf, and sought a
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, blood streaming from
his mouth. He was unconsciouSswhen his
second raised him, and it was found that
the bullet 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 10 more fighting, although Ae
doctor gave his opponent more t-~n ohe
lime allowed by the marquis of Queens
berry rules
The craftsmanship of the physician did
not win the young lady. Some talk was
made about the fight and she was removed
to another 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 DR.. Vorhies, the
well-known occulist. He is DR.. s. M.
Tibbits, who for many years was one of
the best known physicians in the State.
He gave up a large and lucrative practice
some time ago, as the burden of his years
-~oral Ton ro1oh fnp him A aoforoaf ns
his eye rendered him sightless and his
visit to DIR. Vorhies was that of a patient
to physician.
With.the assistance of Drs. Taylor and
Lane, DIR. Vorhies removed the Opaque
substance, and the he's Dof the duel In
Grand Gulf, Miss, had1ibis sight conn.,
pletely restored, and edthough now SO
years of age, seesr~ ~ well. While
in the <foom DR.. Tibbitts was
asked hog saa1ad lived for many years in
Mississippi and retained his self-respect
without fighting a duel. Then he said he
had engaged in a battle, but had forgotten
the name of his opponent Z, Through the
mist of sixty years, he said, the cause of
the duel was nothing, but it seemed a
right worthy cause when he accepted the
lawyers challenge
A few days later s. Todd, of Stanislaus,
visited DR.. Worthless office to be treated
professionally, d-Iyhile4ore saru luat
he had Il " a7rs5aGcrand Gulf for q number
of Years a long before the war. He was asked
if he knew a doctor of the name of 8. NJ.
Tibbitts.
eyes, many, many years ago. was
his second in a duel once" was the an
swer. -
with whom did he fght| he was
asked.
The old gentleman studied for a mo-
ment, and said
"Ipgraham-Joe Ingraham- afterward
the Rev. Joseph 1%ngraham, of Holly
Springs. He was Joe them lawyer and
a good man."
II knew him veil" exclaimed DR.. Vor-
HES. 81 saw him die"
"WelI, WE'LL" said Mr.. Todd, chad he
an affection of the eyes2"
81 was at Holly Springs in 1882, when
Grant had occupied the territory down
there. One Sunday | went to the Episco-
pal Church. / knew no d there and
went to service to pass the time. Rev.
Mr.. Ingraham was preaching, and his SUBJ
iect was the war. The Zines were stormy,
and then a man had to back up a senA-
ment with his deeds. The sermon was 8
powerful one, and stirred up the people.
The preacher finished it and sat down.
As he took his seat q report was heard, a
cry followed and the minister pitched for
ward on his face in the pulpit, and was
dead almost before any one could reach
him. He had a revolver in his pocket and
when he sat down it was accidentally dis
charged"
r. that discharge darkness fell OF tue
intellect of a bright and brave a Rev.
Mr.. Ingraham was a scholar and a writer
of note. His religious works have been
widely read and his ''Pillsr of Fire
"Prince of the House of David" and ''The
Throne Of David" have had as great cir
culation in Great Britain as hesre.5 His
other writings include "La6tte' and
Burton. of the siges." The biographies
of famous men have little of the life OF
death of the author, whose only duel with
a citizen of San Francisco was recalled In
the strange manner related.-SGn Fran.
cisco Chronicle.
A Heavy Bride.