Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1889-05-10
A MIDNIGHT DUEL.
End ofa Romance on tho Toe OF Spur oI
tho Hue Ridge

End ofa Romance on tho Toe Of n Spur o
the Biuc Ridge
"Thero is no doubt" snid an old sol
dior yesterday, "thnt many singulal
things occur as wo journey through
life, " and he looked as though memor!
was struggling with some sad feature
OF his existence. He sighed as he con
tinued: "I remember us though IL wa!
yesterday, the march of Hills corp
along the winding Shenandoah up 4
tho famous Luray gap Who could cvel
forget that march? The road winding
with the beautiful river, and overhunG
with majestic chain of Blue Ridge
mountains, while across the crystal
water the magnificent valley, with It's
Gus land with whitc-like balls OF snow
robed in flowers But the most ongag-
ing and lovely objects palcd into insig-
niiicanco beside the peerless women oil
this blessed country, and yOu may well
believe that when the camp was struck
the soldiers lost no time in making their
way TO the surrounding cottages. Soon
tho music OF the violin was heard and
the shuflling feet kept time to tho music
while, for n time, tho soldiers faco was
lit with old-timo Joy. At one Of these
cottages the belle Of the valley rcignod
supreme, while several Southern SOL
diers We'd with each other in paying
homage TO the queen, Among others
were two young soldiers one from
Georgia and tho other from Mississippi
who were especially energetic in
their attentions, aud so marked had
this become that those present watched
the play with constantly increasing in
terest, fully believing that both ex-
hibited case of love at first sight.
This surmiso on the part OF those
present was only too true, rs the tragic
event which followed fully proved.
The Georgian seemed to have the lead
on the Mississippian, and when the
dancers were called TO take their places,
he led the belle of the valley to place
in tho set. AZ this point the Missssip-
plan was seen to approach the couple
and heard to claim the lady's hand for
the dance. An alteration ensued, but
both were cool, brave soldiers-two OF
tho best shots in the mmy-who did
not believe in war of words So il
was ended by tho Georgian dancing
with the lady and tho significant re-
mark of the Mississippian that i will
see you after the set
,.lNhnn fbn 1nnrc Ypns nvar thn (,nOr.
gian was seen to seek the Mississip-
plan, and together they called each n
friend from tho crowd and departed.
When outside both claimed that an in
suit had been passed which could only
he wiped out in the blood of the other,
and that duel to the death should be
arranged at once. A full moon was
just appearing above the tops of the
surrounding forest, and tell you this
talk OF blood in the silence OF the night
was any thing but pleasant. No nrgu-
ment, however, would avail with these
men, so IL was arranged that the duel
should take place on the top OF Blue
Ridge, near the center OF the road that
passes through the gap; that the
weapons should be pistols at fifteen
PAGES, and to fire at or between the
words zone, two, three firing 10 con-
tinue until one or both were dead.
"The point was reached, the ground
measured of, and the men took their
positions without n trcmor. The moon
shed its pale light on scene never to
be forgotten. A moment or two, and
the silence was broken by the signal:
One, two, three" At the word "one'
the report OF two pistols rang out on
the midnight air. but the two princ-
pals maintained their respective posi-
tions. The Georgians left arm was
seen TO drop closer TO his side, but the
Mississipplan was lmmovable, and still
held his pistol TO the front. Again
pistol shot was heard, coming from the
Georgian, and the Mississippinn still
held his position, but he did not fire.
Tho Georgian protested that he had
not come there TO murder him, but no
answer was returned The Mississip-
plans second approached his principal
and found him dead, shot through the
eye on the first discharge of the wcap-
on. Death, it seems, had been instan-
taneous. so much so as not even to dis
turb his equilibrium, | may forget
some things, but the midnight duel on
the top of spur OF tie Blue Ridge,
with its attendant circumstances, is
not one of them. Detroit Free Press.