Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1889-04-13

provided with them; but the Irishman
as the challenged party, had the choic,
of weapons, and he chose pistols, thii
being the weapon he was the most ia
miliar with.
Captain Burke was by this time well
sobered by the gravity of his position
and the fumes of the champagne he
had drank no longer obscured his brain
and sight
As he took his position on the duel.
ing ground, thirty PAGES from his op-
ponent he was as cool as if he were
standing ON the quarterback of the
Excalibnr, and at first discharge of
their pistols, his antagonist fell in his
tracks, shot clean through the heart.
Nothing daunted by the fate of his
companion. the dead mans place
was at once taken by another officer.
who In his turn was soon stricken dead
by bullet from Burke's pistol.
The French officers who survived now
saw the kind of man they were opposed
to. but although their faces paled lit
tie, to their credit be it said not one
of the gallant fellows showed a white
feather.
They were four in number, and each
faced Captain Burke in his turn, and
in five minutes time three of them Law
stark dead on the ground near their
late comrades, while the fourth was al
most as bad, with serious wound in
his chest.
Captain Burke, leaving his wounded
enemy to the care ofhis seconds, at once
fastened to his ship. He took no par
ticular pains to conceal what had hap
pened, and it was as well that he did
not. Such an occurrence could not be
suppressed, and soon the story was in
everybody's mouth.
Thus 1t very quickly reached the
governor of the island, who imme-
d1ately wrote to Captain Burke, asking
him if the story was true.
Burke, more proud than otherwise of
the series of duels, answered in the af-
firmative, saying he certainly shot five
Frenchmen, who, he said had insuIted
him, and he added humorously that
he would have been glad to have
made it an even half-dozen il he could
have done so.
He was, however, considerably taken
back on receiving note from his SUI
perior, informing him that in fighting a
duel with an inhabitant of Mauritius
ne had violated one of the strictest
laws of the island, and that he must
consider himself under arrest, until
court-martial could beconvened to try
him.
Captain Burke was furious at this.
he saw no harm in dueling, and he
thought that he was being i'll used by
the authorities, for engaging in what |
was to him noble, manly custom. In
his rage he swore that he would mark
every member Of the court trying him,
and shoot them dead on sight if he was
dismissed in disgrace from the navy.
Unmindful of his threats, however.
ne was shortly after put on trial before
court comprising the commanders of
the live men-of-war which were then
laying in the harbor.
These were Terror, Captain Blake:
he Nautilus, Captain Williams; the
Desolation, Captain Webb; the
Arethusa, Captain Davis; and the
Thistle, Captain Mcdonald. OF these.
he first four were Englishmen, bluff,
gallant British tars, all Of them, while
he last was a Scotchman. a shrewd,
cautious native of the LAND Of CaIxes.n
The officers had heard of Captain
ourk's threats in regard to their action
n his case, but they were not influenced
particle thereby.
After careful hearing of the evil
lence against Burke, he was found
'u1lty and sentenced to be dismissed
rom the navy, and at the suggestion Of
ne cautious Mcdonald, his dismissal
'as supplemented with disgrace, so
hat they could avoid meeting the terri
le duelist when he called them out on
he field of honor.
The Englishmen did not fear Burke
the least, but they were Influenced
add the expression OF odium to his
ischarge by the cautious Scot, who had
wish to meet the fre-eater if he
ould help it.
SO Captain Burke was accordingly
ischarged in disgrace from the British
ayy. He swore bitter vows OF venpe-
nee and repeated his threats to kill =
'ery member of the court that had
led and condemned him.
His first move was TO find out how
Q officers comprising the court-mar-
d had voted to see IL any had favored
m. According TO the oath of secrecy
ministered to every member of the
urt-martial, which oath have quot 9
above for the benefit OF the reader,
was impossible for Burke to know
w the naval officers had voted, but
hoped to secure the necessary in
rmation by bribery. or aorna otbar