Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-08-22
STORIES ABOUT DUELS.
Sometimes There Is Fun Even op
 the Field of Honor.
Tho Famous Irish Barrister's Procautiop An Antagonist in the Chimney-A Georgia Incident-De Witt Clin-
 toms Plucky Opponent

toms Plucky Opponent.
 We sat in the smoking groom of one of the Long Island Sound steamers, says writer in the New York Mail and Express, and an mteligcnt-looking member of the party, who smoked cigarettes, related the anecdote of Curran, the celebrated Irish barrister, who fought duel with a man much larger than himself. His opponent objected on the ground that, being the largest, he stood in the most danger of getting hit. But Curran said that should make no difference. They could chalk off on his adversary's body space the exact size of his own form, and he would promise to shoot with Tn the lines. The proposal was not &C., ceptcd, but the duel was harmeless one.
 "That reminds me-" said another, tipping back his chair, ''of an English gentleman who told of a duel fought between an En- glishman and Frenchman. The weapons were pistols, and the place Q room of pitch darkness. When the time came to fire the Englishman, not wishing to have the blood of another on his hands, discharged hiS pistol up the chimney-and he brought down the Frenchman! 'Now,' said the gentleman who related this, whenever 1 tell this story in France l always send the Englishman up the chimney"
 Then another told of on incident that oc- cured ill Georgia many years ago. A judge, celebrated as duelist, who had lost 8 leg and who was known to be a dead shot, chal- lenged Q Colonel somebody, 0 humorous character and q man of great attainments. Friends tried to prevent the meeting, but to no effect. The parties met on the grounds, when the Colonel was asked if he was ready
 ''No," he replied.
 ''What are you waiting for, thena" in- Quircd the judges second.
 ''Why, sir" said the Colonel, "I have sent my boy into the woods to hunt a bee gum to put my leg in, for don't intend to give the judge any advantage over me- You see he has wooden leg"
 Tt; party laughed and the fight was Sroken up. The Colonel was afterward told it would sink his reputation.
 ''Well, he replied, 'it can't sink me any lower than bullet can."
 ''But the papers will be filled about you."
 "Well,' said he, II would rather fill fifty papers than one coffin."
 This recalled duel of an entirely differ ent character between De Witt Clinton, once Governor of New York, with plucky opponent, who was slightly wounded at the first fire.
 Are you satisfied!" asked Clinton.
 ''No, 1 am not," angrily responded the other.
 They exchanged shots once more and he was wounded again. The former question was repeated, but he still demanded satis- faction.
 The third time he was wounded, and Clin- ton asked: ''Are you satisfied nowl'
 "Non
 ''Then go to thunder for satisfaction !' ex- claimed Clinton, and, finging down his pis- tol, he left the field.
 'That's different," said one of the com pany, as he scraped out his pipe-bowl with his penknife, "from an occurrence at AL bany, probably about the time of Governor Clinton" And then he related the follow ing:
 "It was during session of the Legisla- ture, and word spoken in debate by some member touched upon the private !char- aoter of a brother member and resulted in challenge, which was promptly accept ed. The messenger from the challenging party asked the gentleman who accepted the challenge: When can we expect your friendP
 "'Don't want any friend," was the an- swer; I waive all such advantages. He can have dozen if he wishes.'
 " This is magnanlmous, but is not accord ing to the code. However, if am to con. fer with you directly, what weaponsr
 'Broadswords.'
 "oThe timel'
 Day after tomorrow at twelve o'clock at noon precisely. The place on the banks of the St. Lawrence. Your principal shall stand on one side of the river and I will stand on the other, and we will fight it out , 1.-The second drowned. This is no joking matter he said, you are not serious. "'Yes, am, too. Hasn't the challenged party choice of weapons and placeP "'Certainly, but not to unusual weapons in unusual places.'
 "'Well, pistols will not be objected to, of courser
 "'Assuredly not, if it is the gentleman's g weapon
 "'Good, then. We will meet tomorrow, and at twelve o'clock precisely we will fight on top of Sugar Loaf hill, standing back to back, marching ten paces, and then turning and firing. Will that arran cement be satis- | factoryF
 "It will; VIC shall be there.' Sugar Loaf Hill was exactly what it's l name imports-a sharp, conical pillar of | ground, remarkable in oil the country around for It's peculiar formation. At the | time specified the parties appeared at the place designated. After reaching the apex of the hill and taking time to catch their breath, the challenger and his second 1 surveyed the situation. "'Sir,' said the second, what kind of a plSC0 IS Iui6 1OT U ouclS i" ny DOGu paELlcS would be out of sight at eight paces, let alone ten; and then in turning to fire, you must fire into the side hill' "'So much the better for both of us, answered the party of the second part | 'We arc on terms of perfect equality then, which is not always the case in modern duels.' "'Sirp roared the challenging principal to his opponent, sir! you are Q cowardp
 "'Well, sposin' am! You knew I was or you wouldn't have challenged me-
 "They descended. One party was laugh. ing but the other stormed and threatened with horrid oaths. They were never recon ciled, and they never fought"
 A quiet man who had been listening in silence arose and said:
 "Gentlemen, you may feel inclined tc make some comments on those duelists on Sugar Loaf Hill, but one of them was an ancestor of mine." We asked which it was but he smiled and shook his head, and the company separated for their state-rooms. | of