Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1889-05-11
An Old Time Duel.
Fight TO the Death in Mississippi.
Rev. Joseph h. Ingraham and DR.. 8. N
Tibbits Battled for q Girl,
San Francisco Chrunicle.l

Sdh
Fate makes some startling comb
nations on the checker board of life
Men appear to move voluntary, bu
before the fame il finished force i
acknowled pr,l that seems to hav,
been the guide in the action of tn,
pieces. They meet and drift apart
and after many years tl.ey are throwr
together unexpectedly under c!rcum
stances that seem IL have but little t,
DO with the life back there. The sto
rles that pleasing fiction tells of thes,
meetings, partlngs and reunions ar,
held to be of less interest, whel
weighed in the balance of the Weir
and strange. than the histories fur
nished by plolding. truth.
Something likeefity years ago two
young men, one a lawyer and the
other a DOCTOR loved the same girl il
the town Of Grand Gulf, Miss. Boil
could not have her, and neither could
live without her. They decided to
fight for her. 1t was to be duel t,
the death. There was no insult to b,
avenged by discharges Of firearms,
no stain on a reputation to he wiped
out by few drops of blood. The
death of the one was demanded by
the other. The LAWYER said it was to
be duel a outrance. The arrange
ments for a massacre were complete
The principals were armed with ri
iles, revolvers and bowie knives
They had more confidence in the accu-
racy Of their aim. The rifles were
to be discharged first at twenty pa
ces; if neither combatant was killed
they were not to advance, firing their
revolvers at will, and if they still
lived the battle was to be continued
with the knives.
1t was early morning when the
four men, principals and seconds,
left the little town of Grand Gulf and
sought grove few miles distant.
No effort at reconciliation was made;
no time was los, in the prelimiuaries.
The men We're 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 unconscious when
his second raised him, and it was
found that the bullet had entered one
cheek, torn away section of the Jaw
and made its exit through the other
side Of his face There was no more
fighting, although the doctor gave
his opponent more than time allowed
by the Marquis or Queensberry rules
The craftsmanship of the physi-
clan did not win the young lady.
Some talk was made about the fight,
and she was removod to another part
of the State. The lawyer recovered
and went to Holly Springs, where be
hecame an Episcopal minister. The
physician came to San Francisco and
three weeks ago, after three weeks
appeared in the Office of DR.. Vorhics.
the well known occulist. He is DIR.
5. NJ. Tibbits, 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 burden OF his years proved too
much for him. A cataract on his eye
rendered him sightless, and his visitl
to DR.. Vorhies was that of patient
to a physician.
With the assistance Of Drs. Taylor
and Lane, DR.. Vorhies removed the
Opaque subsistence, and the hero of the |
duel in Grand Gulf, Miss, had his
sight completely restored. and, al
though now eighty-eiSht years of age
sees remarkably well. While in the
operatingroom DR.. Tibbitts was
asked how he had lived for many
years in Mississippi and retained his
self-respect without fighting duel. |
Then he said he had engaged in a
battle, but had forgotten the 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 cause when lie accept
ed the lawyers challenge.
A few days later S. Todd. of STAN
islans, visited DR.. Vorlies' Office to
be treated professionally, and. while
there, said he had lived at Grand
Gulf for number Of years, long be-
fore the war. He was asked if he
knew doctor Of the name of S. MI
Tibbitts.
Yes; many, many years ago.