Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser., 1889-01-18
THE PEOPLE WHO FIGHT DU:LS.
Some Singular Encounters Upon the Al
legged Field of Honor.

The story of "Old Hickorv's" duel,
in which he was the challenged party,
and by right had choice of weapons.
has been often told He stipulated
that his opponent and himself should
sit upon two kegs of gunpowder with
a lighted fuse attached to each. The
climax of this novel affair was reached
when 'Old Hickory's" fighting enemy
ran as the lighted fuse was burning
dangerously near the bunghole of his
keg nf powder. Aud as he fled he
heard ''Old Hickory" derisively calling
TO .'come back. you burned fool; there
is nothing but onion seeds in these
kegs"
Another story about the man who.
when challenged by former friend
aggrieved at some trivial matter. sug-
gested that they join hands and jump
from the top of the highest building
in New York, created a laugh when it
was in its prime. But it had grown
gray haired and decrepit through long
years of faithful service and has been
sheleed.
The man who was challenged by
wooden-legged man has become his
torical on account of his queer de-
mand when he and his antagonist met
upon the field of honor. He did not
know until the pistols were loaded
and the ground paced off. that the man
who thirsted for his blood was pos
sessed of n timber limb. He protested.
and cited that section of the code
which prescribes that neither party
shall have anv advantage over his ad-
versary, contending that his wooden
legged opponent had an advantage.
But rather than break up the affair.
gentlemen" remarked the man who
had two sound and natural legs. II
make the following propositions: II you
will get bce-gum for me to put one
of ms legs in | will go ahead with the
fight"
The duel didn't come off.
There was good one told in Georgia
few years ago. and il has lost none
Of its sirility with age. A couple of
gentlemen had decided that nothing
but shot at one anothrr with adult
pistols would satisfy difference they
enjoyed. By reason of future to
make a railroad connection one of the
principals did not arrive ut the place
selected for the battle. au,i his second
brought the news of his detention to
the others. who were impatient for the
slaughter to begin. When the other
principal heard of the DELAY that was
To debar him from the privilege of
shooting mt his enemy he promptly
sent word that the code made provision
for such emergencies. That when
either Of the principals failed to APP
pear at the time and plafv set for the
duel his second must answer tn the de-
mand of the other side. But the
second in this case did not take kindly
To this, and said that it would be inn
possible for him to fight. rs he was
not naturaliz.d. That duel was de-
clared of. and a champagne supper
restored good feeling all around.
Iu the days when it WAS the proper
thing To lock the duelisrs in darkencd
room and arm them with pistols there
were good stories told. Onc of them
has been preserved. A German aud
Frenchman were the fighters. They
were locked in u room which was SD
dark that they could. not see each
other. The Frenchnan described
what transpircd in his own peculiar
style: Il know ef shoot my pistol re
Datciman s.e by ze flash and shoot
me- So say to myself, fire re
chlmncy. and Zis will scare IL Dutch
man sn ne shoot his pistol, and zen |
can kill him. keep var still. aud zc
DuIciImau hear not at all. But
when shoot my pistol up ze chimney
in scare him down he come. - IIAd.td
CoHSiIiufI iH.