The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-12-05
A DUEL WITH POTATOES.
HOW A KENTUCKY PREACHER ONCE
WHIPPED A BULLY.
Rev. Bill bowman Was Full of Piety ana
Pugnacity - The Neighborhood Hn'iy
Wanted to Settle with the Preacher.
and lie Got tho Chance.

This story is told by DIR. II. c. Morri-
son:
Speaking Of ministers, remarked DR..
Morrison, reminds me of a celebrated
duel that occurred in MiIlarstown, Gray
son county. KY, in 1S43. In that case
preacher was one OF the principals in an
affair of honor.
THE preacher was Rev. Mr.. Bowman,
better known as Fighting Bill Bowman,
long. raw boned, rough-andready kind
q man, full of piety and pusnscity.
~ another preacher got up In the pull
,.t and started preaching it all depended
upon Bills views on the subject as to
whether he would submit to it or not
On one occasion brother minister tried
it. and his and Bills views differed
widely on the subject ~
"'Here Brother Blank, remarked Bill,
that doctrine isn't worth pancakes. Sit
down and let me show you how to
preach.
"In pursuance of his own ideas on the
subject Bill then assembled the pulpit
and fired voiley after volley Of orthodox
Gospel at the heads of his astonished
hcarers.
THE CHALLENGE.
There was no foolishness about Bill
Bowman. He was good man, God
fearing man in his rough way, but 1t was
worse than folly TO undertake to cross
him when he become satisfied that he
was right
"On tho occasion in question there was
a tough citizen i'm the audience who had
conceived n violent dislike for Brother
Bowman.
ale was n holy terror in Grayson
county, in those pioneer days when men
ruled by might more than by right.
eve will call him Brown for short,
and whenever Brown got on the warpath
all those who did not feel disposed 10
have their heads punched or bodies
bruised gave him wide berth.
ION a Sunday he went to one of the
churches included in Bill Bowman's cir
cult with the avowed intention Of going
for the preacher. He had determined to
settle with the preacher at once and for
all. and he boosted Of his determination
among his cronies.
Brother Bowman heard of it, and
when he assembled the pulpit steps he
had a look about him that was ominous.
ale read the Scriptures, lined out the
hymns, offered the prayers and went
through with the usual routine.
"Then he took his text, and it was one
that was peculiarly appropriate for the
occasion and the subject in hand.
"When he began preaching there was
no mistaking the drift of his discourse.
He went for the DULLES and rufiians
without gloves, and among the number
he particularized Billy Brown, who sat
scowling in a corner. OF course Brown
was enraged. He waited until the SER
mon was about concluded, when he arose
and used some very pointed language
toward the preacher, and then strobe out.
1.-THE sermon was concluded with a
terrible denunciation of the bully and
his conduct. and then the preacher con-
cludcd the service in the usual way.
ION the following day Bill Bowman
veceived a challenge to meet Bully Brown
in open combat to settle the matter and
remove the stains from the bully's
wounded honor.
"Brother Bowman was not backward
in the least particular, and having the
choice of weapons, lie selected them at
once.
HONOR SATISFIED.
Through his second he notified Bully
Brown that he would meet him at a
specified time and place, and that a hall
bushel of Irish potatoes, selected the size
of mans fist, should be the weapons.
These were to be picked up one at n time,
and the duelists were TO throw them at
each other, at distance of fifteen PAGES,
until the potatoes were exhausted or the
duelists were satisfied.
This selection Infatuated Brown. He
considered that it was heaping insult on
indignity, and he fairly rayed over it.
but he was compelled to accept, ms
Brother Bowman was firm in his posi-
ton.
"Of course such an unique affair at
tracted "A great crowd, and on the day
appointed there was an immense gather
ing at the place appointed for the fight.
Bowman was an expert hand at
throwing, and when the principals took
their places and the word was given.
Brown threw at Bowman with all his
might and missed.
Bowman had reserved his fire, and as
Brown stopped to pick up another pota-
TO. Bowman let drive, and the missile
went straight TO the mark. 1t raised a
knot on Brown as large as the potato.
Then the fight became hotter. Brown
was wild with anger, and his potatoes
were thrown at random. Bowman was
cool and self possessed. and he made
every shot tell.
"For five or ten minutes the battle
ragged, but about the time the sixth po-
tato raised its lump on Browns body the
latter cried enough.
lie was badly beaten. He was bruised
and banged up to such an extent that he
had to be carried up to his bed and ply
stefan was summoned to attend TO his
wounds.
"When he got up again he was the
worst cowed man in Grayson county,
and after that he was never known to Of
fer challenge again"
THAT suggests good idea" remarked
gentleman who had listened TO the
story. Nov, suppose our Georgia duel
lists would try that sort Of a battle. II
would not only be less liable to produce
fatal results, but 1t would also aid IN the
development of farming industry that
might lead to valuable results"
That's So" remarked another, "and
then il would be bonanza for the retail
grocers. Atlanta Constitution.
CRISP CONVERSATIONS.
The population OF Berlin has now
sl;or apd a half