St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-04-16
FIRED HIS LAST SHOT.
There We're Eight Distinct
Notches on the Butt Of
His Pistol.
A DueliSt Who TePPOriZed
the Whole Of an Irish
County.
Sad Death at His Hands Of
a Gallant Young Off
GER.
Dark Secrets Revealed After
the Death Of Capt.
FentOn.

| Some fifty years ago there lived In the
West of Ireland a certain Capt. Fenton
This man had gained an unenyiable no
toriety in his own and the neighbOring
counties as successful duelist. MOI
only was he known to make the most
trivial dispute pretext for challenge
but it was even reported that on more
than one occasion he purposely pro-
voked quarrel. The meeting in nearly
every instance ended disastrously fol-
| his opponent.
He had the reputation of being an un-
erring shot. Coolly and collectedly he
stepped to his place, took steady aim
| and almost invariably drought down
his man." 1t will. therefore, be readily
conceived that he was dreaded and
Stunned by his neighbors. He was a
bachelor, and lived alone in a large
country mansion.
At that time there happened to be a
line regiment stationed in the neighbor-
ing town of Galway. Capt. FentOn was
on terms of intimacy with some of the
officers, and, though far from being a
general favOrite, it not infrequently Oc-
Cured that he dined at the mess on
guest nights. But whenever he was
present an air of restraint pervaded the
assembly. The dinner was sure to be a
spiritless affair, and always lacked the
tone of goOd-fellOWShip which usually
characteriZes such entertainments.
This may, in measure, be accounted
for by the fact that the captain was of a
morose, naughty disposition. His con-
unnoro1Iu dicnloUnd O hittnr
sarcasm, Moreover, all present were
aware of his fame as dueliSt. This
knowledge rendered them more eau
tious in speech, lest chance word or
expression should afford him sufficient
grounds for picking quarrel
About six months after its arrival in
| Galway the regiment was Joined by a
| Junior Subaltern. He was mere lad,
being still in his teens; yet, by all ac-
counts, he was fine, sOldierly young
fellow. He gave every promise of max
| ing a splendid officer, and few weeks
sufficed to establish him as favorite.
But, alas! only short time elapsed
before he had the misfortune to fall
foul of Capt. Fenton. Though l have
| heard the story from those who dwelt in
| the neighborhood, and who we've &C
quainted with every detail. yet have
never been able to ascertain the exact
cause of the disagreement. However.
! certain it is that a challenge was given
| and accepted. The affair was kept as
secret as possible; and. at the appointed
time, the meeting took place in the cor
| ner of meadow about half mile from
| the barracks.
1t was bright spring morning. The
| peaceful aspect Of nature formed ter
| rible contrast to the bloody business
which had brought those five men so
early to this lonely spot. Not much
| time was lost in preparations. The
1 eombatants were placed, the pistols
loaded, and the seconds retired. Tht
young officer stood with the full from.
of his body presented to his opponent
| He was a novice in such affairs, poor
boy! 1t is even said that, at the pre-
| else moment of firing, he involuntarily
closed his eyes. If such was the case,
he never opened them again in this
world! His adversary's ball passed
right through his heart.
| The surgeon ran forward and raised
| the fallen youth. A hasty examination
| showed him that he held corpse in his
arms While he was thus engaged Capt.
| FentOn was occupied in very different
manner. He was carelesSly cutting a
! notch on the stock of his pistol. There
were seven other marks OF similar
| description. and each one represented a
victim to which that weapon dealt death.
| A stretcher was fetched from the bar
racks, and the corpse was conveyed
thither without delay. The affair would
doubtless have created a profound SEN
sation, but, tor obvious reasons, those
/ engaged in it were careful to let as few
| particulars as possible leak out. The
| friends of the deceased were communl-
| Gated with. There seemed little likeli-
| hood of any unpleasant consequences
| ensuing. Capt. Fenton dined alone
| that evening, and after dinner sat for
| over an hour slipping his claret with
! evident enjoyment. One more or less
| to the list of his victims was matter of
little account to him. 1t was certainly
not of sufficient Importance to disturb
his equanimity.
But on the third day startling
| change took place in the aspect OF af-
fairs. A young man, travel-stained,
| pale and haggard. arrived III town. He
proceeded at once to the barracks and
! announced himself as brother of the
| deceased. He was conducted to the
| room in which the body was laid. They
say the scene which followed was one
| of the most heartrending description.
The stranger flung himself upon the
| corpse, and. as he lay there. his whole
| frame was shaken by cOnyulsiye SObS.
1t quickly transpired that the broth
ers had been left orphans when mere
lads. They were the only children of
| the family. and through boyhood had
chung to each other, feeling that they
were alone in the world. Their love
was like that which bound David and
Jonathan together. 1t eau, therefore,
be scarcely conceived with what feel
ings of dismay the elder heard of the
death of the younger.
When the first paroXysm of grief was
over the young man raised himself from
the corpse. Then, in voice half
choked by emotion. he uttered solemn
brothers. slayer. With this object in
view he retired from the apartment, and
instantly dispatched a challenge to
Capt. Fenton. The officers endeayored
to dissuade him from such rash step,
pointing out that instead of ayenging
the slain he was himself sure to fall
victim to his opponents skill. But re-
monstrance was in vain. To one and
all he replied simply, "My brother is
dead: | do not care to live"
Uuder these circumstances it seemed
hopeless TO prevent tlllS second duel.
Some, indeed. thought of appealing to
Capt. Fenton in order to persuade him,
if possible, into refusing the challenge.
But none were very eager to undertake
such all unpleasant duty. especially as
there appeared little likelihood of their
efforts being crowned with success.
Nevertheless. there was one who ven
tured upon the disagreeable task. This
was an elderly gentleman. Mr.. Mar
tin. who resided in the neighborhood.
The greater part of his life had been
spent in Australia, where he had
worked an extensive sneep station. But
want of success, or some other unknown
reason, made him sell out and return to
his native country. Here he rented
large tracts of land for grazing pur-
poses. His sheep runs" extended up
ward of q dozen miles, and he had also
several magnificent herds of cattle.
He was generally looked upon as a
quiet, unassuming old gentleman, who
never interfered in any other peoples
business. In fact, his one aim and OBJ
ject in life seemed to be the welfare of
his focks and herds. But, in the pres