The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1890-03-27
STORIES ABOUT DUELING.
SOMETIMES THERE rs FUN EVEN Oh
THE FIELD OF HONOR.

Various Interesting "reminiscences of the
Time when the Code Duello was Observ-
ed and Human Life was Cheap
TFrons the N. Y. Maa and Express
We sat in the smoking room of one
of the Long Island Sound steamers,
and an intelligent looking member of
the party, who smoked cigarettes, re-
lated the anecdotes of Curran, the eel
ebrated Irish barrister, who fought a
duel with man much larger than
himself His opponent objected on
the ground that, being the largest, he
stood in the most danger of being hit.
But Curran said that should make no
difference. They could chalk off ON
his adversary's body space the exact
shpot within the lines. The proposal
was not accepted, but the duel was a
harmless on-.
"That reminds me-" said another,
| tipping back in his chair, "of an En-
glish gentleman who told of a duel
fought between an Englishman and a
Frenchman. The weapons were pis-
tolls and the place a room of pitch
darkness. When the time came to fire,
the Englishman, not wishing to have
the blood of another on his hands, dis
charged his pistol up the chimney
and he brought down the Frenchman
"Now, said the gentleman who related
this, whenever I tell the story in
France, l always send the Englishman
up the chimney"
Then another told of an incident
that occurred in Georgia many years
ago. A judge, celebrated as duelist,
who had lost a leg and who was known
to be dead shot, challenged Colonel
somebody, a humorous character and
q man of great attachments. 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, then ?"
inquired the Judges second.
"Why, SIR" said the Colonel, i've
sent my boy into tie woods to hunt a
bee gum to put my leg in, for 1 don't
intend 10 give the Colonel any advan-
tage over me- You see he has wood
en- leg"
The party laughed and the fight
was broken up. The Colonel was af.
terward told it would sink his reputa-
tion.
"Well," he replied. sit can't sink
me any lower than a bullet can"
"But the papers will be filled about
you"
We'll, said he, Il would rather fill
fifty papers than one coffin"
This recalled duel ot an entirely
different character between Dewitt
Clinton, once Governor Of New York.
with plucky opponent, who was
slightly wounded at the first fire.
Are you satisfied p asked Clinton.
"No, 1 am not" angrily responded
the other.
They exchanged shots once more
and he was wounded again. The for
mer question WAS repeated, but he still
demanded satisfaction.
The third time he was wounded and
Clinton asked, Are you satisfied
now?"
"No!"
"Then 90 to HI for satisfaction II
exclaimed Clinton, and finging down
his pistol, he left the field.
chats different" said one OF the
company, as he scraped out his pipe
bowl with his pen-knlfe, "from an oc-
currence at Albany, probably about
the time Of Gov. Clinton" And then
he related the following:
TT was during session of the Leg
islature. word spoken in debate by
some member touched upon the pri.
vate character of a brother member
and resulted in challenge, which was
promptly accep'ed. The messenger
from the challenging party asked the
gentleman who accepted the challenge
when they might expect his friend 7?
"'Don't want any friend, was the
answer. L waive all such advantages.
He can have dozen if he wishes
"'Tnis is magnanimous, but it is not
according to the code. However, if ]
am to confer with you directly, what
weapons ?
tRroadswords.'
"srhe timeI
Lay aILer 10 MORROW aC IL CLOCK
at noon precisely. The place on the
banks Of the st. Lawrence. Your
principal shall stand on one side oi
the river and will stand on the other,
and we will fight it out
"'The second frowned. This is nc
joking matter he said. you are moi
serious
"'Yes, am, too Hasn't the chal
lenged party the CHOICE of weapou'
aud placesY :
Certainly, but not unusual wea
pons in unusual places
"sWetl, pistols will not be objected
to, of course 2
'Assuredly not, if 1t is the gentle
mans weapon,
rGood, then. We will meet tomof
row, and at IL o'clock precisely We
d will Eight on top of Sugar Loaf hill
standing back to back, marching ten
paces and then turning and firing
Will that arrangement be satisfao
toryr
at wilt we shall be there"
Sugar Loaf hill was exactly wha
! its name imports sharp. conica
| pillar Of ground, remarkable in all tb,
country around for its formation. Al
the time specified the parties appeared
| ~ tha y1larc dnaiUnafad a fhnr ron Al