The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-06-06
POISONED PILLS TIE WEAPONS
Remarkable Duel Between Two Franz,
men Who Were Rivals In Io,

A remarkable Duel Between Two Era.,
men Who Were Rivals In Love.
A Partisan duel, which occasional
great sensation at the time of its occpr
renee, was one between Henri Delagrav.
and Alphonso Riviere, the cause bo;n
the success of the former in wool ~
young lady TO whom they We're both ~
tached. Eiviere insulted his succescfr,
rival by slapping him on the cheek AMI
1t was agreed that duel should fob
place in which the life of one shouys,o
ended.
The details were left TO their second.
to arrange, and until they faced each
other upon the field neither of the vopna
men knew in what form they were 70
brave death. On the following mornno
four men met in quiet wood. Tbp1
were Riviere. with Monsieur Savalle hi.
second, Delagrave, who was accom-
panied by doctor named Rocoro,
The latter Informed the rivals that Mo-,
sieur Savalie and himself had arrived -,
the decision that. in order to scc,ra
fatal result to one of the principals j,
would bc best to leave out of the ouos
ton swords and pistols. and to trust IN
the more sure action OF IL deadly no;so,,
AS he spoke he drew from hi, pocE.t =
little boz, ia which lay four back ,al'
lets, all exactly identical in shape and
size.
"ln one of these" he said, II havA
placed sufficient quantity of prussic
acid to cause the almost instantaneous
death of him who swallows it. Monsieur
Savalle and l will decide by the toss of a
coin which of you is to have the frs,
choice, AID you shall alternately draw
and swallow a pill until the poison
shows the effects"
While speaking the last words the doe.
tor spun into the air glittering gold
piece, and as it fell Savalle cried Tails"
1t fell with the head uppermost, and
Savalle said:
'The first choice is yours. Monsieur
Delagrave.'
The two whose fate was contained in
those innocent looking black balls had
shown no signs Of lrepidation, while the
doctor explained the awful preparations
that he had made for the death Of one Of
them; and Delagrave face was perlecL-
~ impassive as he selected and washed
down with glass of claret one of the
glObules.
"And now, Monsieur Riviere," said the
doctor.
Riviere extended his hand and took
pill, which he swallowed with as little
appearance of concern as his opponent
A minute passed, two, three, aII s;i.
the duelists stood motionless
'It is your choice again, Monsieur Del
agrave," said the doctor, "but this time
you must swallow the pill at the same
instant as Monsieur Riviere swallows the
one you leave for him."
Delagrave paused for moment, look
ing in silence at the two balls that Law
before him. The closest scrutiny showed
not the slightest difference between
them; one was harmless, but in the other
rested the pail of eternity-the silence
and peace of that sleep that knows 10
awakening in this world.
With start he drew his eyes from the
box, and putting his finger and thumb
into it, drew forth one of the remaining
pills. Riviere took the solitary one re-
naming, and both men simultaneously
gulped down their fate.
A few seconds passed without any per-
ceptible movement On the part of either
of them, and then Riviere threw un1iis
hands, and. without sound, fell Mat
upon the grass. He turned half round.
gave one convulsive shudder, and, as his
rival bent over him, breathed his last.
The fair cause of this awful tragedy was
so Mortified over it that she refused TO see
Delagrave again, and the memory of
those few minutes weighed so heavily
upon him that he followed Riviere the
grave in few months time.-Glasgow
Star.