San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-04-24
Mai. BelI's Duel.
Denver Republican.

at the Albany.
"a story, eh?" laughed the ex-
army officer, as he detached his eye.
glasses from the bridge of his nose
and looked in good natured way at
the expectant Republican reporter,
seated beside him.
"Well, lemme see. The smoke of
Shiloh Is a chestnut now, and the
| battle OF the Wilderness probably
has been smothered from further in
terest by the prOfuse growth of
weeds. By Jove! l can give you q
little incident that has never been in
type. 1t happened in 1868, when our
Missouri town called Lexington. /
wore a captains straps at that time
and did the shouting for Company B.
1.-The captain of company ID was
named Henry Poor. Unknown to me
he detested me, and all because L
once made pun on his name while
at West Point. Being young man
of stringent means, he was mortally
offended, but later seems to have
overlooked an unintentional sally Of
wit that L got off at his expense
among a group of cadets.
. "Wen, when we got our CON-
missions the loaded dice of fate
threw US both in the same regiment,
and when the war broke out we
went to the front under the same col
onel. AS said before, our regiment
camped at Lexington, Mo-, near Kan
sas City, or Westport, as it was known
in those days. Among the events that
transpired during the two weeks of
our sojourn was grand ball given
at the residence of loyal northern
woman, for Lexington, although
Missouri town, had great respect for
the confederate colors, and a great
many of its citizens heartily sympa-
sympathized with the southern cause.
At the ball several of the officers of
our regiment were invited-Poor and
myself includes
During the evening I placed my
hams on the programme of one of
Lexington's bellies, but when called
for the dance / was Mortified at the
discovery that my name had been de-
liberately erased and that of Poor
substituted, evidently by himself.
When Poor and the young lady
started off amid the seductive strains
of the orchestra, my blood, which had
in the meantime been increased to
400 Fahrenheit by liberal in
diligence in champagne, fairly boiled
with indignation. Later in the even
ing / caught Capt. Poor in the gentle
mems dressing room alone. l slapped
him roughly on the face and told him
just what l thought of him. He did
not resent it there, but the next day
! received q challenge from him to
fight duel.
Il had never fought duel, and I
hesitated some time, but rather than
be accused of cowardice 1 consented.
The matter was placed in the hands
of friends, and one bright moonlight
night five dark figures sneaked out of
the camp and into a neighboring
wood. The fifth figure was that of
doctor Of Lexington, who had been let
into the secret and consented to act in
consideration of big fee for his
services. To every appearance the
duel was to be tragic one, although
thought at one time 1 detected q
seconds, who were mutual friends of
the determined principals.
Measure of ten PAGES, command
ed the doctor, as he wiped tiny
stream of Missouri nicotine from his
chin whiskers. The doctor was to act
as master of ceremonies. The space
was measured.
Bring on the weapons was the
next command. The seconds brought
fourth an ominous- looking bundle
carefully wrapped up in oil-cloth.
Capt. Poor shuddered. I was equally
nervous. Ugh! the weapons were
evidently wicked sabers, and it would
be duel from which neither princi-
pal would emerge alive. We took our
places ten PAGES apart, and stood
glazing at each other, patiently wait
ing for the supposed swords to be
placed in our hands ready to pierce
each others hearts.
Gentlemen, here are the weap-
ons,' exclaimed the doctor as two
large baseball bats rolled out of the
oil.cloth. He advanced and placed
one in the hands of each principal.
Mind, gentlemen, you are not to vio-
late the rule to keep ten PAGES apart.
Are you ready?'
Capt. Poor and 1 gazed at each
other. The seconds were doubl up
on the ground in commissions of
laughter. Even the doctor smiled,
and, to cap the climax, silvery
laugh from a woman's lips broke the
| stiffness Of the air as the fair cause of
| the duel strobe onto the dueling
ground with eyes sparkling with
mirth.
DO be sensible, gentlemen, and
shake hands, she said. There's
going to be another party next Tues
day evening, and I will divide my