The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1891-05-08
HAPPY END OF A DUEL.
HOW 4 DEADLY INSULT WAS PAID
WITHOUT LOSS OF BLOOD.

WITHOUT LOSS OF BLOOD.
Two Captains of the Same Regiment At
tempt to Settle a Score That fingered
from Their West Point Days-Of Course
a Lady Was the Cause.
An emblematic button of the Loyal
Legion adorned the lapel of cheviot
coat worn by Maj. Oscar Bell at the
Albany.
ga story, eh?" laughed the ex-ar1ny
officer, as he detached his eyeglasses from
the bridge of his nose and looked in a
good natured way at the expectant re-
porter seated beside him.
sWell, femme see. The smoke of
Shiloh is chestnut now, and the battle
of the Wilderness probably has been
smothered from further interest by pro-
fuse growth of weeds. By Jove! can
give you little incident that has never
been in type. 1t happened in 1868, when
our regiment was in camp at a little
Missouri town called Lexington. wore
q captains straps at that time and did
the shouting for Company B.
"Thecaptain of Company D was named
Henry Poor. Unknown to me he detested
me, and all because once made pun
on his name while at West Point. Being
young man Of stringent means he was
mortally offended, but later seemed to
have overlooked an unintentional sally
of wit that got off at his expense among
a group of fellow cadets.
"Well, when we got our commissions
the loaded dice of fate threw us both in
the same regiment, and when the war
same colonel. AS I said before, our regi-
ment camped at Lexington, Mo-, near
Kansas City, or Westport, as it was
known in those days. Among the events
that transpired during the two weeks of
our sojourn was a grand ball, given at
the residence of loyal northern woman,
for Lexington, although Missouri town,
had great respect for the Confederate
colors, and great many of its citizens
heartily sympathized with the southern
cause. At the ball several of the officers
of our regiment were invited-Poor and
myself included.
THE CHALLENGE.
During the evening placed my name
on the programme of one of the Lexing-
ton bellies, but when I called for the
dance I was Mortified at the discovery
that my name had been deliberately
erased and that of Poor substituted, evil
IDENTIFY by himself. When Poor and the
young lady started off amid the seductive
strains of the orchestra my blood fairly
boiled with Indignation. Later in the
evening I caught Capt. Poor in the gen.
tlemen's dressing room alone. slapped
him roughly in the face, and told him
just what thought of him. He did not
resent it there, but the next day I re-
ceived a challenge from him to fight a
duel.
81 had never fought duel, and I hest
tated some time, but rather than be &C
cused of cowardice I 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 neighbor1ng wood. The fifth
figure was that of a doctor of Lexington,
who had been let into the secret and con-
sented to act, in consideration of big
fee for his services. To every appear
ance the duel was to be tragic one, al
though l thought at one time detected
slight smirk in the features of the Sec
onds, who were mutual friends of the
determined principals.
Measure off ten paces,' commanded
the doctor as he wiped tiny stream of
Missouri nicotine from his chin whiskers.
The doctor was to act as master of cere-
monies. The space was measured.
Bring on the weapons was the
next command. The seconds brought
forth an ominous looking bundle care
fully wrapped up in oilcloth. Capt. Poor
shuddered. l was equally nervous. Ugh!
the weapons were evidently wicked sa-
bers, and it-would be duel from which
neither principal would emerge alive.
We took our places ten PAGES apart and
stood glazing at each other, patiently
waiting for the supposed swords to be
placed in our hands ready to pierce each
others heart.
THE RESULT.
Gentlemen, here are the weapons
exclaimed the doctor as two large base
ball bats rolled out of the oilcloth. He
advanced and placed one in the hands of
each principal. Mind, gentlemen, you
are not to violate the rule to keep ten
PAGES apart. Are you readyY
"Capt. Poor and gazed at each other.
The seconds were doubled up on the
ground in commissions of laughter. Even
the doctor smiled, and to cap the climax
a silvery laugh from woman's lips
broke the stiffness of the air as the fair