The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1891-01-16
TWO STRANGERS IN A DUEL.
A Meeting on the Field OF Honor in tn,
Dnys before the War.

II have seen, one duel in my life. he
said. II do not believe in dueling, Of
course. but since that duel | have not
had the horror of it which / felt before.
1t did not seem like murder; it did not
seem even brutal to mt.
II was in New Orleans and was sit
ting late one night in the hotel corridor
interested in a discussion ably on
Quoted by both sides. 1t was on that
subject which then hung upon every
mans lips. Both men were handsome.
middlc-aged, and retined-looking. The
conversation became more and more
heated until one of the me said stern
ly:
"'You have insulted my State and
me, sir
~ have spoken what l believe to be
the TRUTH said the other mar calmly,
and | cannot change my sentiment
Then you offer to give me satisfac-
tion?' said the other.
"In what way. sir?'
".As gentlemen give satisfaction"
~ do not fight duels, said the other
paling slightly.
Not when you have insultcd u
mang'
mo-
"You are not a coward answered
the other. THAT is plain to see. ask
you as a gentleman to give me satisfac-
tion.'
The mau from the North looked at
him steadily.
""I cannot kill a man. he said.
s'The other gave him a look which
was almost n of appeal.
".If you do not give me satisfaction
he said. or %retract. and | sec you viii!
not do that, l shall feel like q hound.'
Very WE'LL answered the other.
simply, when shall it beP'
".As soon as possible
The Southerner excused himself to
find a second. The Northern mar
turned to me.
~ am a stranger here he said.
Will you act rs my secondH
81 don't believe in duels,' / answer
ed, feeling ashamed to refuse him.
""No more do L. he replied coldly.
Il hesitated and consented. The
four of us were driven below the city.
! shall not forget the place where the
duel was fought. We turned into a
plantation at a point Of the road where
stood q majestic pecan tree which
seemed to bow gravely us the wind
rustled softly through its branches aud
the trailing moss swayed gently. Dawn
was breaking and over the Mississippi
hung a low mist. The distance was
paced off by the second of my new
friends adversary. for l was absolutely
useless.
For some reason my principal took
off his coat aud wnistcoat, and the
other nan did the same thing. They
both seemed at their ease. In the
gravness of the morning the white of
their shirts was beautifully clear and
pleasing. They took their positions
quietly. No one had spoken II word
since we had entered the field. My
friend raised his hand and looked care
lessly Mt his revolver.
""Gentlcman,' lie said, calmly, 1
have never shot at n mar i'll my life.
This is not OF my doing
II looked ut the Southern duelist.
His face whitened Mt this. but he was
| cool and graceful in his bearing.
Il forgot my principles. There was
uOtIluS III uluIs uDClfllILtu, VI Vi
about this. 1t was beautiful. The
calmness Of the scene was exquisite.
Both men faced each other as if they
! were paying compliments. There was
a grace about their posture which
charmed me. At that moment it
seemed to me that to kill n man in SO
| delicate q way was the refinement of
courtesy.
"Gentlemen, are you readyP Oner
Two white-sleeved arms was all that l
saw. l did not hear the rest, lot even
the shots. / saw the arms go up Slow
ly, st%raighten out sharply, something
like released springs, and the Southern
man was in the damp grass, a bright
staiU on his white shirt. NY friend was
leaning over him, peering anxlousiy
into the wounded mans face. When
l ran up the one who was shot was very
white.
Henry he said to his second. take
every care for this %gentleman's safety
and he tainted. i
Perhaps this was one of the most
remarkable duels ever fought. I, an
unwilling second. did not know the
name of the principal whom l assisted.
l did not ever know the cause of the
duel. Each principal was ignorant of
the name of the other. The only two
men who knew each other were the
Southern man and his second. But l,
who believed dueling to be murder,
found 1t, when forced to play a part In
a duel, y fascinating picture, the like Of
which l have never before or since
seen."-N. Y. Tribune.