The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1891-08-12
WHOLE NO. 2Os9.
The Code DuelIo.

Il have seen one duel in my life" he
said. Il do not believe in dueling, Of
course, but since that duel have not
had the horror Of it which I felt before.
1t did not seem like murder; it did not
seem even brutal 70 me.
Il was in New Orleans and was sitting
late one night in the hotel corridor, in
terested in q discussion ably conducted
by both sides. It was on that subject
which then hung upon every mans lips
Both men were handsome, middle-sged
and refined looking. The conversation
became more and more heated until one
of the men said sternly:
"You have insulted my State and me,
sir
II have spoken what believe to be
the truth said the other man calmly,
and cannot change my sentimental
"sThen you offer to give me Satisfae-
ton p said the other.
"In what way, sir p
"'As gentlemen give satisfaction
AZ do not fight duels,' said the other,
paliDg slightly.
"Not when you have insulted man.
"No.'
You are not a coward answered the
other. That is plain to see. l ask you
as a gentleman to give me satisfaction
"The man from the Horth looked at
him steadily.
"T cannot kill man. he said.
'The other gave him look which was
almost one of appeal.
"1f you do not give me satisfaction
he said, 'or retract-and l see you will
not do that shall feel like hound
"'Very well, answered the other, sim
ply, when shall it be !?
"'As soon as possible
'The Southerner excused himself to
find a second. The Northt rner turned
to me.
81 am a stranger here, he said. viii
you act as my second p
4 do not believe in duels,' answered
feeling ashamed to refuse him.
No more do l. he replied coldly.
q hesitatsd and consented. The four
of US were driven below the city. shall
not forget the place where the duel was
fought. We turned into plantation at
a point of the road where stood majes-
tic pecan tree, which seemed to bow
gravely as the wind rustled through its
branches and the trailing moss swayed
gently. Dawn was breaking and over
the Mississippi hung q low mist. The
distance was paced off by the second Of
my new friends adversary, for was
absolutely useless.
"For some reason my principal took
off his coat and waistcoat, and the other
man did the same thing. They both
seemed at their ease. In the grayness Of
the morning the white of their shirts
was beautifully clear and pleasant. They
took their positions quietly. No one
had spoken a word since we had entered
the field. Ny friend raised his hand
and looked csressingly at his revolver.
Gentlemen he said calmly, I have
never shot at man in my life. This IS
not of my doing
Il looked at the Southern duelist. His
face whitened at this, but he was cool
and graceful in his bearing.
81 forgot my principles. There was
nothing brutal, uncivilized or cruel about
this. 1t was beautiful. The calmness of
the scene was exquisite. Both men faced
each other as if they were paying COM
pliments There was a grace about their
posture which charmed me. At that
moment it seemed to me that TO kill 3
man in so delicate way was the refine
ment of courtesy.
"'Gentlenen, are you ready? One
Two white-sleeved arms were all that l
saw. did not hear the rest, not even
the shots. saw the arms go up slowly,
straighten out sharply, something ike
released springs, and the Southern man
was on the damp grass, bright stain on
his white shirt. Ny friend was leaning
over him, peering anxiously into the
wounded mans face. When l ran up
the man who was shot was very white
Henry he said, take every care for
this gentleman's safety and he tainted
perhaps this wss one Of the most re-
markable duels ever fought. /, an un-
willing second, did not know the name
of the principal whom assisted l did
not even know the cause Of the duel
Each principal was ignorant Of the name
of the other. The only two who knew
each other were the Southern man and
his second. But l, who believed dueling
to be murder, found it, when forced to
play part in a duel, fascinating pic
ture, the like of which 1 have never be-
fore or since seen."-N. Y. Tribums.