Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-06-28
one save his constituents and the newspa-
THE DETERMINATIONS AFFAIR.


As illustrations of the deadliness OF the
old-time duels one may consider the never
.be-forgotten combat between Aaron
Burr and Alexander Hamilton, in which
the latter fell, almost on the very ground
where his son had died under similar clr-
cumstances only two years previously.
The victim. IN q letter written the night
before the fatal conflict. said that he bore
no personal ill-will against Colonel Burr
circumstances of a political nature had
caused him to animadvert unfayorably re-
specting his antagonist, and the code
recognized at that time among gentle
men as law obliged him TO go out and
kill or be killed, Cilley's case was
precisely similar. Both of these admirable
men died because the fashion of the day
obliged them 10. One may talk of detying
fashion, but il cannot be said that one.
should not respect what ell his feilow-men
regard as representing honorable, as OPP
posed to dlshonorable conduct. Matters
of that sort are always determined by the
opinion of ones peers. II murder Is the
honorable thing across handkerchief why
do It. That is the creed. In August. 1881,
Major Biddle. United States army, met the
Hon. Spencer Pettes, member OF Congress
from Missouri. mt Bloody Island, opposite
ST. LOUIS, with pistols. Only. five. feet
separated them. and both were killed, ma
turally.
One of the most interesting of historical
duels took place IN the summer OF 1893. A
young gentleman of NatcheZ, newly wed,
was on his bridal trip. lie had been TO
New York collecting bills for Natchez mer.:
chants and was spotted by gang or
sharpers. With his wife he took the
steamer Orleans, of the Diamond 10 line,
at Pittsburg, and between that city
and Louisville he was invited into n
game of 20-card poker-an interesting
variation upon the usual sport. which In
wolves only the ten-spots and cards above
that denomination. 1t so happened that
he lost not only what cash of ms own ne
had with him. but also many thousands or
dollars with which he was entrusted. IN
his despair he tried TO Jump overheard,
but was restrained by a preacher-llke man
who had come on board at the last landing.
A PREAcHEB-LIKE MAN.
Now it Glanced that this preacber-like
man asked for drink at the bar, and IN
paving for it gave 800 bill from what
seemed to be a well-stufed wallet. The
gamblers who had won the young mans
| money thought that another pigeon was
at hand TO pluck. They asked him II he
would Join them in little game, and he
SAID yes. Az first 1t struck the stranger
| that the ante. s., was a little high consider
ing she fact that there was no limit, but he
| kept on ana did not murmur when he
| found himself $500 out of pocket. lie put up
| a blind and the man at his left-only three
of them were playng-straddled It with
| $40. 70 make 1t good he had 10 add Sl5,
| but that was only the beginning. FIRST
one of his opponents raised and then the
other until there was an enormous sum IN
| the pot. He himself had four kings and
| ten-spot. Presently they both called.
and he saw the dealer slip card TO the
player who had made the straddle. Like
| fash the preacher-like man drew q muir
| derous-looking knife and sad quietly, but
| firmly, to the gentleman OF his left.
IF you lay down your hand and six
cardsare found IN it Will Kill you
THE GAMBLE SHOT.
The third man, who had dealt, showed
| q full hand and the preacher-llke stranger
| swept all tho money on the table INTO hlc
| hat. OF course there was n row lmmedl-
ately, and the gambler who had been
| threatened at once challenged the winner
! To fight HIM. The latter assented, asking
| merely five minutes for preparation. lie
used the time IN conveying the cash,
which amounted TO nearly 100000. TO the
wife of tho youth whom the sharpers
| had defrauded, saying "a no de-
| Gyered TO her the amount: " Ii
don't come back two thirds of this belongs
to you and the other third to me- lher
he went out on deck and friends quickly
arranged the duel which was 70 take place
The two men were placed opposite one an
other On the two wheel-hOuses of the
steamboat, aud were told 70 fire at the
word. They did 50. and the gambler, shot
through the body, fell into the river. Hi
adversary sought the young woman
into Fhose hands he had delivered the
money and reclaimed the third part
which represented his stake IN th'
| game. The remaining two thirds
he gave her. saying merely that 1t repre-
| sented the sum Of which her husband mac
been robbed. In fact 1t was within $40
OF what he had lost. Her gratitude an'
his NAV well be imagined. but 1t WAS ONLY
with some difficulty that they persuaded
him TO admit that his name was Jame
Bowie. The preacher-like man was none
other than the famous inventor OF tn
| bowie kuite-recoguiZed ut that time a
the most formidable fighter with any .wea
pon known in that age of desperate hero
ism. This would seem like fancy sketch
save for the fact that II is an historic lncl
dent.