The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1891-10-15

a DUEL TO THE DEATH.


u0L-EGE8ME0 S8CfLnGE0
Iife
In 1853 Edward Gilbert, formerly OF
albany, N. Y. was editor-in-chief OF
the Alta, and was regarded as the
taost brilliant newspaper writer in
California At the same time Gen.
James w. Denver was secretary OF
state and considered superior man in
every way. A bill had been passed by
the legislature to send relief train to
overland immigrants who might be
found in q destitute condition any
where upon tho route to be taken.
Denver was to be in command and Gov.
Bigler was to escort it out of Sacra-
mento. Gilbert let fly his animated
pen at this parade and burlesqued the
governor and maligned the general.
Denver. who was pretty handy with a
pen himself, replied to Gilbert and SO
completely used him up, SO to speak.
that there was no way out for the edit
or but to challenge Denver to mortal
combat
ssThis Is inviting death at the drop Of
the handkerchief" declared Ed Nc
Gowan, sfor Denver is the surest rifle
shot In the state.
1T Is too bad, said Dave Broderiek,
''and the affair must be settled in some
other way. The general is too brave a
man to decline the challenge, and Gill
bert will be killed at the first fire."
"Too brave q man to- decline! All.
Dave, he hasn't reached that point of
bravery yet. 1t requires more real
-, ~ daal;xa , ,baJ1apra than A.
accept one. The man who refuses to
fight when challenged is outside the
pale of genteel society"
''But it should be adjusted"
Yes, IL should be, but it@cannet be-
Denver's retort is too terrible, and,
aiasi too true" 0
but a brilliant young man will be
killed. Denver is dead shot"
colbert is no novice. He is man of
great courage, and the stain put upon
him must be wiped out with blood"
Mutual friends did their level best to
prevent the duel, but to no account
Gilbert declared that death was prefer
able to the stain Denver had put upon
him. 'sI'll fight the secretary to the
deathl'' exclaimed Gilbert to his warm
est friend. Il am as cool-headed, as
sound, as honorable, as brave and as
good shot as Denver. We have both
seen service in Mexico and are not
afraid of death. Nothing shall prevent
our meeting"
The duel took place at the .'Oaks, .
forty miles from Sacramento nearly
forty years ago As the combatants
stood twenty PAGES from each other,
with rifles, Denver whispered to his
second: II shall throw away my fire
and give that Hotspur chance for
mutually satisfactory adjustment"
"But that is no way to fight" ex-
claimed DIR. Wake Briefly. your ad-
versary has challenged you and you
have accepted his challenge, and you
must not throw away your life foolish
ly Gilbert has made up his mind To
kill you or be killed"
But Denver threw away his first fire,
and Gilbert took deadly aim, but his
shot missed the manly spot Then
every person on the ground except Gil
bert worked energetically and faithful
~ for an adjustment Denver sent
word that pacification was easy, but
Gilbert replied:
Hang pacification! In my difficulty
with Nugent agreedto an adjustment,
and a shadow was cast upon my honor
and courage. ! would prefer death to
compromise.
When Denver was informed of Gill
bert's sensitiveness he Sc Mt word to his
opponent that he would advance and
take him by the hand.
Never! Gentlemen, neverl' cried
the Infatuated editor. THAT would be
compromise; and, upon such occa-
sions, compromise means dishonor.
prefer death to dishonor!"
The rifles were then reloaded, and
Gen. Denver, while removing his coat,
remarked: II must defend myself
Then the men were placed, and each
took deliberate aim at the other. Den,
yer escaped untouched, but Gilbert fell
dead with a bullet through his heart
Cleveland Leader