The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1891-02-18
HAPPY END OF A DUEL.
HOW A DEADLY INSULT WAS PAID
WITHOUT LOSS OF BLOOD.

Two Captains of the Same Regiment At
tempt to Settle Score That fingered
from Their West Point Days-of Course
Lady Was the CAUSE.
An emblematic button of the Loval
Legion adorned the lapel of cheviot
coat worn by Maj. Oscar Bell at the
Albany.
"A story, eh?" laughed the ex-armv
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.
"Well, 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 little
Missouri town called Lexington. wore
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 1 once made pun
on his name while at West Point. Being
a 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.
"WeH, when we got our commissions
the loaded dice of fate threw us both in
the same regiment, and when the war
broke ont we went TO the front under the
same colonel. AS / said before. our reari-
ment camPed at Lexington, Mo, near
Kansas City, on Westport, as it was
known iIShose 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 q Missouri town.
had great respect for the Confederate
colors, and great many of its citizens
heartily sympathized with the southern
cause the ball several of the officers
of our lcut We're inviteg-Poor and
myself ed
4dE CHALLENGE.
'Durir . evening I placed my name
on the pEo ,mme Of one Of the Licking
ton be-'el at when I called for the
dance v Mortified at the discovery
that me had been deliberately
erased -n hat Of Poor substituted. eyi-
IDENTIFY mself When Poor and the
young Id started off amid the seductive
strains cf e orchestra my blood fairly
boiled with Indignation. Later in the
evening / caught Capt. Poor in the gen
tlemen dressing room alone. l slapped
him rough in the face, and told him
just VIII thought Of him. He did not
resent it there, but the next day | re-
ceived challenge from him to fight
duel.
Il had never fought a duel, and hest
tated some time, but rather than be ac-
cused Of cowardice l consented. The
matter was placed in the hands of
friends, and one bright moonlight night
i've dark figures snealaed out Of the camp
and into neighboring wood The fifth
figure was that Of q doctor Of Lexington.
who had been let into the secret and con
sented 10 act, in consideration Of big
fee for his services. To every appear
ance the duel was to be tragic one, al
though thought at one time l detected
a slight smirk in the features of the sec
oDds, who were mutual friends of the
determined principals.
Measure of ten PAGES, commanded
the doctor as he wiped tiny stream of
Missouri nicotine from his chin whislzers.
The doctor was 10 act as master Of cere-
monies. The space was measured.
81 Primo II,
next command. The seconds brought
forth an ominous looking bundle care
fully wrapped up in oilcloth. Capt. Poor
shuddered. 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 eacl
others heart.
THE RESULT.
Gentlemen, here are the weapons,
exclaimed the doctor as two large base
ball bats rolled out Of the oilcloth. II,
advanced and placed one in the hands o
each principal Mind, gentlemen, yot
are not to violate the rule to keep tel
PAGES apart, Are you ready?
'Capt. Poor and gazed at each other
The seconds were doubled up on tn
ground in commissions of laughter. Ever
the doctor smiled, and to cap the china.
silyery laugh from woman's lip
broke the stiffness of the air as the fai
cause Of the duel strobe on to the duel
ing ground with eyes sparkling witt
mirth.
DO be sensible, gentlemen, and
shake hands, said she. There is goins
to be another party next Tuesday even
ing, and viii divide my programme O
waltzas with you both if you do
u looked at Poor, and we met hal
way and shook hands The ludicrou
conter eD Of duel with baseball
bats al aoce Of ten PAGES was to,
much IL We laughed heartily afte
casting oachful glance at the mis-
chiev0us lds who put the lob up o.
us"
Attbis cture there was q rustic o
satin IL .he hotel elevator, and til,
major ros in response to a signal from
a well pT arved lady. As he left tn,
reporte h, aid, with sly wink Of hi
left eye =" rot that young lady for life
though, a Poor is up in the Siou
country now, and still bachelor" Witt
these part : words he disappeared into
the diuiag room with the wife Of his TO
nance. Denver Republican
Spider poison appears to have special
effects o. certain insects, and the largest
HES are not always the least affected by
IT, Insects over which spider poison has
OUT httle influence are usually left mesh
ga IN the web to struggle until exhausted
peIore the spider attempts TO devour
Weakness.