Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-16
TIE SURVIVOR ELECTED.
Irish Dueling Customs, Especially ut EIcc-
ton Times.


Irish Duelins Customs, Especially at EIcc-
ton Times.
From the Leeds Mercury.
In no country has dueling enjoycd so healthy
vitality as in Ireland. For a considerable
period OF its history the Green Isle was the
happy hunting ground of satisfaction" The
men and women of the last century and the
earlier part of the present flung themselves
into the exciting pastine with generous en-
.thusiasm. 1t was part OF the curriculum Of
education, and no young gentleman's educa-
ton was considered complete until he had
fought IN duel. Indeed, at one time a club
existed in Galway to which 70 person was adj
United who had not shot his man
IN those days every respectable family had
among their heirlooms the hereditary pistols
the preseryators and indicators of The family
honor. These were teuderly regarded and
kept scrupulOusly clean and oiled, for no man
knew the moment when they would be re-
CURED. The handles were mysteriously
notched, and on each notch hung a tale--pcr-
haps a catastrophe. At CastIebar MIR. S. c.
Haii was shown pistol marked with seven
notches, each notch indicating that ii had sent
q ballet into an adversary.
The father of Toler, Lord Norbury, on his
death bed and almost with his dying lips took
pair OF pistols from under his pillow and muir
INJURED as he presented them 20 his son. Now
Jack, be always ready to keep up the credit of
the family and the honor of an Irish gentle
man, which dying advice Jack seems to have
remembered, for as Lord Ncrbury in after
days he fought Fighting Fitzgerald and two
others.
Hot-headed, sensitive and rash. Irish gen.
tiemen fought on every provocatiou. Il was
present at duel. writes Mr.. S. e. Hall in his
Retrospect OF Long Life,' IA fatal duel.
which was fought near Eosscarberry. Two first
HInfFpitA -
merest trltie-and meeting was the result. 4
lew minutes before they fired | heard one of
the principals say to his seconds:
declare have not even anger against my
cousin He had merely said what he thought,
that the other principal had behaved like
goose, adding 4 know that | am less than
goose for going out with him. The first shot
laid him on the sward. morta!ly wounded.
AT this long distance Of time can see the
gradual film. the glazed look of death come
over his eyes, and hear the sob with which he
yielded up life full of hope and promise. A
young fellow laid dead, while there was in
dispute the barest point of honor that a Judi
cious arbiter might have settled in half a
minute by half dozen words l did not on
that mournfui day see the body convened TO
the house the dead man had left but passed
there subsequently, and could well imagine
the intense agony of household where he was
deeply and fondly loved.
''Ot course a duel generally followed an cleo
DenGlnQ
We get q remarkable illustration Of what lie
in Ireland was in 1910, when Messrs. Colclough
and Sheridan opposed Mr.. Alcock for the rep
resentation of the county of Wexford. Several
tenants OF person supporting Alcock declared
that they should vote tor the two other candI-
dates. This was resented and Mr.. Colcloueh
was called upon to refuse their votes He de-
clared that he had III no manner canvassed
them and that he would not direct them how
they should vote. He was answered: .Ieceiye
their votes at your peril!
Before the opening of the next days poll the
rival candidates were on the field to determine
the tenants right by the pistol MANY hum
dreds were present. Among them were several
magistrates The ground WAS marked; the
crowd separated on either side, as their party
ieehnss dictated; the word was given, and Mr..
ColciouSh FELL shot through the heart Within
two hours atterward his opponent was returned
duly elected.
AT the next assizes he was tried for murder
before baron Smith, who openly declared
against Capital conviction, ana the jury, with
out a moments hesitation, pronounced a YER
dict OF Not guilty The parties to the duel
bad been intimate friends, and Alcock though
acquitted, never recovered his self-composurc:
ms intellect faded, and his sister, doubly
wounded, went mad and died.
singular duel arising out of an election
squabbie has been recorded by Sir j. Barring
ton, III which the seconds as well as the priu-
cipais fought They stood at right angles, ten
PAGES distant, and all began firing together on
n signal from an umpire. At the first the two
principals we're touched; at the next both sec
onds and one principal staggered out of their
places. They were well ''hit,'' but no lives
lost. avs
Still there was much truth in the story which
has been told Of Dick Martin Of Galway. who
being in conversation with the prince regent
Was addressed by the prince with. so YOU are
going to have a contested election in YOUR
county,? "Yes, your royal highness, as usual"
your royal highness," Martin answered with
Hibernian cooiness.