Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1893-09-28
A DUEL BY MOONLIGHT.

Chicago Man Draws tho Blood n .
Philadelphian I'm . Quarrel About =
Young Lady, and Then Assures HIM
That He was Entirely Mistaken In the
Ides That He was Trying to Make .
Mash.
CHICAGO, Sept. 22.-The Evening Post
says: A duel was fought at Chelten-
ham Beach, fifteen miles south of Chi
cago, Wednesday night, the combat
ants being William Ficklen, of 81 Oak
wood boulevard, and PHILADELPHIA ia
man. The latter received an ugly
wound in the left shoulder, while
Ficklen escaped unhurt The trouble
was caused by woman. Her name is
withheld by Ficklen, who admits fight
ing the duel. Ficklen also refuses to
tell the name Of the man with whom
che fought, but says he was cousin OF
the lady. The cousin, in view OF the
outcome of the affair, is equally anx-
ious to remain unknown. Ont of re-
gard for the lady concerned, Mr.. Flick
len refused to say what circumstances
led up to the quarrel, but the facts are
said to be as follows:
A friend Of Ficxlen's from Philadel-
phia, who, he declares, is not Frank
Keefe, came to Chicago month ago to
see the Worlds fair. He wassaccompa-
MED by party of relatives, among
whom was the pretty girl cousin about
whom the trouble arose. She was en-
gagged to be married to a man in Phila-
delphia, it is said, but the ac-
copied lover unfortunately stayed
behind. Mr.. Ficklen met her
and, according to the idea OF
her male relative, became too
attentive. He demonstrated with the
Chicago man. but it appears was not
satisfied with the latters conduct,
even after his reproaches had been
made. The Philadelphia man finally
brought things to a climax by chaE
longing Ficklen to fight a duel Flick
len accepted the challenge, and, being
the challenged party, chose swords.
Accompanied by their seconds, and. go
ing to secluded spot at Cheltenham
Beach after II o'clock Wednesday
night, they prepared to settle the matt
ter by the light of the moon. The
cousin of the girl was excited, but de-
termined. Ficklen, who scarcely be-
lieved that it was really the intention
of his friend to push the matter so far;
was WatchfuI.
Ficklen was the more adept of the
two with the saber, and contented'
himself with parrying his foes thrusts
and blows until assured by the latter's
determined onslaughts that he meant
TO draw blood before he was satisfied.
Then Fick1en resolved to wound his
opponent sufficiently to bring the at
fair to close. Watching his oppor-
tunity, he slipped his saber across the
weapon of his foe, and plunged the
point into his shoulder. That ended
the affair: The Philadelphia man
lowered his ga Der and drew back, the
blood flowing from the wound in his
shoulder. His second came up and
asked if both parties were satisfied.
They were
Ficklen, before leaving for the city,
assured his adversary that he was en-
tirely mistaken in the idea that he
(FickEen( was trying to steal away the
heart of another mans fiance. The
wounded man was taken to his room
in Chicago, where his shoulder was
dressed, and then he and his friends,
including the fair cousin, started for
Philadelphia.
'T ann very sorry that this affair got
out" said Mr.: Ficklen yesterday. II
intend to- 60 east in a few days, and
then will see that this quarrel is adj
justsd. The man had no cause to find
fault with me, and there was no reason
why he should think as he did"