The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-06-20
CIGARETTES BETWEEN SHOTS.
A Famous Kentucky Encounter Re-
called by the Reoent Macon Affair.

called by the Recent Macon Affair.
While chatting with Col. Blank, a vet
eran commercial tourist ofthe Blue Grass
state, at the De Soto the other day, the
expected duel of Huff and the editors of the
Macon Telegraph was incidentally touched
upon Speaking of duels reminded the
colonel of famous encounter that oc-
Cured in his state several years ago in
which the belligerent principals fred at
each other with rifles at fifty PAGES and
with fatal effect.
cit was in 49, during one of the hot
test congressional campaigns old Ken
lucky has ever SEEM" he said
as he grew reminiscent. Col.
u and Mai. Y were
two of the foremost of the political
aspirants of Southwestern Kentucky and
one afternoon in the early fall they were
stumping in one of the country precincts
and airing before the assembled Gro wd of
voters their respective merits, each touch
ing incidentally, of course, upon the
dement's of the other
During the entire campaign no bad
feeling had prevailed and on this occasion
nothing was apparent which might have
excited the personal luminosity or hatred
OF either one of the contestants. The
colonel was big, strapping fellow, with
powerful muscular activity and was
as fine specimen of the Kentucky
physique as could be found, while the
major was small and why, yet withal not
lacking in activity.
cat the close of the debate, while the
asplrants were quietly conversing with
their friends, the colonel sprang suddenly
ana without any warning, toward his
political adversary and struck him a
singing blow on the forehead with the
butt of his pistol. The little major drew
| himself up as soon as he had recovered
from the blow, and, knowing that it would
be useless to continue the encounter under
the circumstances, quietly remarked;
I'm sure if the colonel had known
was not armed he would not have struck
me-
I'm a few days a challenge came from
the major and swords were chosen. Then
the major disappeared and was not seen
| until week before the time appointed
for the encounter. He went to his second
and asked If all arrangements had been
made and was astouished to receive the
reply:
we thought you had left the country,
and the duel has been given up
THE major was furious He instructed
has second to prepare for the encounter at
once, saying that he did not want il de-
layed Q single moment beyond the APP
pointed time. The colonel was known TO
be an excellent rifle shot, and hav-
ing the choice of weapons he had
chosen rifles OF fifty PAGES. To
the surprise of his second the major told
him that he had never handled a rifle
and knew comparatively little about it.
During that week his second kept him
| practictng with the rife, but had very
little hope for him against so formidable
an adversary with that weapon. At the
| appointed time, however, all parties hav
ing been notified the duelists were upon
the fold lnuAnd thai1s nj fina md
stand at fifty PAGES.
.No cooler antagonists ever met upon
field to engage in mortal combat AS
they took their stand back to back not a
tremor passed over either, and when the
word was given both wheeled and fired
| almost simultaneously Both shots had
| missed, that of the major having made it's
way through the colonel's hat.
Lower whispered the MAJORS sec
ond.
I'm the meantime they consulted, how
ever, to ascertain whether all stains of
honor had been wiped out and whether
the contestants were ready to declare
it off.
During this time the colonel and the
major quietly turned about and resting
upon their rifles each lit cigarette. In
| curry developed the fact that neither was
satisfied and the rifles were reloaded.
Again the word was given and again
both fired at the moment and with the
same effect. Still they were not satisfied
and while the rifles were being reloaded
each lit another cigarette and awaited
| the signal
Both announced ready. The signal
| was given and again both shots rang out
! simultaneously. The colonel toppled and
| fell without uttering a word. The bullet
| from the plucky little majors rife had
pierced the center of his forehead, and
the insult to the major was wiped away
| The major shortly afterwarc, left the
state and has never been seen there since
II knew the participants very WELL
said Col. Blank, land for GOODNESS in
mortal combat 1 don't think this encoun-
ter has ever been eoualed y