Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1893-04-27
IN A DUEL.
Took Part, in One. Though He Dill No
Believe I'm Them.


"Did Lever take part in a duela"
repeated Robert l.. Washington in
response to query by one of crowd
of commercial travellers. ..Ye,,
once took part in duel. Not as a
principal, mind you, but as a second
only, and even that greatly against
my own inclinations. 1t was just
across the Rio Grande, in the town OF
Gonzales. Gonzales, as you are no
doubt aware, is in the little neck of
the state of Tamaulipas which runs
up along the edge of the Rio Grande
and is not far from the cut of Guer-
rero | went across tho river to
Gonzales, it is almost on the bank, Il
make trade for horse with
young hidalgo who lived there. !
was working the Southern part Of
Texas in a buggy, and needed good
horse to take the place of plug !
had. After the trade, which was
satisfactory, | spent the night at the
hacienda, and passed delightful
evening with the father, mother and
sister of the young man. Next
morning before leaving saw young
Spaniard or Mexican OF the better
class, accompanied by two compan-
ions, ride up and engage Juan (this
was the name of Senior Manteca's sony
in conversation. A few words passed
when Juan was struck down, unarmed
as he was, and lay unconscious. Senior
Manteca ran out bare-headed, but
with his sword, and, heaping MALE
dictions on the newcomer, demanded
at once satisfaction under the code,
as well as | could understand him,
with my imperfect knowledge of his
language and his rapid enunciation.
That | was right about it, however,
was shown by the strangers cool
reply: Nov; here; swords;" and
throwing off his coat as he pointed to
one of his companions and said: He
is my second At this Senior Manteca
sprang to me, and asked me to act as
his second in the duel 1 tried to let
him understand that it would be best
to compromise the trouble, but he
didn't understand me- What could I
do? i would have been very glad to
run away, but | couldn't. l tried to
explain to the old gentleman that
duelling was against my prin-
ciples (and inclinations) and
that / knew nothing on
earth about the code duello, but
he took my explanation for consent,
and prepared for the fray. Having
partaken of his hospitality, I knew
that | ought at least to see fair play.
so, drawing his revolver, l stood Just !
behind him and watched the fight.
Senior Manteca realized that in en-
durance he was no match for the
young man, and that to conquer him
at all he must do it all at once, and, |
II a result, he went at him like cy- |
clone, He must have been splendid |
swordsman in his young days, for such
parties and thrusts, and such light
ning-like rapidity were never seen or
dreamed of by me.
The representative of the old
regime won, for in very short time
the young man lay on the ground |
with the blood trickling from his
side. This completed the 'satisfac-
ton desired, and Senior Manteca
helped his companions lift him up, !
5taunch his blood and start him
home. Then he turned his attention !
to his son, who we found was not |
seriously injured, but, having been
struck on the head. was merely
stunned. Do you know couldn't get
away for three or four days? The
] 81, 30 |
the brave American awakened the
gratitude of the entire family. In
spite of their tlattering appreciation,
however, | don't believe / was in
tended for Cuelist."