The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1894-03-28

permit may possibly attend your
meeting as spectator to see and hear
what others may have to say on that
occasion. Very respectful, your
obedient servant. G.. W. SHELL.
Washington, March 10.
A Southern Duel.
eyes, there were more duels in my
younger days than now, but on the
other land there we're fewer assassi-
nations in street encounters, and on
the whole rather think the old way
the better of the two; or, more cor
rectly speaking, the least of the
two evils" said a gentleman Of Mem
phis, Tenn, to party Of friends.
"My introduction to dueling was when
I acted as second in the affair Of Col.
W. H. Lake, Of Vioksburg, a noted
Whig leader in Mississippi, and b. G.
Chambers, wealthy planter Of Goa
homo County, Miss, which took place
in that State in October, 1860. Lake
struck Chambers in the excitement Of
a political meeting, and Of course a,
duel was inevitable. Twas chosen as
second by Chambers, and Senator
Brooks, of Mississippi, was selected
by Lake. The preliminaries we're ar
ranged, rifles were chosen as weapons
and the two men were stationed on
the ground. I gave the word and 81
multaneously the sharp crack of the
two weapons rang out. Both men
had presented the left side in taking
aim. Lake remained motionless.
Chambers whirled half around and [
rushed to him, thinking he had got
his dose. But he hadn't. Lakes
bullet had only ploWed through his
chin whiskers, grazing the skin.
Chambers ball cut hole in Lakes
silk hat, knocking it off.
''The two men laid down their rifles
and seated themselves on logs. AS
required by the rule I went to Brooks
and asked if his side had any PROPOSE
tion to make. He had picked UP
stick and was whiting it. Calmly
brushing the shavings from his clothes,
he replied we are here to fight and
not to negotiate Very we'll, then
said I, let's load up and get through
with it,. When I reached our end of
the ground Chambers said laughingly,
Il didn't do your teaching much credit
that time, Mat Put it little lower
next time and you'll fix him. I re-
Piled but my confidence was only as
sumed, for just then I noticed Lake
speaking to his second and smiling,
and it was the deadliest smile I ever
saw.
"This fire also resulted in nothing.
Lake,s breast was brushed by Cham
bers' ball, and his'-o#n. bullet struck
the ground in front of Chambers and
ricochetted through his coat. When
the two were again seated Brooks
asked me if we had any proposition to
make. By that time I was pretty hot,
and not in the humor for any compro-
mise. mo, sir. I replied; we will
proceed, if you please. He bowed,
and we reloaded. Lake had picked up
a leaf and was leisurely shredding it
from the main stem. His hand was as
steady as rock. Chambers had taken
out his penknife, and was trimming
his nails. Not symptom Of nervous
ness there, either.
"Once more the two men faced each
other. Both fired exactly with the
word. Chambers was not touched.
Lake sank forward to his knees and
then fell backward. Chambers bull
let had pierced his head just above
the left temple. Brooks raised the
wounded man and asked for the SER
vices of our surgeon, which, of course,
was granted at once. Chambers, his
nerves relieved from the fearful ten
sion, began to tremble. I gave him a
drink of brandy, which steadied him,
and raising his hands toward heaven he
said in loud voice I call upon God
and all of you to witness that J. did
not seek this trouble with Col. Lake !
The crowd remained silent and I hus-
tied my man away to the boat and
back to the city. Col. Lake died that
night, without having regained con-
seriousness or spoke word. Cham
bers was never prosecuted. He was
subsequently elected to Congress, but
died not long afterward-drank him
self to death, in fact. y
"Remorse p suggested one Of the
youngsters.
"No, SIR replied the colonel,
stif1y. "What did he have to be re-
morseful about :? Did he not kill his
man in q fair duel ? His taste for
liquor, as he told me not long before
he died, was inherited, and he had al
ways been drinking man."
STATE OF ONO, CRY OF TOLEDO, ..
LUCAS COUNTY '''