The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-03-18
MOST MEMORABLE DUEL.
FIERCE COMBAT BENEATH THE
ExvEs OF ST. LOUIS CATHEDRAL.
Story Graphically Told by Col. Charles
Gallagher, who was NJ. Borders
second-The Contestants.

| town. Is Colonel Charles Gallagher, broth
er of Captain Jack Gallagher. formerly
| detective of Louisville. He Is out
lived oanics and passed unframed through
| pestilence and war, and to-day. with erect.
| dlgnihed carriage and iron-gray imperial,
he has the exact appearance OF a retired
military officer. When the Asiatic cholera
brok, out here in 1873 most Of the citi-
zens fed like rats from a burning build
| ing, but the Colonel remained quietly
at his home and escaped the scourge. He
served throughout the Mexican war. dur
ing which he was promoted for bravery
| in action, and he has since travelled from
one end Of the country 10 the other. His
| mind. therefore, is a storehouse Of inter-
esting "reminiscences. making 1t pleasure
| 10 be with him OF an evening when he
tells OF things strange and terrible that
he has met with while rambling UP ana
down the world.
When Colonel Gallagher was much
younger than he is now-away back in
the hfties, I'm fact--he resided for several
years in New Orleans. and while there
he CHANGED TO figure as second for a
friend of his In famous sword combat
on the field of honor. During a general
conversation among a number Of gentle
men at the Hotel Mason the other even
ing, the subject Of dueling came up, and
Colonel Gallagher. who was present, gave
an interesting and detailed account Of
this sanguinary meeting.
soon after locating in the Crescent
City" said he. II formed the acquaint-
ance OF an educated and gallant French
man named Jules Border. who was in
structor in a private fencing school there.
He was a handsome fellow. about thirty
years Of age an accomplished linguist,
OF quick and resOlute mind and possess
ing an extraordinary fondness for cards.
He seemed 10 take q great liking 10 me-
and It. wasn't long before we became the
best Of friends Late one evening l had
occasion 10 call at his hotel 10 see him
on a matter of urgent business, but he
was absent. Knowing that he spent some
of his evenings at a certain gaming re-
sort in the French quarter. 1 proceeded
there in search of him.
1.-THE place was in the rear Of a we'll
known wine shop. and was somewhat
exclusive. being patronized mainly by rep
resentatives Of some Of the more wealthy
French families Of that quarter and by
a few Americans The proprietor of the
saloon Informed me that NJ. Border had
been seen to pass in, and further obliged
following a narrow passage, which he
indicated. leading to the rear. / stepped
into the passage and closed the door be-
hind me. While in this corridor and just
before reaching the door Of the apart
ment / sought, | heard angry words and
a noisy trampling, and a moment later
two or three men came out I'm a. state of
considerable excitement. When Gsked what
the trouble was, they gave me to under
l.. l. -.
TO pay on the inside. ] was as anxious 10
see The row as they appeared to me 10
avoid ii, and l pushed open the door.
The spectacle presented was that Of two
men engaged I'm a terrific bare-knuckle
scrimmage. without governing rules. and
surrounded by a jostling crowd eagerly
anticipating the result. One of the beli-
gerents |. recognized as NJ Border: the
other l did not know. Several gentlemen
who were seated at tables in the far end
Of the, room had stopped playing and
twisted around in their chairs 10 watch
the proceedings. 4 rapid exchange OF
blows had been followed by savage
clinch, and although some effort was
being made to separate the men it had
so far proven Intellectual.
Forcing my way through the crowd. |
flung my arms about Borders body. and
almost at the same moment his adver-
sary, who had been seized by strong
arms. was dragged away. Thus the COM
batants were forced apart before much
harm had been accomplished ty either.
This was no sooner effected. however,
than NJ. Border. disheveled and flushed
with rage. challenged his foe to fight on
the field Of honor. The other instantly
accepted. He was deadly pale. but his
look was determined With his dark eyes
stu flashing a brave defiance he looked
around among his comrades. and men
toned a couple Of gentlemen present who
might be depended upon 10 represent
him. Nj. Border now appealed 20 me
and another friend Of his for our services. |
and II was in this way that my connection
with the affair was brought about.
"A short conference was held in private.
and the meeting secretly arranged 10 take
place early the next morning behind
the old st. Louis Cathedral The weapons
were 10 be rapers having thirty-three-inch
blades. The difficulty. as you may have
already surmised, grew out Of a dispute
in a game Of cards. IL was ascertained
that the stranger was a Frenchman
named Goudin. and that he had arrived
In the city only a short time before from
Touon. France, where he had been in
military service for some years I'm one
of tie old forts Of that town. His deport
ment up to this time had indicated that
he was neither a fool nor a coward: and
the fact OF his having chosen the raDier
as weapon Justified the inference that
he was familiar with its use.
we all met punctualy at the time and |
place appointed; the prelimnaries were |
soon over The principals then saluted |
each other cOldly. and drew their swords |
preparatory TO the engagement.
The situation was intensely dramatic. |
but the nerve and Sclf-pOccpccfop die
played by these men were remarkable. |
NJ. GOudin calmly smoked a cigar up to |
the moment he placed himself on guard: |
and l remember that NJ. Border just |
before drawing his sword, asked me with |
smile TO adjust his cravat. which l did. |
The next instant their blades met The |
weapons soon became engaged TO the |
very guards, yet each combatant held |
his ground with frnness. Their quick |
and skllful movements showed plainly |
that each possessed a knowledge Of the |
art, although, as may occur In any battle |
having life and death issues, they made |
many deviations from the received rules |
Of fencing After several moments OF |
terrific fighting. during which neither
appeared 10 gain any advantage. Goudin |
suddenly pressed forward with such vigor
as TO force his adversary back step or
two. For an instant Borders sword |
swerved from the straight line. NJ Gou-
din sezing the momentary advantage |
thus presented, made a savage lunge.
and thrust his rapier into the thick pOr-
ton OF his advcr.ary's thigh. Instead Of
stepping back and raising aloft his sword,
as any fair duelist would have done he
began 10 thrust II in the most reckless
ard vicious manner.
'Vexcd at the laundering ard unfair
turn the matter had faLap We MAN. IN. |