The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-11-30

came in. He was as cool as ever saw
him. He sat down at his desk, and turn
ing to me, said: Jimmie, I've stood
enough from Marling. You know that I
tried to avoid a difficulty, but 1 can't
stand it any longer. Go and tell Matt
Brown that / want to see him.
Naturally enough Zollicoffer sought
Wing for his counsellor. l went after
Mr. Brown and brought him to the office.
Zollicoffer removed cigar from his lips,
shook hands with Mr.. Brown and said:
Matt, go to Marling and tell him that
at 10 o'clock l will be in front OF his office
to denounce him.
"A little after 8 o'clock I saw Mr.. Zolli-
Golfer pick up his hat and leave the Of
fee. He said not q word. l watched
him. He went over to the east side
of the public square to the city hotel,
where he boarded, and asked his wife for
his pistol 1t was an old powder and
ball weapon 1t had been loaded some
time, and she wanted to reload it. He
told her that it was useless, put it in his
hip pocket and, after slipping few caps
in his right vest pocket, he left. He came
back down Deaderick street to Cherry,
walked down this way until he reached the
front of the brick where Judge Brien has
his law office He stopped. I was stand
ing at the corner of Deaderick and Cherry
watching him like a hawk.
THE clock struck 10; it sounded to me
like a funeral knell. 1 looked across the
street and saw Marling standing just at
the foot of the stairway leading from
the editorial rooms to the street. He
was dressed, as was then the style, in
navy blue coat with brass buttons, and
in light pants, tailor-made, of course,
Ready-made clothing was not fashionable
then. ZolliCoffer afterwards told me that
at his first shot he aimed at the highest
1r~lfT ngAc hr1 n
the second shot his antagonist had
changed positions, and he had to fire at
his head.
''Marling was in full view of Zollicoffer.
They looked at each other moment. Zol-
licoffer broke the silence by shouting to
Marling: I came here to denounce you
as an Internal scoundrel, at the same time
drawing his pistol. AS the words of in
suit fell from Zollicoffer's lips l saw MARI
ing's hand drop like a flash to his hip
pocket, and in a second he had drawn
and fired. The ball went high and broke
a pane of glass in the second story OF
the house over Zollicoffers head. NO
other word was spoken.
''Zollicoffer extended his pistol, took de-
liberate aim, and pulled the trigger-it
missed fire. Without moving out of his
tracks he held the weapon close to his
face looked intently at it a moment and
then passed it from his right to his left
wrist With a deliberateness that could
not be exceeded if he was getting ready
to fire at an inanimate target, he drew
pin from the lapel of his coat and picked
into the tube of the pistol. He then looked
up at Marling, put his right hand into his
vest pocket, drew out a cap, blew away
the dust, put the new cap on the nipple
and was just in the act of raising the pis
tol the second time when / saw Marling
advance a pace take quick aim, and fire.
He had quietly watched the removal Of
the cap without Offering to shoot. That
was courage in it's highest form.
Markings second ball I afterward found,
passed close to Zollicofers head. Hardly
had the smoke of the second shot been
blown away ere l saw Zollicoffer, stin
cool as an iceberg, extend his pistol arm
and take deliberate aim. At the crack of
the weapon Marlng staggered back. / adj
vanced and caught a glimpse of him
Blood streamcd all over his face; he leaned
against the inner door facing l thought
he was dying; / turned to Zolicoffer; his
face moved not a muscle; his figure was
erect and rigid, his eye was fastened upon
the form of his rival and his pistol hung
at his right side.
"Marling recovered in a moment; he had
sunk, as / thought, to rise no more, but as
he reached his knees he braced himself
for one supreme effort. He slowly raised
his pistol, rested it on his left arm and
took aim. He halted a moment, passed his
hand over his face, as if to clear the blood
from his eyes, and then resumed the po-
sition to shoot. Zollicoffer elevated his
pistol; at that moment Marling fired his
third shot. AS he did so l saw Zollicoffer's
right hand jerk up; the ball had struck
the guard and inflicted a slight wound on
one of his fingers. He lowered his weapon
At that moment Marling fell over on his
face and Zollcoffer turned and walked up
Cherry street and to the Banner"
LAS he passed me ] looked at his face. It
was unmoved l followed him. A crowd
had gathered about Maring, who was. as
l thought, dead. Mr.. Zollicoffer sent for a
physician and had his hand dressed He
spoke but little Marling was carried to
his room in what was thought to be a dy-
ing condition. The ball had entered lust
above the right eye, ranging outward and
breaking the skull. He lay at deaths door
| for weeks. but finally appeared to be re-
| covered But his health was shattered,
and President Pierce sent him as consul to
| Guatemala, not only as a reward for DO
| litical services but in the hope that the
| climate would revive him. 1t did not, how
| ever. and he died there, and, as many
! think, the injury in the duel FASTENED his
death.
mo legal prosecution grew out OF the
! affair. OF Zollicoffer many know what be-
/ came Of him. His life was finally given
! for his beloved confederacy They were
/ two as game men az ever drew the breath
/ Of life, and never pass that spot that do
| not think of their tragic meeting"