Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-03-23
Talk Prevented the Meeting Which
Would Have Been Historical.
CANEBRAKE POLITICS
Captain Boatner's Efforts to Meet
His Man.
He TRIED TWO SECONDS


gentleman recounted to a Star writer how
Capt. Boatner, an able representative Of
Louisiana, and one whose eye and hand
are as steady as his courage, came finally
to the conclusion to have a duel, and how
he failed.
TT was with q gentleman then editing q
New Orleans paper" said the raconteur,
land, as it was a good many years ago,
and each gentleman has a high regard for
the other now, no harm can come Of the
story's relation.
ut would appear that In the ardor of
canebrake politics the editor, who had all
that fetterless faunt to his pen which be-
longs with southern journalism, had said
harsh, unpleasant things Of Capt. Boatner.
Not once, not twice. but many times did
the caustic scribe turn loose the vitriol Of
his quill. Now. Capt. Boatner. while a
Just man and Of generous humor. is not.
perhaps, the most timid or patient person
in his region. celebrated as 1t Is for the
fmpulsive. headlong character of Its peo-
PIE. He soon wearied OF the editor and his
hings, and this WEAKNESS became the seed
OF great wrath. At last Capt. Boatner
made fast his mind to call out his de-
tractor and have a shot at him a Ia code.
Rifles for Two.
Capt. B. was a mighty hunter In the
lower Mississippi valley. Tho crack Of
Ills rifle had been often hoard, and he still
has repute as a great, good shot. Aware
Of his skill with the rifle, Capt. B. deter
mined, were 1t possible, to pull OF his bat
tie with that weapon. Still. as he was to
do the challenging, it would be in the
choice Of the other fellow whether 1t were
rifles or something else. On the chance.
however, that 1t might be rifles. Capt. B.
packed up couple Of those weapons of
the Winchester sort and started for New
Orleans in search of his prey. He was
crafty, withal. for, not caring to have the
appearance of going to New Orleans ex
pressly for the gore of his enemy, he
caused the state central committee to as
sign him to make a speech in that city.
The campaign waging at the time made
the thing easy, and the next one hears
Capt. B. Is duly advertised to address the
free and enlightened in New Orleans on a
certain night. Our hero arrived in the
morning of the day and went to the st.
Charles Hotel
A Gifted Second.
HE bore letter Of introduction to a gen.
tleman who had fame as one who knew all
Of those ms and outs and rules of practice
which obtain in the matter of killing your
fellow man in an honorable and satisfac-
tory fashion. This gifted parsonage was
sent for by Capt. B., who accompanied his
request that the gentleman call at the St.
Charles, with the letter of Introduction,
The dueling king attended at once. En-
sconced in the formers rooms Capt. B. and
bis ally discussed the affair. The gentle
man saw no reason why a duel should not
be fought The offense was fragrant; Capt.
B. was much outraged man; as q gentle
man he did well to seek the blood Of his
traducer. This willing second also held out
hopes of rifles; he thought Capt. BIS pref
erence in that deadly regard a praiseworthy
one: and would maneuver to have it graft
fled. Then the two proceeded to the chal-
lenge; the expert phrasing 1t with great
skill. SO as to bring the foe to the field.
They did net propose that he get out at
any loophole in the business; he must come
to the field of honor and be duly plugged.
1t was o'clock when the challenge was
pronounced a perfect draft in all its parts.
1t was too late to stir up the enemy that
afternoon; but tomorrow would do as well.
After glass; dinner and cigar, Capt.
BIS second wendell his way, while the cap
tain himself repaired to where the thirsty
multitude awaited his cutpouring of poll
tics.
He Spoke Too Soon.
"But an unfortunate incident arose to
close the door on the duel so intellgently
arranged for. Capt. B. was progressing
with his remarks that night when some ILL
conditioned auditor in a flinging taunt
brought up the subject of the EDITORS as
saults. At this Capt B. paused long enough
to explain that the writer was liar, thief
and villain, or words to that effect; besides
other unpleasant things intolerable In LOU
isiana- He wound up his rhetorical land
slide Of vigorous epithet by intimating that
in due time his slarderer woule receive the
reward his mendacity had earned.
After the speech, while Capt. Boatner
was sitting in his apartment at the st.
Charles Eliminating his utterances Of a few
hours before with bland approval, his sec
oud was announced. He came in with an
air Of ice-cold dignity.
"'Capt. Boatner,' he said, with distant
affair with Editor S.
"'And why not, sir?' asked the captain,
who heard with natural irritation that the
purpose Of his visit was to be denied. I
should certainly like to hear, sir, why
not?
80 The reason, sir, is plain, and will be
apparent to you on moments reflection
retorted his second, starchily. Tonight,
sir, you closed the gate against a possible
which I am bound to say was extremely
powerful, sir-you took up the detractions
leveled at you by Editor 8. and demonstrate
ed them as false. and branded him as a
liar and thief and a villain. This will
close the matter, sir. You must now rest
content with what you said tonight. Hav-
ing answered your defamer as you deemed
best, you are precluded from resorting to
the further and additional satisfaction of q
challenge
Hunting Another Second.
capt. B. began to see that there was no
possibility of getting his accurate and fully
informed second to go further with the
business. He said no more, and he and his
quandam second bowed with frigid formal
ity and parted. But Capt. Boatner was not
inclined to allow the matter to end in a
water haul. He did not believe in techni-
calities, and saw no reason why gentlemen
seeking each others gizZards should be
withheld in their search by so slight bar
rier. AS soon as the savant of honor had
departed the captain wired bear-hunting
friend back in his district that he had a
fight in view, and to come on and second
him. The next day found the bear hunter
with the captain in New Orleans, full of
enthusiasm. The captain said nothing of
what had transpired between himself and
his first second, but sat down with the new
second and prepared another cartel. His
friend took it and hied him away in quest
of the foe. The captain leaned back with
a feeling of content. Now he would get
what sporting natures call action
But alas! alack! within the hour his
bear hunter second walked into the room
as stiff as ramrod.
Captain he said, with great air, this
thing must end here. 1t can go no further,
sir. Your challenge under the code is not
possible, SIR
LAS a reason for this abrupt reversal CT
he hao h,,rf al r.,