The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1896-07-16
HE MADE 1T a BUSINESS.
A Noted Duclist who Was Actually
Insane Upon the Subject OF Fight


Insane Upon the Subject OF Fight !;
ing.
Washington Star.
Representative Boatncr, OF Louisia-
na has returned to Washington from |
New Orleans, and his friends arc cX-
pressing their qualification that the |
affair Of honor" in which he was |!
involved was settled without an OK !
change OF shots. His associates IL the !
NOusc look upon him as u man WHO |
w$uld fight, but it is doubtful that, rs |
an SSbstract question, he believes in the !
ptopNety' OF dueling. Hc.woul! prob
ably EAYc fought, had it been nccGs-
sary, sln&ly because it is the custom
in that sS>kion, and he is not timid.
There areN&w men in Congress now,
oven %en "Hong whn IoI ~ old school sonthern ,TI
are many perhSAs who, like Boatncr,
would fight if th& thought it ncccs-
sary to preserve tMir names from re-
proach, but they ndNongcr LOOK upon
naa1os 1naS sort of thing natural and
Catchings Of Mississippi was telling
the other day OF some OF TN early duel
ing in Mississippi. Now Mnan loses
his citizenship for duelingNn that
State, but there was time %hcn it
was regarded rs quite the natural aud
proper thing to settle difficulties Mat
way.
Catchings told tho story Of the e\
perlence OF Il young man who went To
Vicksburg from somewhere East, New
England or Pennsylvania, some time
before the war. His name wa, Robbin,
lie was Il matter Of fact business man,
young and of quiet, gcntlcmanly man
ncrs, not, used to Southern WAYS, but
disposed to let people alone. He came
there to be cashier Of one OF the princ-
pal banks, position which carried
with it good social standing. In the
spirit OF the times, it was determined
by the men Of the circle with which he
might be expected to associate to make
a test of his metal. They began by
one OF their number picking a uuli'rc,
with him.
Ho avoided the quarrel and did not
see its purpose. Ono after another
tried to get him embroilcd, without
success. Then they began to put in
dignities upon him and TO insult him.
His only mode Of resentment was 10
say that they were blackguards and
that he would have nothing to do with
them. In short time they had him
oStraciZed. He thought he was ostr;,-
unconscious Of any loss Of dignity or
standing in the community and to look
upon his Isolation as simply his own
voluntary retirement from what he
considered bad company. Meanwhile
he had become an object Of contempt
among the cavaliers, and finally it be-
gan to reflect upon the bank OF which
he was cashier. One day, after some
particularly gross insult had ocen pass
ed over by him with his accustomed
silent contempt, the president OF the
bank took him aside and explained
the situation, adding that he must
regain public rcpcct or he would have
to sever his connection with the bank.
Robin asked what was expected of
him, and it was explained that he
would have to challenge one of the Of
tenders and fight duel.
"Oh," he said, 81 can do that. if il
is necc ssary." He sent immediately a
challenge to the man who had last put
an indignity upon him. This man was
one who had fought before, and was
regarded as most accomplished
duclist. He promptly accepted the
challenge they fought with pistol,
and both were dangerously wounded.
AS soon rs Robin got we'll Ec took up
his tormcntors in order, chailcngin'.
W.
lie fought eight or ten uucls, killing
some and wounding others OF his
The ostracism was de-
clarod of, and he was made lion Of.
He prOspcrcd became wealthy anu
prominent, but had the reputation Of
the most dangerous duclist in the Stat.
He simply devoted himself to the
code. Right and left, for little prove
cation or for none, he challenged men
and fought them. It became his chief
pleasure in life. He built Il massive
stone castle on the heights overlooking
Nicksburg, which cost an immense
Of money, and was known as
Robbins folly. In this he had long
room fitted up as a library and armorv.
Here he had all sorts Of weapons which |
might be used in dueling. Hung about
the walls were broad.swords, foils. |
pistols, ETC., labeled with the particular
duel they had been used in.
The spiritlcss Yankee had become Il
terror. No one dared to offend him.
He was just looking around for some |
one to Gght. His Extravaganza finally |
brought financial rcvcrsrs upon him. |
Suit was going to be brought ugains;
him in the courts for large sum Of |
money owed by him to some partics |
outside the State. When he was nrli |
ned OF 1t he wrote a note to each one |
of the members Of the Nicksbury bar.
notifying him that any lawyers VINO
LOOK the case would have to fight = |
duel. But one lawyer could be found !
willing to take the case. He was
promptly challenged by Robbin. They |
fought and both were so seriously |
wounded that they wero confined to |