The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-01-12
MADE 1T HIS BUSINESS.
Representative Catchings' story OF n
Crack Mississippi DueIist.
From the Washington Star.

From the Washington Star.
Representative Boatner of Louisiana
has returned to Washington from New
Orleans, and his friends are expressing
their qualification that the affair CT
honor" in which he was involved was
settled without an exchange of shots. His
associates in the House look upon him as
a man who would fight but 1t is doubt
full that, as an abstract question, he be-
lleves In the propriety Of dueling. He
would probably have fought, had II been
necessary, simply because it is the Gus
tom in that section, and he is not tlmid.
There are few men in congress now, even
among the old school southern men, who
believe in dueling. There are many, per-
haps. who, like Boatner, would fight II
they thought II necessary to preserve
their names from reproach. but they no
longer look upon that sort of thing as
natural and proper.
Catching of Mississippi was telling the
other day of some of the early dueling IN
mississippi. Now a man losses his citi-
zenship for dueling in that state. but
there was a time when 1t was regarded
as quite the natural and proper thing to
settle difficulties that way
Catchings told a story of the experience
OF young man who went to Vicksburg
from somewhere east, New England or
pennsylvania, some time before the war
HIS name was Robin. He was a matter
ot-fact business man, young and of quiet
gentlemanly manners, not used to south
ern ways, but disposed to let people alone
lie came there to be cashier of one of
carried with it good social 1 standinT wnif In
the spirit of the times, Ii 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 quarrel with him.
He avoided the quarrel and did not see
get him embroiled without success. Then
they began to put indignties upon him
and to insult him. His only mode of re-
sentiment was TO say that they were black
guards, and that he would have moth
ing to do with them. In a short time they
had him ostracised. He thought he was
ostracising them. He seemed to be en-
tirely unconscious of any loss of dignity
or standing in the community, and to
look upon his isolation as simply his own
voluntary retiring from what he consid-
cred bad company. Meanwhile he had be-
come an object of contempt among the
cavaliers, and finally it began to reflect
upon the bank of which he was cashier.
one day, after some particularly gross in
suit had been passed over by him with
his accustomed silent contempt the pres
ident OF the bank took him aside and
explained the situation adding that he
must regain public respect or he would
have to sever his connection with the
bank; Robin asked what was expected
OF him, and Il was explained that he
would have to challenge one of the offen-
ders and fight a duel
on, he said, Il can do that IL IT is
aAOSCSodiJs ne sent immediately a Cnal-
lenge to the man who had last put an
indignity upon him. This man was one
who had fought before, and was regarded
as a most accomplished duelist He
promptly accepted the challenge; they
fought with pistols, and both were dam
gerously wounded As soon as Robin
got well he took up his tormentors i'm
order, challenging them systematically
and deliberately. He fought eight or ten
duels, killing some and wounding 9TH
ers of his antagonists. The ostracism was
declared off, and he was made a lion Of
He prospered, became wealthy and prom
inent, but had the reputation of the
most dangerous duellist in the state
He simply devoted himself to the code
Right and left for little provocation or
for none. he challenged men and fought
them. 1t became his chief pleasure in
life. He built a massive stone castle on
the nights overlooking Vicksburg which
cost an immense amount of money, and
was known as Robbins folly. In this he
had long room fitted up as a library
and armory. Here he had all sorts Of
weapons, which might be used in dueling
Hung about the walls were broadsw olCis
foils, pistols, etc, labeled with the par
ticular duel they had been used in.
The spiritless yankee had become a
terror. No one dared to offend him He
vas just looking around for some one
to fight. His extravaganza finally brought
financial reyerses upon him. Suit was go-
ing to be brought against him in the
courts for large sum of money owed
by him to SOME parties outside the state.
When he was notified Of it he wrote a