Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-06-11
Seeing the mob coming, the English.

Seeing the mob coming, tne Engllsn'
mans face paled with anger.
"They are coming to kill you," he
said. "You take my horse and you
can escape them, and we will settle
this affair at another time"
Convinced by both the English prin,
cipal and his second that the mob was
really bent on murder, the American
accepted the horse and by hard riding
did escape. But after that he did not
have the heart to kill the one who
had shown himself so much a man.
The Englishman was willing to apollo
gize and so was the remaining one who
had been challenged, and the Ameri.
can, with hearty good will, accepted
their explanations.
Of very different nature from a
moralist's point of view at the present
time, were the duels of American
naval officers fought among them
selves. The story of the frst-proba'
bly, the only-duel fought by the la
mented Somers, who lost his. life be-
fore Tripoli, will serve better that any
other to show the spirit of the naval
officers of the day.
AS related in the United States
Chronicle, Somers and Decatur, who
were intimate friends, were one day
chafiing one another in the presence
of some other young officers, and in
the course of the remarks Decatur
called Somers a fool. Somers, of
course, paid no attention to the epithet,
for it was in mere play. But the other
youngsters, five in number, took the
matter seriously, and the next day re-
fused Somer's invitation to join him in
bottle of wine.
Somers, very greatly astonished,
asked why, and they explained frank
ly that they thought that he had failed
to show a spirit proper for naval Of
ficer when he was called fool.
Immediately Somers went to Decatur
and explained the facts. Decatur said
at once that he would give dinner at
which he would explain the whole
matter, and place Somers right before
his fellow officers, but Somers said:
"They have allowed themselves to
suspect my courage. must convince
them that they are mistaken, and my
only course is to fight them ALL"
Decatur acted as second for Somers,
delivered the five challenges, and it
was arranged that Somers should meet
them in succession during the hour.
So they gathered at convenient place
and Somers faced his first man. At
the word both fired and Somers miss
ed, but got his right arm pierced with
the bullet of his antagonist.
At this Decatur wanted to take his
place, but Somers refused, and stood
up and fred at the second man, using
his wounded arm. Again he missed
and again was himself struck, this
time in the hip, the wound bleeding SO
profusely that Somers was soon too
weak to stand. Nevertheless he in
sisted on having the third man to
come on.
When the third man took his stand
Somers was unable either to stand
erect or to hold a pistol steadily. So
Decatur sat down on Somers' left side
and put his right arm around Somers'
body until he could help support the
weight of Somers' right arm, and in
this position the word was given. AT
this shot Somers managed to wound
bis antagonist.
The whole five were by this time so
much impressed by the pluck and per-
sistence of the young fellow that they
made ample apology for having mis-
judged him.