Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1899-01-27
. - = . = -
KURNEL BUNKER,
NE TELLS now NE MADE 1T UP WITH
hAJAh TRIPrER,
Copyright 1853 ny NJ. QUAD.

'hOut some OF tDe AHAlrS OF hOnun
which have entered into the routine Of
my life, | will relate the particulars
OF my misunderstanding with Majah
Iripper, You may have observed, sab.
that have lost the sight of my right
eye. The papers have remarked that
i lost it while leading my regiment in
Il gallant charge at Brandy Station,
and history has confirmed what the
papers have said. II yo' have seen
Majah Tripper yo' may have observed
that he Is deaf in the left ear. The
rapers have remarked that his deaf
ress was caused by close call from a
cannon ball at the battle of Corinth,
but so far as | know history has not
confirmed it. 1t may have been an
oversight, however, as we all know the
majah TO be gallant man.
"One day when was over at Rose
Hill on business encountered the gal
liant majah, and as we shook hands he
said:
'Kurnel Bunker, shall we discover
bar and indulge in nip?'
II was agreeable. A nip of con juice
at one o'clock in the afternoon is n
ionic for the system. When we had
nipped-and may say it was at the
majah's expense-we sat down TO in
dulge In "reminiscences. Unfortunately,
sab, he sat down on my blind side and |
=. do,rn ~, HE Aaof ei1a an1 IA xynS
thus that a misunderstanding came
about. He having been a majah in the
late unpleasantness, and having been
a kurnel, 1t YVES natural that we
should talk of war, We began TO dis
ouss the battle Of Gettysburg, and we
disagreed from the start. My idea has
Always been that our army should have
acted on the defensive; the -najah' S
IDEA has always been that it should
have been on the ground sooner aud
attacked with more yigor, The discus
son grew somewhat heated. sah-some-
what heated-and felt it my duty TO
observe that the maiah was no tac-
tician. Being on his deaf side, he mis-
understood my language and jumped
&c the conclusion that I impugned his
honor as a gentleman.
"Majah Tripper was on my blind side,
as have told yo', sab, and when he
suddenly raised his hand TO his ear |
misunderstood his motion and believed
that he intended to strike me, A crisis
was preciptated. When we had been
pulled apart by mutual friends 1t was
case for pistols at ten PAGES. had
punched the majah, sab. and the majah
Lad pulled my hair. We were both
anxious TO conclude the affair on the
spot but the officers OF the law inter
icred. II was thereupon agreed that
we should shoot on sight whenever we
ret, and we shook hands and sep
arated. Blood vas bound TO flow, and 1t
vns no use for mutual friends TO pro-
test. Three days later met the ajeh
On the highway. l was prepared for The
occasion, but he was not lie had for.
gotten his weapon.
"Majah Tripper,' says l. 'yo' are n
Etldier and gentleman.
land the same to yo',' says he.
"'And soldier and a gentleman
does not shoot down another soldier
and a gentleman who is unarmed
Majah, pass on, sah-pass on
"Majah Tripper bowed and passed on,
AID it was two weeks later when we
met again. II was at the post office nj
Bose Hill. had left my pistols at the
eunsmith's to be repaired. We came
face TO face, and the majah at once
crew weapon.
Majah Triprer,' says ]. as steps
back and bows to him. 4 am willing
20 die in defense Of my honnh, but at
tie present moment have only a goose.
quill toothpick about me. shall have
10 depend upon yo'r record as a soldier
and gentleman
"Kurnel Bunker says he, as he put,
up his pistol, 4 present yo' with yo'r
life until we meet again. could not
ming myself to STAY even an unarmed
mule. On the next occasion one Of us
shall die
THE majah came it rather strong
sah-rather strong-but 7 was under
obligations. | got my pistols from the
shop, and hunted for him every day
for the next week. but he was laid uT
at home with chills. The week after
that had TO 60 over to Benton on
business, and the mnjah hunted for
Inc in vain. IT was about 20 days efo
we met again. Then we were both On
cur way TO church. As we halted and
lifted our hats ! said:
"Majah Tripper, desiah TO shed
yo'r blood and thereby appease my
wounded honah, but observe that 70
are on yo'r way to church and have you
wife with yo'.'
'kurnel Bunker, says the majah in
reply as he lifts his hat again, 4 must
kill yo' sooner or later, but as yo are
on yo'r way to church, and as yo'I
daughter is with yo', will restrain my
feelings until another day
1--WE were fated to meet once mo
1
befo' the climax came. We both had
business at the cote house ut Rose
Hill, and we met in the open cote
room. Each Of us was armed, and fol
a moment 100 men held their breath
and made ready to dodge red-hot lead
With my hand on my pistol says TO the
majah:
'Majah Tripper, il begin shooting
yere | shall kill half dozen men as
well as yo'rself and perhaps we hat
better wait till we get out doahs.'
Kurnel Bunker he replies, also
with his hand on his shooter, the Judge
the jury and the sheriff might fall by
my bullets as fired at yo, and vii
thereto accept yor suggestion.
I'VE meant to kill each other wher
cote adjourned and we got outdoabs
but somehow IT dun slipped our mind,
and we went home by different roads