The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-12-24
DUEL H)UGHT WITH POISON
HOW A SPANIARD AND A RIVER
CAPTAIN SETTLED
GRUDGE
RIVALS IN LOVE AFFAIRS
Four Pills, One OF Which Contained
a Deadly Drug, Were Chosen
by Lot by the Two
Men


The anticipation eof a lifetime was at
last gratified Opposite me sat Err. L., a
famous French specialist, who for many
years had practiced his profession in New
Orleans successfully. I was his guest, and
We were dining at one of the best known
clubs of the Crescent City. Years before
DR.. l.. and my father had formed
strong friendship, while students in Pa
ris, and this they had kept fresh with all
its youthful vigor by regular CORE
spondence. Naturally, when 1 arrived i'll
the city 1 found myself his guest The
dinner finished, we had been smoking and
chatting for some time, when, by lucky
turn in our conversation the subject of
the lives of those who followed the river
came up.
Il know most interesting story in
connection with the early days of steam.
boating, ventured my elderly friend.
DR.. L. read my interest, and recited the
following tale, says the St Louis Repub-
lie:
The story that I am about to tell YOU
is the strangest one of its kind that has
ever come to my notice You NAV. per
haps, call it weird, but to my mind It
only illustrates the inplaeable hatred
thae one man can have for another when
ne feels that he has been foully wronged.
even though there may have existed the
strongest of friendships between them at
some prior period in their lives. As far
as know, what I shall tell you has never
peen made public, and I can blIt ASK
that you Will excuse me if I refrain from
speaking the true names of the actors In
tue tragedy. which at the time caused one
oI me most mysterious disappearance.
sha1 give you my story I had it
from the mouth of one of the eve-wit
nesses of the duel.
THE DHf,TOE-c cro1u
About forty years ago Capt. F. was
running IN command of one of the finest
passenger steamboats, that at that +inoe
pied between New Orleans and ST T,ouis
re was an Englishman Tall of statue
active and strong, with a frank and een
erous nature, back of which was viii
OF IRON and an indomitable pnrnosa to.
command and be obeyed, he was one of no
oesC KNOWN and most trusted and estaero-
"a "a oi o,ncers. Very little was ever known
OIL MS history prior to his COMING 70 +,,;-
community. He took TO the rive =, o-i'o
humble capacity. but it was NOT loper no
loIe lie oegan to rise. Such men are 4ha
masters OF their own fate. Cant Z, oo,IIs
no more have been Kept down +bor +i,o
current of the Mississippi can he sternmen
~ was in May, IS. that he mad
LIP Up 10 st. Louis and never returned HI
80 go arrived there in the Afternoon o,,s
80 ii'ssiit ne disappeared and was nevcr
ds5tit heard of orr seen. Tho n,s+ ~
was never solved. Some wears apo ~, 80,
cdheo 10 attend a man who W. Is
Vi an ihcufab bic disease in this Off III, =
r1 light that he passed awav ha m
ouiaened his mind to me and told mo tto
following story: me
Iapt; #: was the younger son of
80 az Sish FAMILY, whose estate. one
~ me nnest in England Is sjt,atad -;
surrey. Like so many vo,,noo,. $50 III
was oestlned for the ministry II wae
@!'ei d fafd year OF study at Oxford that
4ils Ieattn gave way. and he was SOM
10 Niadfid for a time in the hone that H.
Woula De benefited by the change Tbara
ne met a spanish gentleman of his own
! re Sreatest-friendship- sprang IN
oet|een the two. Capt f lived Of tha
nome of the Xoungf senior. HThe atfocl,o
HleHt between them WAS really that 1r.n.l
or aHecuon that we are made 10 ba,iaIrn
existed between Damon and Pvthi7s
capt. +. remained in Madrid for three
years completing his studies there.
RIVALS IN LOVE AFFAIRS.
Prior to leaving England he had
ph3fted his troth to- distant cousin. Hn
once described her TO me as one of those
"o'teh VINO were able to make for a
man a heaven or he'll of life, and he add
ed that such was her power of fascina-
the latter alternative tlnquestioninyIy
Only so long as he could remain near r er
During his absence he had corresponded
regularly with his faneee. Naturally.
his friend knew all concerning mis- affair
of the heart. and in turn Capt. f. had
| written much to his cousin about his
friend, so that when the two returned
together to England, the senior to be the
guest OF the captain, it was as it the
Young Spaniard and the beautiful Eng
ilsh woman had been old friends.
40 make a long story short, and it is
| one fIied with that same terrible sad.
ness that has happened so often, the
seaor fell in love with his friends sweet
| heart and She to make matters worse
from the first seemed to reciproeate his
| passion. 1t was not long before Capt z.
discovered the turn that affairs had
taken, and when, upon one occasion. he
| found his friend and the woman of hs
heart exchanging professions of love, the
| blacknesS of despair settled down over
| his life. Because of his love for the
! woman, he a the time refused the pleas
| ure of revenge upon the friend who had
| betrayed him and wrecked lis life, His
| friendship was turned to the deepest
| hatred Ife left England and came tc
America.
'.He had been here possibly ten years
when he made his last trip to ST. Louis.
| AT that time was serving aboard the
| boat he commanded. While he was my
! superior officer. there had, by reason Of
certain congenial tastes sprung up be-
tween us strong liking for each other
| that amounted almost to an affection.
THE CAPTAINS MESSAGE.
sit was one of those beautiful spring
days that we left New Orleans. It was
| late in the afternoon I was on watch
when the captain came to me. In an in
slant 1 saw that he was suppressing a
great passion. Most of the passengers
were below at the time, supper having
been announced but short while before.
1t was with difficulty that Capt. F. could
bring himself to frame his words. and the
sound of his voice rings in my ears now.
1t was firm, but cold and cruel. He told
men that at midnight he wished me to Ge-
| liver a note to the gentleman in state
room No. g. I took the envelope and
| placed it in my pocket. At the stroke of