The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-05-19
TWO SHOTS WERE FIRED
Col Belo Wounded, the Ball Entering
the Shoulder.
RESENTED CRITICISM OF OUR TROOPS
A Graphic Account Of a Duel Which Came
Near Ending Fatally. Both the Parties
Proved Themselves to be
Dead Game.
(cor. Memphis Commercial Appeal.)

(Cor. Memphis Commercial Appeal)
Notice in your yesterdays issue of the
death of Colonel A. H. Belo, the we'll
known editor of the Galveston News, and
mention of the fact that Captain Cous
sins, Of Richmond, Va, had contributed
a magnificent floral offering to the bier of
his former antagonist in a duel, recall
wildly to my mind one of the tragic
episodes of the war.
The brigade of General Jos. R. Davis
was composed of the Second, Eleventh
and Forty-second Mississippi Regiments,
the Fifty fifth North Carolina and Fourth
Alabama, division of Major General Law.
Law was from Alabama and had entered
the services as Colonel of the Fourth Ala
bama, OF which regiment my friend DR..
Hudson was surgeon, and | was at that
time surgeon of the Eleventh Mississippi.
The Fifty-fifth North Carolina was COM
manded by Colonel Cody, Lieutenant Col
onel Smith and Major A. H. Belo.
Major Terrell was Laws chief Of staff
and Cousins was an aide. In a recent
battle Major Terrell had criticised the
conduct of the Fifty fifth North Carolina.
Colonel Comfy promptly sent him chal-
lenge and Belo followed Immediately with
a challenge to Cousins The prelimi-
naries were quickly arranged for a duel
combat. Comfy and Terrell, Belo and
Cousins We're to fight in the same field
at the same hour. i received note
from Major Belo in the evening notifying
me that he would fight Cousins next
morning and requesting me to accompany
his as his medical attendant. We met
promptly at the appointed hour in a
little old barren field, surrounded by a
dense pine forest. 1t was a dismal,
cloudy morning and the mourning of the
winds drought the pines sounded like a
funeral dirge. The two hostile parties
were separated from view of each other
by an intervening ridge.
Our party proceeded, without delay,
to their deadly work. the other party,
it seemed, adopting the better part of
valor, fell to parleying. Belo and Cous-
sins met shook hands cordially and en-
tered into free and easy conversation
about the latest war news, while the
seconds were arranging the ground. In
the choice OF positions, Cousins was
stood out in the open. / see Belo yet as
he stood there dressed in full uniform,
buttoned to the throat, TALL slender,
symmetrical, and erect as an Indian chief
With the proud and graceful poise of head,
curling red mustache and steel gray
eyes, he looked the picture of a warrior
and a cavalier. They were both dead
game but wholly unlike. Belo repre-
sented highest type of the Southern sol
der, apparently fond of life but ready to
sacrifice it for principle or good name
Cousins was as cold and calm and unre-
strained as though the presence of danger
was a pleasant anticipation. His appear
ance was striking and peculiar; dressed
in gray shirt and dark trousers he was
devoid of a military feature, his hair
long and black as a raven, swept to
his shoulders and curled gracefully up
ward. His brow and eye lashes were
intensely black, while his eyes were blue
and clear as the sky. His skin was fair
and soft and his expression dreamy and
poetical. He had a strange foreign look,
as though he might have had in his veins
the mingled blood currents of West
Indian and some proud old Spanish Don.
They bowed away from each other to
take their positions with the grace of
accomplished couriers. Colonies Colds
by was second to Cousins and Captain
Townes to Belo. The word" fell to Colds
by. Distance 40 PAGES, weapons 'Msss-
sippi rifles. They stood side to side
facing in opposite directions and were
to fire without turning. They had choice
holding the weapons with muzzle up or
down Belo held his up and consequent
~ fired with a falling shot. Cousins
held his down and fred with rising shot.
The seconds stood twenty PAGES back
from the line, facing each other half way
between the principals. The surgeons
stood the same distance back from the
lile, but opposite to and facing his pros
pective patient. Colonel Goldsby called
in a clear deliberate voice: Gentlemen,
are you ready?" zone, two, three, fire."
Bang-the fires were so simultaneous as
to sound like one report. Instantly
they both brought their guns back and
stood motionless as before. When il
was apparent that neither would fall
Cousins bowed and said. "bad shooting,
Major" Belo returned the salutation and
answered. 1--WE must do better than that
when we meet the enemy again. Both
seemed playing for the mastery. Colo
mel Goldsby asked, Gentlemen, are you
satisfied?" Belo answered in a clear
firm voice, mot satisfied" The guns
were, reloaded and positions resumed
Gentlemen, are you ready?" Ready