The Pascagoula democrat-star., 1901-02-15
DUEL ON TEXAS PLAINS.
Tragic Story Recalled by HaIIey's
Death

William HALEY. the chef lieutenant
OF the noted guerrilla Charles Quan.
trell, during the war OF the rebellion,
who has just passed away at the State
insane asylum in this city, victim OF
paresis, was one Of the figures in a
duel fought with Shelby and hand
full nf ex- -C0nfederates from the United
States, to seek an asylum under the
reign of Macmillan in Mexico. After
the last remnant Of theguerrilla band
had been hunted to earth HALEY es-
capped to one OF the commands under
General Joe Shelby, which was then
making its way to a point on the Bra
zos river in Texas, with the expecta-
tiOn OF making a dnal attack upon
Federal forces and the supplies at
Corsicana, says the St. Joseph (Mo.)
correspondent of the St. Louis Globe
DemOcrt.
Shelby's army was marching toward
Austin, near where the duel between
HALEY, who was then first lieuten-
ant in one of the companies, and a
captain OF company In another regi.
ment occurred. The duel was witness
ed by a number OF Shelby's men who
are now residents Of this city and Maj.
Edwards, who accompanied Shelby to
the City OF Mexico, returning only
after the army was dsbanded and up
on the refusal Of Macmillan to accept
the Missourians into the service of
the empire.
The duelisfs, both young men, quar-
relied about "A woman, a fair young
thing. who was the captains by right
Of discovery. the lieutenant's by right
of conquest At the night encamp.
ment she abandoned the old love for
the new, and in the struggle for pos.
session the captain struck the lieu.
tenant fair in the face.
You have done serious thing"
some cnmrade said to him.
"It will be more serious IN the
morning." was. the quiet reply.
But YOU are IN the wrong. and you
should apologize.
He tapped the handle of his revolver
significantly and made answer: "This
must finish what the blow has com.
menced. A woman worth kissing is
worth lighting for"
The name Of either duelist has here
tofore remainad nnspoken. Most OF
the men who witnessed the tragedy
have long since passed to their reward.
and it is only since the death Of Hal
ley In this city that one Of his COM
radcs in arms. who witnessed the
tragedy. has volunteered to give his
name. There are those today living
ii Marion county, Mo-. whose sleep in
enternity will be brighter and sweetcr
II they are left in ignorance OF how
one fair.haired hoy who went forth to
fight the battles OF the South found a
grave when her BATTLES were ended.
The lieutenant challenged the cap.
tain, but the question OF its accept.
ance was decided upon before the
challenge was received. These were
the tens: At daylight the principals
were to meet one mile from the camp
upon the prairie, armed each with a
revolver and saber. They were tn
be mounted and stationed twenty
PAGES apart, back to back. At the
word they were to wheel and Gre, ad.
vancing or remaining stationary, as
they chose. In no event we're they to
pass beyond a line 200 yards In the
rear 0f each position.
So secret were the preparations and
SO sacred the honor Of the two men
that, although the din1culty was
know0 to 200 soldiers, not one Of them
Informed General Shelby. The gen.
eral would instantly have arrested the
princi pals and forced compromise,
as he had done once before under cir.
cumstances as urgent, but 10 no way
simjlar. II was u beautiful morning,
I'll balm and bloom and verdure. Two