Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-01-25

Japanese was Obliged 10 naSteH iN'ts
on imperial business. but he soon re-
turned and finding his antagonist stu
alive, repeated his performance, say
ing, You should not have had the start
Of me il you had not found me engaged
IN the service of the Prince. 1 die con-
tented, however. since I have had the
glory of convincing you that my sword
is as good as yours
In China man reyenGes himself
upon an enemy by killing himself upon
his enemy's doorstep.
Duels have not been unknown in our
own army and navy. During the war
with Tripoli it was a point of honor TO
challenge insulting Englishmen. Capts.
Stephen Decatur and James Barron
fought at Bladensburg March -. 1920.
General Walker of the Confederate
service. was killed by General Marina
duke during the Civil War, and at tho
north Gen. jeff c. Davis killed General
Nelson at the Calf House, in Louisville,
but that was an assassination. and not
duel. Gen. James Wilkinson once
challenged John Randolph who treated
the challenge with contempt, and WIS
posted" by Wilkinson, who put up
in rhe taverns and on the street col
ners of Washington this notice.
Hector Cnmasked.--In justice to my
character, denounce to the world JOhr.
Randolph. a member OF Congress. as i,
prevaricating. base, calumniating
scoundrel. poltroon and coward"
Lieut.. Richard Somers, who lost his
life in Intrepid fire-ketch at Tripoli in
f,rruhf throo In, Inv
Midshipman ]. T. Jones, L. S. N, was
| dangerously wounded in "a duel wit!
James Hope. Midshipman John Ban
lister, Z. S. n. was killed in duel in
| 1888. Midshipman Samuel r. Cooke
| L. $. ~, in 1899. and Surg. Willis II
! BasSett, L. S. N, in 1880. Midshipmau
| Crillon Barton, was wounded by anOth-
er officer at Port Mahon in 1889. An
drew Porter. provost marshal general
Of the army Of the Potomac, brother
| Of Fitz John Porter, and Robert VIII
liams, late of the adjutant generals de-
partment. both fought duels, one in the
City. of Mexico and the other neal
Washington. Capt. Joshua W. Collett
L. S. A., was killed in duel in Mexico
in 1S4S. Capt. Ferd. Louis Amelring
! l..
Bryant. Y. S. A. in 1916.
| One of the earliest of English mill
! tary codes that of Prince Rupert, 1872
! forbade the practise of duelIing as
have all English codes of military dis.
cipline since England had standing
/ army Our 25th, 26th, 9TH. and 2Stf
articles of war are in substance the
| same as article &c of the Prince Ruper,
Code. There is no express prohibition
| in either code OF the actual act of duel
ling though it is difficult 10 see how a
duel could be fought without violating
these articles. Duelling, as such, wa>
expressly prohibited by the British
| articles Of 1S4f and the prohibition was
adopted in the present articles.
During recent debate in the Reich
stag the German minister Of war stated
that the number of duels between Off
GERS of the German army only amount.
ed to four in 1900 and to five in the
present year. 4 French correspondent
however. points out that these figure.
are altogether misleading. since they
refer only to cOmbats in which both ths
principals were officers of the regular
army. neglecting altogether the en-
counters between officers OF the regu
lar army and officers Of the reserve, OF
between officers Of the reserve them.
selves. Including all these, it appear.
that the number of duels fought afta,
! falling from 40 in 1854 to 60 in 1891
has risen again to 40 in 1900 and TO Is.
| in 1901. .