Evening journal., 1904-12-01
An Episode of the
Decline of DueIing
Goriginail

the prevailing method of settling per-
sonal difficulties in America. even in
the northern states. One evening at
the close Of the eighteenth century a
young man stopped at a tavern in New
York and was sitting in the taproom
dreamily looking at the embers in the
great open fireplace when one Of a
number of men drinking and smoking
at the tables--a fellow with a bad eye
and a crafty look on his face-began to
make remarks about him in so loud
a tone that he could not fail to hear
them. Nevertheless the stranger en-.
dured them for a time without retort,
then got up and started to leave the
room, whereupon the man who had in
suited him suddenly pat out his foot
and the stranger fell sprawling on the
floor. The fallen man. still apparently
unwilling to notice the oHense, arose
and proceeded on his way to another
room.
He had not been there long before a
young man of pleasing appearance en-
tered and addressed him.
you are apparently a stranger here's
he said, "and need a friend. The man
who has insulted you is notorious for
picking quarrels, and when he finds
his antagonist one who is likely to get
the better OF him he invariably finds
some adroit method of getting out OF
the difficulty. ! am anxious for a pre-
text to fight him. Why, l don't care
TO explain, except to say that it is
matter of the heart. I have recently
returned from n long absence in that
part of Louisiana lying west of t.
Mississippi, and though Immediately
recognized this man-Amos Stringfel-
low-he doesn't recognize me. On &c.
count of the lady in the case I would
not like to quarrel with him on my
own account. nor would he permit me
TO do so. Your affair is my opportu-
nifty. You seem to be averse to fighting
him yourself. Therefore l would ask
your permission to act as your cham
pion."
The speaker drew forth a card on
which was printed his name, Horace
George Herrick. In return he received
one from the stranger, Henry Pinck-
ney.
Il am not averse to fighting the fel-
low" Pinckney said. 1--WE of the south
usually settle such matters under the
code. But in my case there is a reason
why I should not My father killed a
friend in n duel and suffered so from
remorse that he exacted a promise
from me never to engage in one my
self"
Herrick pleaded with Plnckney for
permission to represent him. Pinckney
was unwilling to stand in so unpleas-
ant a light, but at last consented, de-
claring that in case Herrick fell he
would throw aside his scruples and
take up the quarrel on his own ac-
count. Herrick returned to the tap
room and after berating Stringfellow
/ for being so inhOspitable as to insult
IN inoffensive stranger took 1t upon
| himself to vindicate the good name OF
New York and demanded satisfaction.
, StringfellOw demurred on the ground
that the challenger was not New
Yorker whereupon Herrick informed
him that he had been born in New
York and of his identity.
Stringfellow saw at once that he had
! fallen into his own trap, but relied, as
usual, on some subterfuge to preserve
| his reputation for courage and at the
same time keep out of harms way. He
accepted the challenge and. as the chal-
lenged party having the right to name
the conditions, chose pistols in a dark
room.
Before entering the apartment Her
rick took Pinckney aside and said to
him:
"If I fall go to Harlem and ind
Katherine Van Gaasback. Tell her
that her former playmate returned and
heard that she was about to marry
Amos Stringfellow; that chance gave
me the opportunity to defend the good
name of New York"
Pinckney. much dissatisfied with the
course the affair had taken, made the
required promise, and the two princi-
pals were put in the room, from which
all light had been excluded, and took
their positions. Each was provided
with two pistols, and the men were
permitted to fire on signal
Ten minutes elapsed after the signal
when two shots were fired in rapid
succession. and a moment later a
knock was heard on the door from
within. 1t was opened, and Stringfel-
low was discovered in the fireplace
across a pair of andirons, while Her
rick stood looking at him, white as a
sheet.
syVhat does It mean7" asked one Of
the entering party.
"Mean?" exclaimed Herrick. 'It
means that as soon as the door was
closed was seized with remorse at de-
priving Kate Van Gaasback Of the
man she had chosen to wed. Feeling
my way around the room, 1 came to
the fireplace. 1t occurred to me TO dis
charge my pistols up the chimney that
they might surely do no harm. 1 did
so, and what was my surprise to hear
a groan, and heavy body came tum-
bling down."
Stringfellow, who had climbed the
chimney to be out of harms way, was
examined by a surgeon. One ball had
pierced his leg; the other had cut of a
thumb. Beyond this he was unin-l
jured. The same day the wounded
man disappeared and was never heard
Of again in New York.
= Kate Van Gaasback heard Of the af-
fair and its ridiculous termination. She