New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1905-01-04
An Episode Of the
Decline Of DueIing
f0riginaI

| 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 bad eye
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 put out his foot
and the stranger fell sprawling on the
floor. The fallen man, still apparently
unwilling to notice the offense, 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
he said, land need friend. The man
|
picking quarreis, 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, | don't care
to explain, except to say that it is a
matter of the heart have recently
| \ JoY,< .EeJ>r +I,oA
part of Louisiana lying west of the
Mississippi, and, though Immediately
recognized this man-Amos Stringfel-
low-he doesn't recognize me. On ac-
count of the lady in the case | 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 / would ask
your permission to act as your cham
pton."
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 fell
low" Pinckney said 1--WE Of the south
usually settle such matters under the
code But in my case there is reason
why should not. My father killed q
friend in a duel and suffered SO from
| remorse that he exacted promise
from me never to engage in one my
SELF
Herrick pleaded with Pinckney for
permission to represent him. Pinckney
was unwilling to stand in so unpleas-
ant light, but at last consented de-
1 claring that in case Herriek 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
an inoffensive stranger took it 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
/
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
s accepted the challenge and, as the chal-
lenged party having the right to name
the conditions, chose pistols in dark
room.
Before entering the apartment Her
rick took Pinckney aside and said to
him:
"If / fall go to Harlem and find
Katherine Van Gaasback Tell he1
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
i 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
y all light had been excluded, and tool
their positions. Each was provided
with two pistols, and the men were
permitted to fire on signal
- Zen minutes elapsed dIIeE# the signal
when two shots were fired in rapiG
succession, and a moment later 6
knock was heard on the door from
I 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 {
4 sheet.
I what does it meant" asked one o
! the entering party.
/ "Mean?'' exclaimed Herrick Il
! means that as soon as the door wa
closed was seized with remorse at de
priving Kate Van Gaasback Of th
man she had chosen to wed. Feeling
my way around the room, I came t
the fireplace 1t occurred to me to dis
charge my pistols up the chimney tina
they might surely. do no harm. di,
so, and what was my surprise to hea
q groan, and heavy body came tum
bling down
Stringfellow, who had climbed tn
chimney to be out of harms way, wa
examined by surgeon. One ball ha
yrO