The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-07-08

Iious courtesy and knightly grace loaded the pistols. placed them in the hands of the combatants and enforced rigid compliance with all the rules of the code duello.
 During the first sixty years of the last century, when duelling was so in force in South Carolina, says the Charleston News and Courier, there was rigid law in words, against it-rlgid in words. but absolutely a dead letter as regards en- forcement Public opinion upheld dueling enthusiastically and drowned down the law. The penalties under this law were severe, but never enforced. The penalties under the present law are also very severe. Their severity and prompt en- foreement, coupled with the gradual orys- tallization of public opinion against the custom, have caused duelling to become almost extinct. Not absolutely extinct however In the south we still now and then hear of a duel in which the com batants are guided and governed by the rigid rules of the old code duello.
 It Is now almost forty years since a duel has taken place at San Bar Ferry. The last three duels that came off there, if we remember aright occurred in one and the self-same year-1S70. One of these was between a very prominent and popu- lar young man of Augusta, named Tilly- and on account of his chvalry, generosity and elegant personal habits he was called by his friends Count Tilly"-and an other equally prominent and popular. named Radcliffe The trouble was about a woman. and sad to say, not a good woman. Count Tilly was killed outright.
 Cornelius Redd, a man well known in Augusta during the war period and said to be a desperate fellow, became engaged fin dispute with another desperate party by the name of Copeland of Washington, D. c. The trouble was about a gaming debt, and the two decided to fight 1t out according to the code.
 They selected seconds and a surgeon. and with some fifty interested spectators repaired to Sand Bar Ferry duelling ground at about 4 o'clock one afternoon. The weapons for the settlement of the difficulty were navy repeaters.
 prominent Augusta man acted as Redds second, while Mayor Hope of Richmond, Va, did likewise for Copeland.
 They lined up and opened fire. Four shots were exchanged and Copeland fell at the last shot He lived only a very few minutes after. the shooting. Redd was not touched by the bullets, and a few years afterward he was shot and killed by a policemen while resisting ar rest. He was a small man. but terribly game.
 This duel was one of the most coolly. pitilessly, bloodlly systematic ever ar- ranged to take place at Sand Bar Ferry.
 The third duel was ludicrous one, got ten up very cunnipgly by some fun loving gentlemen of Augusta and Hamburg and yet 1t seems to have been a real duel. It was between two negro men-Mose Su- livan and Peter Blair. There had been some difficulty between Nose and Pete about case in the court, and being deftly influenced. they decided that only u duel could clear up matters.
 They went to the ferry, and Pete proved the unluclky one He received the bullets from Moses revolver in his knee and you must remember that when you get it in the knee your face is very apt to be square to the front Pete was good grit. Nose was most too gritty. Pete recovered from the wound. Nose Sullivan-we weep as we recall it-was afterwards killed in Hamburg in a brawl. We knew Nose well, and loved him well. He was a person of lofty instincts. We often met Nose after the duel, and before his unbecoming death, and used to say to him: "One day, Nose, we shall write history of San Bar Ferry, and then we shall hand you down to honor and fame" And Nose would reply: q know 1t, Marse Jems. and I know you will do me jestice"