The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1907-03-20
@ SIR .0n's YindicatiOn
LoriEinal

During the four years preceding the
civil war David Jeliffe, a southerner.
was studying medicine in Philadelphia.
Jeline was graduated few months
after the firing on Fort Sumter, which
opened the war BE was ! delicate lit.
tie fellow, not at all in the fighting line,
the only bullets he took to being his
pills He would have liked to stay IN
the north, where he would not be ex,
peeted to tight. but his father peremp.
torily ordered him home, and the med,
lcal knowledge he had gained was ap.
propriated by the Confederacy.
Little JelifEe was looked upon as
being so feminine and received 50
many taunts ON that account that he
made up his mind he must do some.
thing TO prove his manliness. Being
Invited TO a carouse by some Of his
brother Officers. he carried out his in
tention. by getting drunk. Fortified
with an infusion of the blood Of John
Barleycoril, he was brave as lion.
and when one of his associates called
him Miss Jelifte he smote the offender
hip and thigh that is. he threw a
glass Of whisky In his face. The in.
suffer, Captain Ralph PawnIng. would
have annihilated the young surgeon
then and there, but the others placed
themselves between the two and pre-
vented.
The next morning the doctor awoke
with splitting headache. he had
scarcely opened his eyes when there
was tap ON his tent pole and in
walked Lieutenant Rutledge. He in.
formed Jeliffe that he had been sent by
Captain Pawnlng to demand satisfae-
ton for .the outrage OF the night be-
fore. Jeliffe asked what outrage"
Rutledge refreshed his memory Jellffe
was astonlshed and, not knowing
what to do, said that he would COM
municate with the challenger later.
The lieutenant having departed, Jeliffe
sent for one of his brother officers,
Captain Parker, with whom he was
most intimate, for consultation and ad.
vice. Parker looked serious, stroked
his beard and said:
Reckon you're in hole, Davey,
You can only get out in one way-by
taking your chances with Pawnlng.
You must meet him.
why not apologize? o. moaned Jeliffe.
Because you've been regarded the
Miss Nancy of the regiment, and II
you apologize after having resented
being called so It viii Ak your status.
You'll have to stand the contempt Of
every officer"
Parker left the tent with reluctant
permission from Jeliffe to arrange the
terms of meeting, and as soon as he
had gone Jelifte gave himself up to
despair.
There was desultory fighting for a
week, then iull. One morning Lieu.
tenant Rutledge came to Jeliffe and
told him the meeting must take place
Jelt1e plucked up what courage he
could muster and said he would see
Parker. Parker Immediately went ia
Rutledge and returned with the In.
formation that all had been arranged.
The meeting was TO take place in a
field just back OF the picket line al
daylight the next morning.
Jelifte, fearing to show his condition
before his brother officers, kept his
tent Soon after ''taps" he put out
his candle to prevent any one coming
In and sat on his cot in terror. Mid
night came, and he was still sitting in
the same position. at 3 o'clock In the
morning he had become desperate, and
at 4, when his second came to his tent,
he was ready TO die. He walked out to
the fleld, showing neither trepidation
nor bravery. He was subject to SO
many conflicting emotions that they
neutraltzed one another.
They found their opponents on the
Geld waiting for them. There being no
dueiing pistols in camp, the seconds
had arranged that shots should be ex.
changed with revolvers. At signal
the opponents should begin firing and
continue till one had fallen or the
chambers Of his revolver had been
emptied They were placed thirty
PAGES apart, Jeliffe facing the east and
Pawning the west. Rutledge was to
give the signal by dropping hand.
kerchief. Both the principals had their
weapons raised, as was permitted by
the terms. The handkerchief was stllI
futtering IN the wind when there was
crack" and Pawning fell dead.
Rutledge looked with a glare at Je-
life and put his hand to his hip, in
tending to shoot him, supposlng that
he had fired before his time, but Par
ker prevented. Both ran to Pawning
and found him stone dead. They pro-
eeeded to Jeliffe, took his revolver and
found that 1t had not been discharged
Suddenly several shots were heard, and
bullets whirled about the heads Of the
party. They precipitateIy took to
cover.
II was plain enough now. The spot
they had chosen was exposed to the
ensmy's picket line. and Pawning had
been killed by sharpshooter. The
question arose what should they say
nhouf the duel. II vvas decided - osi,ro