The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1907-08-02
STORY OF TWO DUELS.
A Sword Thrust, a Euilet Wound and
an Extraordinary Sequel.

When dueling was an actual factor
in the social order of this country it
had many worthy and notable expo
ncnts, including no less distinguished
p~ersonages than Henry Clay. Andrew
Jackson. Alexander Hamilton. De Witt
Clinton, Stephen Decatur and others
OF the same type. but nowhere on this
continent was it 50 much an establish
ed institution as i'll that peculiarly ro-
mantle old city of New Orleans. 1t
va woven into the very fabric of the
life of the community, and many IL
crumbling tombstone in the antiquat-
ed creole cemeteries bears grim and
silent witness to the fact. though to
understand the situation more clearly
one should breathe, so to speak, the
atmosphere of the period.
NJ. AugUstin, who afterward became
Il district judge and general of the
Louisiana legion, was the victor IN
several encounters in which the tom
per of the period caused him to be en-.
gagged. One in particular is note,
worthy Oh account of the part it play
ed in an extraordinary freak of for
tune. Alexander Grailhe was the of,
Tending party, though the insult. o.,
rather. ~provocation. for gentlemen sci.
dom insulted, would in this day be of
scant concern. But some aus of a.
ton was present, and each a sure
that a deadly meeting would certainly
follow. They rode together in Il car
riage with ladies, who, after the duel,
commented OH their mutual affability
during the entire trip, which only
serves to show how delicately adjust,
ed was the code of etiquette, especial,
~ in the presence of ladies.
They fought at The Oaks, and as
Soon as the weapons had been crossed
and the Impressive 'Allez, messieurs,'
pronounced Grailhe, who was higll
strung and hot blooded-doubly SO lii
der the stress of what he regarded rs
Il g%rievous provocation-lost his tenn
per and furiously charged his antago
mist. .Augustin, on the contrary, was
cool. collected and agile, parrying each
savage thrust until by Il temps darret
Sudden pause). judiciously interpolat
ell into "A vicious lun@e of Grailhe's
he pierced him through the chest
Grailhe, with one of his lungs per
forated. remained for q long time hoy
ering between life and death. and whel
at last he did come u of his room
he was bowed like an octogenarian.
1t was now only Il question of time
fn. thu u-p,nNin1 man as an intnppa
abscess had formed where it could no
be reached--surgery then was lot wha'
it is now-and the doctors despaired OF
saving HIM Some time after he ha(
been up and about a quarrel with Colo
mel Vaudeville de Marigny resulted il
his challenging that distinguished citi
zen. This duel was also fought at The
Oaks, but as Grailhe was too weak t.
do himself justice with a sword til,
weapons chosen were pistols, at fifteel
PAGES, each to have two shots, advance
FIVE PAGES and fire at will. At TIT
first shot, fred simultaneously, the I'm
fortunate nan fell forward, pierced
by his adversary's bullet, which hae
entered the exact place of his former
and yet unhealed wound. Marigny
with pistol in hand and as placid a:
a marble statue, advanced to the ut
most limit marked out, when Grailhe
who was suffering greatly, exclaimed
Fire again. You have another shot.
With grave dignity Marigny raised
his pistol above his head and fired int
the air, saying with frigid politeness
II never strike a fallen foe"
More dead than alive, the stricken
duelist was carried home by his friend.
and consigned to the care Of his ply
s~icians; but. instead of sinking rapidly
as was expected. he really began t,
mend and by the following mornins
was much improved. The ball ha(
penetrated to the abscess which hat
threatened his life and made an ext
for its poisonous accumulations. Som,
time afterward he walked out of hi
room as erect as eve and soon re
gained his health and stately bearing
Century Magazine@
Psychology Of CambIino.