Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-09-20
STORY OF TWO DUELs.
A Sword Thrust, Bullet Wound and
an Extraordinary Sequel.

an EXTRAORDINARY Sequei.
When dueling was an actual factor
In the social order Of this country 1t
had many worthy and notable expo
nents, including no less distinguished
personages than Henry Clay, Andrew
Jackson, Alexander Hamilton, Dewitt
Clinton, Stephen Decatur, and others
of the same type, but nowhere on this
continent was 1t so much an establish
ed institution as In that peculiarly ro-
mantle old city Of New Orleans. It
was woven into the very fabric OF the
life of the community, and many a
crumbling tombstone in the antiquat-
ed creole cemeteries bears grim and
Heat witness to the fact, though to
under stand the situation more clearly
one should breathe, so to speak, the
al mosphere of that period.
NJ Augustin, who afterward became
district Judge and general Of the
Louisiana legion, was the victor IN
several encounters in which the tenn
per of the period caused him to be en-
gagged. One in particular Is notewor-
thy on account Of the part 1t played In
an extraordinary freak Of fortune.
Alexander Grailhe was the offending
party, though the insult, or, rather,
provocation, for gentlemen seldom In
suited, would in this day be Of scant
concern. But some cause of action
was present, and each was sure that
deadly meeting would certainly fol-
low. They rode together in carriage
with ladies, who, after the duel, COM
mented on their mutual affability dur
ing the entire trip, which only serves
to show how delicately adjusted was
the code Of etiquette, especially 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 high
strung and hot .blooded--doubly 80 un-
der the stress of what he regarded as
grievous provocation-lost his tenn
per and furiously charged his antag-
onist. Augustin on the contrary, was
cool, collected and agile, parrying each
savage thrust until by temps d'arret
(sudden pause), judiciously interpo-
lated. into a vicious lunge Of Grailhe's.
he pierced him through the chest
Grailhe, with one Of his lungs perfora-
ted, remained for a long time hover
ing between life and death, and when
at last he did come out of his doom
he was bowed like an octogenarian.
1t was now only a question Of time
for the wounded man, as an Internal
abscess had formed where 1t could not
be reached-surgery then was not
what 1t Is now-and the doctors des-
paired Of saving him. Some time af-
ter he had been up and about q quar-
rel with Colonel Vaudeville de Marig-
nv resulted in his challenging that dis
tinguished citizen. This duel was also
fought at The Oaks, but as Grailhe
was too weak to do himself justice
with a sword the weapons chosen were
pistols, at fifteen PAGES, each to have
two shots, advance five PAGES and hre
at will. At first shot, fired simultane-
ously, the unfortunate man fell for
ward, pierced by his adversary's bull
let, which had entered the exact place
Of his former and yet unhealed wound.
Marigny, with pistol in hand and as
placid as marble statue, advanced
to the utmost limit marked out, when
Grailhe. who was suffering greatly, ex-
claimed: Fire away. You have an
other shot"
With grave dignity Marigny raised
his pistol above his head and fired in
to the air, saying with frigid polite
ness, II never strike a fallen foe."
More dead than alive, the stricken
duelist was carried home by his
friends and consigned to the care OF
his physicians: but. instead Of sinking
rapidly, as was expected. he really be-
gan to mend and by the following
morning was much improved. The
ball had penetrated to the abscess'
which had threatened his life and
made an exit for its poisonous accu-
mutations. Some time afterward ne
walked. out Of his room as erect as
ever and soon regained his health
Century Magazine.