Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1907-07-31
STORY OF TWO DuELs.
a Sword Thrust, Bullet Wound and
an Extraordinary Sequel.

~ SWOFQ ! HEuSts q 6ust0S VVOOuUr &dS0
an Extraordinary Sequel.
When dueling was an actual factor
in the social order Of this country it
had many worthy and notable expo
nents, including no less distingu ished
personages 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 SO much an establish
ed institution as in that peculiarly ro-
mantle old city Of New Orleans. 1t
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
silent witness to the fact, though to
understand the situation more clearly
one should breathe, so to speak, the
atmosphere of the period.
M. Augustin, who afterward became
a 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 note
worthy on account of the part it play
ed in an extraordinary freak Of for
tune. Alexander Grailhe was the Of
Tending party, though the insult, Or,
rather, provocation, for gentlemen sell
dom insulted, would In this day be OF
scant concern. But some cause OF ac
ton was present, and each was sure
that al deadly meeting would certainly
follow. They rode together In q car
riage with ladies', who, after the duel,
commented on their mutual affability
during the entire trip, which only
serves to show how delicately adjust
ed was the code Of etiquette, especial
ly In the presence OF ladies'
They fought at The Oaks, ana as
soon as the weapons had been crossed
and the impressive "Allez, messieurs."
pronounced Grailhe, who was high
strung and hot bloeded-do ubly. SO un-
der the stress Of what he regarded as
a grievous provocation-lost his fem.
per and furiously charged his antago-
mist. Augustin, on the contrary. was
cool, collected and agile, parrying each
savage thrust until by temps darret
Sudden pausel, judiciously interpolat-
he pierced him through the chest.
Grailhe, with one of his lungs per-
forated, remained for long time hov.
ering between life and death. and when
at last he did come out Of his room
he was bowed like an octogenarian.
It was now only question of time
for the wounded man, as an internal
abscess had formed where it could not
be reached surgery then was not what
1t Is now-ard the doctors despaired nf
saving him. Some time after he had
been up and about quarrel with Colo
mel Vaudeville de Marigny resulted In
his challenging that distinguished citi-
zen This duel was also fought at The
| Oaks, but as Grailhe was too weak to
do himself justice with Il sword the
| weapons chosen We're pistols, at fifteen
PAGES, each to have two shots, advance
five PAGES and fire at will At the
i first shot fired simultaneously, the TN
/ fortunate man fell forward, pierced
1 by his adversary's bullet, which had
Il SulSISu Liz G2AklSC DldSt VI LIS
4 and yet unhealed wound. A1arigny
. with pistol in hand and as placid as
4 a marble statue, advanced to the ut
most limit marked out, when GraiIhe
who was suffering greatly, exclaimed
Fire again. You have another shot,
| With grave dignity Marigny r:iises
his pistol above his head and fred int
the air, saying with fri5.l poIitensss
Il never strike fallen foe"
More dead than alive, the stricken
duelist was carried home by his friend
and consigned to the care OF his ply
sicians; but, instead Of sinking rapidly
as was expected, he really began i
mend and by the following mornin,
was much improved The bali ha
penetrated to the abscess which ha
threatened his life and made an Ell
4 for its poisonous Accommodations. Som
time afterward he walked ont OF hi
3 room as erect as ever and soon ri
d gained his health and stately bearing
Century Magazine.
ii EssEg. & fsF 8