Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1907-11-06
GAVE FOEMAN LIFE
cALHoUN's MAoNANIMiTv ON
FIELD OF HONOR.
Took Fire Of Opponent Without Re-
turning II, and Then Refused to
Shoot When Adversary
Was Defcnseless.


The public has read with much In
terest the stories from San Francisco
involving Patrick Calhoun. former
South Carolinian, who is charged with
being implicated in the San Francisco
scandals. According to the Rome
Tribune, a Georgia paper. Calhoun
spared the life OF John ID. Williamson,
president of the Chattanooga a. Rome
railroad. by firing his revolver in the
air after accepting challenge to a
duel with Williamson. The Tribune
says:
I'm 1887 John d. Williamson. who Is
we'll remembered in Rome as having
built the first horse car line In this
city, was president of the old Chatta-
nooga, Rome G. Columbus railroad.
now the Chattanooga branch OF the
Central of Georgia. At meeting OF
railroad men in Atlanta, held some
time during the winter OF that year,
Williamson got into an alteration
with Pat Calhoun, who was at that
time high official connected with the
Piedmont Air Line railway, and the lie
was passed.
LAS it is now recalled, Williamson
was the one who charged the other
withlying, and Calhoun issued the
challenge for a fight according to the
code. Williamson accepted and named
Jack King, who was then president OF
the old Merchants National bank here
and large stakeholder in the Chatta-
nooga, Rome & Columbus railroad. as
his second. Mr.. Kings death occurred
at his home here about three years
ago.
"Mr. Calhoun's second was Capt.
Henry Jackson, one of Atlanta's most
prominent attorneys at that time.
"Revolvers were the weapons chosen
and the spot selected was on the Rome
& Decatur railroad. now branch OF
the Southern, somewhere between
Rome and Gadsden.
Calhoun with his second and an
other surgeon, went around through
Gadsden and came up the road to
about the Georgia line, where they
found Williamson in waiting. Both
cars, with their special engines, stood
on the track, while the duel was in
progress, about so yards away
Williamson won the toss for posi-
ton, and as the sun was setting chose
to stand at the edge of the woods. with
the light behind him. They took their
places, armed with five-chambered re-
yolvers. and the terms were that each
was to fire until the chambers were ex-
hausted or until one or the other fell.
II is said that the seconds became in
volved in a quarrel themselves while
on the ground, and that pistols were
drawn.
AT the word fire Williamson fired
at Calhoun. and then, as fast as he
could pull his trigger. emptied his gun,
only to find his opponent unhurt. Cal
houn had not fired a shot, but stood
with his revolver appraised. IL looked
as though he had Williamson at his
mercy, for he was privileged. accord
ing to the code, TO fire at will.
THE Roman, il is said, looked at
Calhoun intently. probably expecting
to receive a bullet the next instant.
and when Calhoun said, have FIVE
bullets here, with either one of which
| can take your life,' Williamson re-
piled:
Fire, sir, am ready to receive
them
For reply Calhoun slowly raised
his revolver until 1t pointed straight
above his head. and then pulled tho
trigger five times. discharging every
bullet in the air. Williamson was
thunderstruck. and when Calhoun
smiled and made motion as though
to approach him. he took the first step,
and they met between the pegs which
they had been toeing.
Calhoun and Williamson returned
on the latters car, and when they
reached Rome they were again fast
friends, and there was nothing to indi-
cate that they had come so near to
shedding each others blood. II is said
that on the way up several small bot
ties were drunk to each others health
in renewal of their friendship
Richmond Times Dispatch