The Columbus journal., 1907-11-20
GAVE FOElaAN LIFE
cAlHoUN's MAoNANlMlTY ON
FIELD OF HONOR.

Took Fire q Opponent without Re
turning Il, end Thsn Rsflssd 70
Sheet When Adversary
Was 0efense'esa.
The public has read with much in
terest the stories from San Francisco
involving Patrick Calhoun. . former
South C~arolinian, who IL charged with
being implicated In the San Francisco
scandals. According to the Rome
Tribune. . Georgia paper. Calhoun
spared the life Of John d. Williamson.
president OF the Chattanooga Z Rome
railroad. BY firing his revolver in the
air after accepting . challenge to q
duel with Williamson. The Tribune
says:
I'm 1857 John d. Williamson. who is
well remembered In Rome - having
built the 0r0t horse ~ line in this
city. was president Of the old Chatta-
.nooga. Rome Z Columbus railroad.
now the Chattanooga branch Of the
Central Of Georgia. At q meeting Of
railroad men In Atlanta, held some
time during the winter of that year.
Williamson got into IN alteration
with Pat Calhoun, who was at that
time q high ofncial connected with the
Piedmont Air Line railway. and the lie
was passed.
AS 1t Il now recalled. Williamson
wa the one who charged the other
withlying. and Calhoun issued the
challenge for . fight according to the
code. Williamson accepted and named
Jack King. who ~ 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 homo here about three years
ago.
MI. Calhoun's second was Capt.
Henry Jackson, M of Atlanta's most
prominent attorneys at that time.
"Revolvers were the weapons chosen
and the spot selected was on the Rome
4 Decatur railroad. nov q 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 vas setting chose
to stand at the edge of the woods. with
the light behind him. They took their
places. armed with ve-chambered re-
~volvers. and the terms were that each
was to fire until the chambers weree x-
hausted or until one or the other fell.
It is said that the seconds became in
volved in quarrel themselves while
on the ground. and that pistols we're
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. 1t looked
n though he had Williamson at his
mercy. for he vas privileged. accord
ing to the code, to fire at will.
The Roman, 1t is said, looked at
Calhoun intently. probably expecting
to receive q bullet the next instant,
and when Calhoun said, 4 have FIVE
bullets here. with either one of which
I can take your life,' Williamson re-
piled:
Fire. Dir. I am ready to receive
them
For reply Calhoun slowly raised
his revolver until It pointed straight
above his head. and then pulled the
five times. discharging every
bullet In the air. Williamson was
thunderstruck, and when Calhoun
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 latter's car, and when they |
reached Rome they were again fast
and there was nothing to indi-
ate that they had come so near to
shedding each others blood. 1t is said
hat on the way up several small bot
les ere drunk to each others health
n renewal of their friendship
Times DISPATCH.