The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1908-03-06
g. Surgeons Yindication

! tOriginal]
During the four years preceding the
civil war David Jeliffe, southerner,
was studying medicine in Philadelphia.
Jeliffe was graduated a few months
after the firing on Fort Sumter. which
opened the war. He was a delicate lit
tie fellow, not at all in the fighting line,
the only bullets he took to being his
pills. He would have liked to stay in
the north, where he would not be ex-
pected to fight. but his father perenp-
torily ordered him home and the med
ical knowledge he had gained was ap-
propriated by the Confederacy.
Little Jeliffe was looked upon as
being so feminine and received so
many taunts on that account that he
made up his mind he must do some
thing to prove his manliness. Being
invited to a carouse by some Of his
brother officers, he carried out his in
tention by getting drunk. Fortified
with an infusion of the blood of John
Barleycorn, he was brave as q lion.
and when one Of his associates called
him Miss Jeliffe he smote the offender
hip and thigh-that is, he threw y
glass Of whisky in his face. The H.
suffer, Captain Ralph Pawning, would
have annihilated the young surgeon
then and there, but the others placed
themselves between the two and pre-
vented.
The next morning the doctor awoke
with splitting headache. He had
scarcely opened his eyes when there
was tap on his tent pole and in
walked Lieutenant Rutledge He in.
formed Jelif1e that he had been sent by
Captain Pawning to demand satisfac-
ton for 1.-The outrage of the night be.
fore. Jeli6e asked what outrage"
Rutledge refreshed his memory. Jeliffe
was astOnished and, not knowing
what to do, said that he would COM
municate with the challenger later.
The Lieutenant having departed Jeliffe
sent for one of his brother officers
Captain Parker, with whom he was
most intimate, for consultation and ad-
vice. Parker looked serious, stroked
his beard and said:
Reckon you're in a hole, Davey.
You can only get out in one way-by
taking your chances with Pawning.
You must meet him."
"Why not apologizer moaned Jeliffe.
Because you've been regarded the
Miss Nancy Of the regiment, and IL
you apologize after having resented
being called so 1t will fix your status.
Vns,sn hov tn oto %ho 80
every officer"
Parker left the tent with a reluctant
permission from Jeliffe to arrange the
terms of a meeting, and as soon as he
had gone Jeliffe gave himself up to
despair.
There was desultory fighting for q
week, then a lull. One morning Lieu
tenant Rutledge came to Jeliffe and
told him the meeting must take place.
Jellffe plucked up what courage he
could muster and said he would see
Parker Parker Immediately went to
Rutledge and returned with the in
formation that ali had been arranged.
The meeting was to take place in a
field Just back CT the picket line at
Oayngnt the next morning.
Jeliffe, fearing to show his condition
before his brother officers. kept his
tent Soon afte: "taps" he put out
his candle to prevent any one coming
in and sat on bis cot in terror Mid
night came, and he was still sitting in
the same position. At 3 o'clock in the
morning he had become desperate, and
at 4, when his second came to his tent,
he was ready t. die He walked out to
the field. showing neither trepidation
nor bravery. He was subject to SO
many conflicting emotions that they
neutralized one another.
They found their opponents on the
field waiting for them. There being no
dueling pistols in camp, the seconds
had arranged that shots should be ex-
changed with revolvers At a signal
the opponents should begin firing and
continue til! one had fallen or the
chambers Of his revolver had been
emptied. They were placed thirty
PAGES apart, Jeliffe facing the east and
Pawning the west. Rutledge was to
give the signal by dropping a hand.
kerchief. Both the principals had their
weapons raised, as was permitted by
the terms. The handkerchief was still
huttering In the wind when there was
q "crack!" and Pawning fell dead.
Rutledge looked with a glare at Je-
life and put his hand to his hip, in
tending to shoot him. supposing that
he had fred before his time. but Par
ker prevented. Both ran to Pawning
and found him stone dead. They pro-
ceeded to Jeliffs. took his revolver and
found that 1t had not been discharged.
Suddenly several shots were heard, and
bullets whirled about the heads Of the
party. They precipitately took to
cover.
It was plain enough now. The spot
they had chosen was exposed to the
enemy's picket line and Pawning had
been killed by sharpshooter. The
question arose what should they say
about the duel It was decided to give
the facts. generating Jeliffe and COM
mending him for the fortitude with
which he had stood up to fight with
one Of the bravest hen in the army.
It was further announced that he was
to be in future respected accordingly.
The Off1CerD who told this story SUD.