The Washington herald., 1908-06-14
Hero of a French Duel.

1t is rumored that the Duke Of Alba
| following the example Of so many OF his
fellow-g -grandees will shortly make a tour
Of the United States. an announcement
that brings 20 mind a duel fought by one
/ Of his progenitors with the son OF the
American minister TO Spain. Peter Soule
regarding which there IS a voluminous
/ correspondence in the archives Of the De-
partment Of State. The incident which
gave rise 10 the duel occurred at a ball al
the French legation. given in honor Of the
Empress Eugenle by NJ. Turgot. the
French minister.
Mrs. Soule was present. and. according
20 the official report. wore a costume of
blue velvet. ornamented with lace Of gold
"chaste in form, yet in accordance with
the strictest rules Of etiquette" As she
passed by the Duke Of Alba, who was sur
rounded by a party Of friends. his grace
remarked. There goes Margarita Of Bur
gundy." This was overheard by Mrs.
Soule's son. who the next day promptly
sent two of his friends TO the duke. to
demand satisfaction for this sighting re-
mark. They found that worthy. however
so contrite and distressed at his fault
that they agreed to accept his apology.
The affair should have stopped here. but
after reading the account in Galiganis
Messenger Of Paris and the Chronicle OF
London. wherein Mr. Soule was reported
to have called the Duke Of Alba .'une
canaille." the friends Of the duke were not
content and demanded 70 have his honor
satisfied. A duel was therefore fought.
but without serious harm TO either Of the
Combatants. Meantime Minister Soule.
very much disgruntled at the attitude OF
the French minister. NJ Turgot. who was
said 10 have been the originator of the re-
mark, There goes Margarita Of Burgun-
dy," and in whose house the insult was
received. demanded satisfaction, which
was Immediately accorded him. A duel
was fought at Chambertin. and Mr. Soule
wounded his opponent quite severely some
two inches above the knee. but this cpl
sode put an end to his usefulness as the
American representative at Madrid. and
he retired shortly afterward.
The life story Of the hero Of this duel.
If the successful combatant In duel can
be called a hero, reads like a novel. He
was born in Castillon, France. educated
in the Jesuits' College in Toulouse. and
while still a lad was implicated in a plot
against the BOurROnS and forced TO flee
10 Navarro, where. disguised as a
shepherd. he tended sheep until all danger
Of his apprehension was passed. then he
drifted TO Paris. where ne took to politi-
cal plotting again. for which he was ar
rested, fined. and imprisoned, but escaped
from the jail I'm which he was confined.
found his way 10 England and thence
emiSrated 20 New Orleans, where he be-
came n shining light in the Democratic
party, which rewarded his zeal by send
ing him 10 the United States Senate. a
post he resigned to accept the billet Of
Minister TO Spain rendered him by Presi-
dent Pierce.
Upon his return from Madrid he SYM
pathized with the Confederacy, was its
agent in Europe, and imprisoned by Gen.
Butler when he was military governor
Of New Orleans. but released upon his
promise TO leave the country This he
did, and finally established himself in
London, where he gained an enviable
position at the bar. and where he made
a large circle Of friends. for he was a
man Of great magnetism and possessed
Of most interesting personality. He
died in London at a good old age. calmly.
In bed and not in his boots on the duel
ing ground. as so many writer's have
enormously asserted.