Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1910-06-02
FAMOUS DuE1s IN ENGLAND.
@rime Ministers Sought or Gave
Satisfaction In Field of Honor.

@rime Ministers Sought or Gave
Satisfaction in Field of Honor.
At least four of England's prime
ministers entered the field of honor,
a Student of the Code" in letter to
the New York Sun says. The Duke OF
Wellington challenged Earl of
Winchelsea in consequeL te of the
earl's remarks on the CATHOLIC ques-
tion. They met in Battersea fields.
Lord Winchelsea received the dukes
fire and then fired in the air.
The Rt-Hon. William Pitt was chal-
lenged by George Tierney, president
OF the board of control, on account OF
certain Objectionable remarks made In
the House of Commons. They met on
Putney common. Two shots were ex-
changed and Pitt fired the third time
in the air, when a reconciliation was
effected.
George Canning met Lord Castle
reagh on Putney common. They fought
in sight of the windows of the house
in which Pitt died Both missed AT
the next exchange Castlereagh's ball
entered Mr.. Canning's thigh, infict-
ing a slight wound. The two states
men assumed their places for a third
shot, when the seconds, seeing the
blood streaming from Mr.. Canning's
wound, put an end to the combat.
Benjamin Disraeli likened Daniel
O'Connell to the impenitent thief on
the cross OConnell also used Ian
guage which was not parliamentary,
and Disraeli offered to castigate the
Irishman. O'Connell declined to meat
him. Disraeli then challenged Morgan
O'Connell, the accuser's son, but Nor
gan O'Connell also declined to meet
Jew on a field of honor"
Curran, the Irish orator, fought four
duels. The first was with Capt. st.
Leger who had insulted an Irish Ro-
man Catholic priest. The captain fired,
but Curran did not. 1T was not nee
essary for me to fire at him" the Irish
wit afterward wrote; "the gallant cap
tain died three weeks after the duel
of the report of his pistol"
The next affair was with Attorney
General for ireland Fitzgibbon. The
parties were to fire at pleasure. Cur
ran fired first, and then Fitzgibbon
took aim for nearly a minute. On its
proving Intellectual Curran remarked:
1T was not your fault, Mr.. Attorney;
you were deliberate enough!" The
third duel was with John Egan, an
Irish barrister who had the nickname
OF Bully. Egan was "of immense size,
as brawny and almost as black as
coal porter" Curran was facetious ou
the subject OF Egan's size, and they left
the field reconciled. Egan became
Curran's second in Curran's fourth
and last duel, with Lord Buckingham
shire.
Richard Brinsley Sheridan fought
Mr.. Matthews, "a gentleman of fash
ion," at Bath in order to vindicate the
reputation of Miss Linley. 1t was
done in theatrical style. They fought
with swords and great courage and
skill were displayed on both sides.
Sheridan disarmed his adversary and
compelled him to sign a formal retrac-
tion. Mr.. Matthews again challenged
Mr.. Sheridan. The parties met on
Kings Down. The battle was desper-
ately contested. After a discharge OF
pistols they fought with swords. Both
we're wounded and fell to the ground,
where they continued to fight until the
seconds separated them. 1t was found
that Matthews sword was actually
broken off in Sheridan's ear.