Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-08-09
RIDICULOUS AFFAIRS OF HONOR
How Putnam Scared tho EnsIishman
Who CHALLENGED Him for a Duel.


How Putnam Scared tho Englishman
Who Challenged Him for a Duel.
Near the middle of the last century
the Lord Rosebery of that time was
'called OUT by butler in the service
of the earls most intimate friend
This butler had been an officer in the
French army. Two shots were fired
without result. Fearing his antagon-
ist might later lay aside his army rank
and thus expose an earl to the re-
proach of having fought with a but
Ter Lord Rosebery settled an annuity
Of $3.50 upon the man on con-
dition that he would not return to do
mestic employment.
The essence of chivalry was display
ed by William Smith O'Brien, the
leader Of Ireland's national party in
the forties. On facing his man O'Brien
called out: stop; no signal, I pray!'
His opponents second advanced, say
ing: This is irregular, sir. What
do you wish?" "The gentleman op-
posite me-" answered O'Brien, "has
let the cap fall from. his pistol"
Humphrey Howarth, surgeon
famous in the poet Rogers's day, ap-
peared on the field arrayed only in
natures garb. What does this
mean?" asked his challenger, amazed
Il know" was Howarth's reply, "it
any clothing is carried into the body
by a gunshot wound, fostering ensues
Therefore, have met you thus" The
duel was declared off.
Marquis Merle de Sainte Marie and
Pierrot d'Isaac, French masters OF
the code, met in an engagement re-
markable because the principals were
posted in trees. Their names, Merle
and Pierrot, signify blackbird and
sparrow. Sparrow put Blackbird to
flight by winging him. And because
Sparrow chirped when Blackbird top
pied from his perch there must needs
be second duel, this time with
swords. and Sparrow's plumage was
sadly rumpled.
When Prince Pierre Bonaparte and
M. de la Valette fought, the latter fir
ed, missing his man. Then the prince
fired, his bullet flattening against a
five-franc piece in de la Valette's vest
pocket. "Sir," said Prince Bonaparte
''let us be friends and allow me to
congratulate you on the foresight with
which you have invested your pocket u
John Eagen, a county judge, and
Roger Barrett, master Of the rolls at
;Donnybrook, participated in an affair
that has been handed down as fine
example Of Irish humor. AS quick
as the belligerents were placed Bar
rett blazed away in the air, vowing his
honor was satisfied. He would have
walked off. but Eagan called on him
to stop until he might be shot. Fire
conveniently near. After taking de-
liberate aim Judge Eagan lowered his
pistol. mo, Roger, l won't be both
cred shooting you," he said, whereup-
on the warning pair shook hands
warmly
Vastly more dangerous to the Sec
onds than to the principals was a
combat at Naples some years ago.
At 25 PAGES 40 shots were exchanged.
The duelists escaped without. a
scratch, but three Of their numerous
seconds were badly wounded and one
killed outright.
On May 3, 1908, duel from bal
looms took place in Paris. The par
ticipants. M. de Grandpre and M. lie
Fique, were armed with blunderbuss-
es. With their seconds they ascend
ed to a height Of 500 feet, when they
fired simultaneously. Grandpre's shot
penetrated lie Pique's balloon, which
collapsed and fell, dashing its occu-
pants to death on a housetop.
NJ. Lefant and M. Melfant, in Sep
tember. 1S43, quarreled over billiards
and forthwith selected the balls of
that game for a duel. They drew lots
for the throw. Melfant won, and SO
accurate was his aim that the missile
struck Lefant in the forehead, killing
him instantly.
A bloodless duel with pepper took
place in foreign restaurant. 1t
started when a native won the plaud-
its of his countrymen by sprinkling an
inordinate quantity Of red pepper over
his food, which he swallowed without
batting an eye. This nettled an
American guest. The latter saw the
trick and went it one better. The
foreigner retaliated with a sitter jor-
um of cayenne. The American then
came back with dose Of fiery stuff
that completely discouraged his OPP
ponent from further effort.
An affair of honor was arranged in
the south once between Captain Bragg
and Swashbuckler Ned Bolts. Bragg
left choice of weapons to his second
The second a veritable fire-eater, pro-
posed broadaxes, Bolts objected,
Bragg's man, disgusted, said he would
have satisfactory weapons on the field
He built two roaring fires, and over
them hung pots of water which, when
at boiling point, he would have each
duelist squirt over the other at short
range with a big syringe. Bolts balk-
ed a second time.
Still more ridiculous was the due