Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1914-11-12
THE UNDOlNC
OF A DUELIST
cowardIy Bully Caught In
His Own Trap.

zenith century young man stopped at
tavern in New York and was sitting
In the taprooms dreamily looking at
the embers in the great open fireplace
when one of a number Of men drink
ing and smoking at the tables--a fell
low with bad eye and a crafty look
on his face began to make remarks
about him In so loud q tone that he
could not fail to hear them. Neyerthe=
less the stranger endured them for 1
time without retort, then got up and
started to leave the room, whereupon
the man who had insulted him sud
denly put out his foot and the stranger
fell sprawling on the floor. The fallen
man, still apparently unwilling to mo-
tice the offense, arose and proceeded
on his way to another room.
He had not been there long before
young man of pleasing appearance en-
tered and addressed him:
"You are apparently stranger here"
he said land need friend The man
who has insulted you is notorious for
picking quarrels, and when he finds
his antagonist one who is likely to get
the better of him he invariably finds
some adroit method Of getting out Of
the difficulty. | am anxious for a pre-
text to fight him. Why. don't care
to explain, except to say that it is a
matter of the heart / have recently
returned from a long absence In that
part of Louisiana lying wes4 of the
Mississippi, and, though Immediately
recognized this man-Amos Stringfel-
lOw-he doesn't recognize me. On &C
count of the lady in the case would
not like to quarrel with him on my
own account. nor would he permit me
to do SO. Your affair is my opportu-
nifty. You seem to be averse to fight
ing him yourself. Therefore would
ask your permission to act as your
champion :"
The speaker drew forth card, on
which was printed his name, Horace
George Herrick. In return he received
one from the stranger, Henry Pinck-
ney.
II am not averse to fighting the fell
low Pinckney said I'VE of the south
usually settle such matters under the
code. But in my case there is reason
why / should not. My father killed
friend in duel and suffered so from
.remorse that he extracted a promise
from me never to engage in one my
self"
Herrick pleaded with Pinckney for
permission to represent him. Pinckney
was unwilling to stand in SO unpleas-
ant a light, but at last consented, de-
claring that In case Herrick fell he
would throw aside his scruples and
take up the quarrel on his own ac-
count. Herrick returned to the tap
room and after berating Stringfellow
for being so inhospitabie as to insult
an inoffensive stranger took it upon
himself to vindicate The good name Of
New York and demanded satisfaction.
Strfngfellow demurred on the ground
that the challenger was not New
Yorker, whereupon Herrick informed
him that he had been born in New
York and of his identity.
Stringfellow saw at once that he had
fallen into his own trap, but relied, as
usual, on some subterfuge to preserve
his reputation for courage and at the
same time keep out of harms way. He
accepted the challenge and. as the chal-
lenged party had the right to name
the conditions. chose pistols in a dark
room.
Before entering the apartment Her.
rick took Pinckney aside and said to
him:
''If I fall go to Harlem and find
Katherine Van Gaasback. Tell her
that her former playmate returned and
heard that she was about to marry
Amos Stringfellow; that chance gave
me the opportunity to defend the good
name Of New York against her lover
and / fell in the cause of hospitality. .
Pinckney, much dissatisfied with the
course the affair had taken, made the
required promise, and the two princi-
pals were put in the room, from which
all light had been excluded. and took
their positions. Each was provided
with two pistols, and the men were
permitted to fire on signal given
without, few notes ON bug1e.
Ten minutes elapsed after the signal,
when two shots Were fired in rapid
succession, and moment later knock
was heard on the door from within.
It was opened, and Stringfellow was
discovered in the. fireplace across a
pair Of andirons, while Herrick stood
looking at him. white as sheet.
'sWhat does it mean?" asked one Of
the entering party.
"MeanY exclaimed Herrick. "It
means that as soon as the door was
closed was seized with remorse at de-
priving Kate Van Gaasback of the
man she had chosen to we'd Feeling
my way around the room, came to
the fireplace. 1t occurred to me to dis
charge my pistols up the chimney that
they might surely do no harm. I did
30. and what was my surprise to hear
q groan, and a heavy body came tum-
bling down"
Stringfellow. who had climbed the
chimney to be out Of harms way, was
examined by a surgeon. One ball had
pierced his leg, the other had cut on q
thumb. Beyond this he was uninjux-
cd. The same day the wounded man
disappeared and was never heard Of
again In New York.
Kate Van Gaasback heard Of the af-
fair and It's ridiculous termination. She
accepted Herrick for husband, frs&
exacting promise that he would new
er again engage in duel Pincknag
was Herrickss best man.