The Washington herald., 1914-05-10
COL. BUNKER'S TALES
He Tells of Two Duels That Didn't Come Off

must call him out and pink him. The
| insult is one which must be wiped out
| In blood as soon as possible"
That was my opinion" said the colo
mel. and Majah Davis and Captain Hope
kindly consented to act as my seconds
and arrange the affair. They called upon
Capt. Silver. He seemed somewhat put
out but he accepted the challenge just
the same and choose pistols at ten PAGES.
It's needless to say that / was highly
grati1ed, sub. A gentleman with foteen
dueis to his credit cannot fail to be pleased
over the prospects of fifteenth. l laid
a small wager with the major that /
would bore Captain Slicer through the
right shoulder at the first fire. and then
went to bed to sleep soundly till 6
O'Clock in the mawnin'. At half-past we
were on the field. Five minutes later the
captain and his party arrived. Little
time was lost in making ready but as
we took our places Captain Slicer left
his place and walked over to me and
said:
Col. Bunker, l am here to fight yo',
sub, but befo going: further should like
to know what it is all about. In what
way can I have offended yo,' subj
sub" says 1 as I drew myself UP to
my inches, our first meeting was in a
barroom. Yo' approached me and intro
duced yo'self. 1t was not TO- me to ask
yo' to take 4 nip
But I didn't expect yo' to-" he renIiad
Perhaps not, sub. but did yo ask me
to drink
"Of co'se not-of co'se not. In the fac.
OF what Giddeon's history SAYS of yo'
dared not make such suggestion
There must be some mistake here, Col
Bunker. Let me send for my COPY of
that history
The duel was delayed until the his
tory could be brought, and there was no
duel. 1t was a history I had never seen
befo. After devoting several pages to
my heroic conduct on various battle
fields. the author touched upon my civil
career and he had 1t down in black and
white, suh-that had fought no less
than seven duels because OF being asked
to drink. 1t was there. suh-it was there
as plain as day, and Capt Steers repu-
tation as a gentleman was cleared at
once Reading what history had said of
me, he had refrained from Offering me
a drink with the best motives in the
world. 1t was a false charge against
me. and perhaps written in malice but
how was Capt. Slicer to know? Egad
sub, but / realized that embarrassment
Of his position at once, and / gave him
my hand and we were friends We are
friends yet. and 1t is needless to say
that We never meet without the captain
promptly inquiring what I prefer.
History may be all right, sub. or II
may be all wrong, sub, and befo' fight
ing a duel one should look into it. Had
killed Capt. Slicer for what / sup
posed was an insult upon my honah
never could have forgiven myself, and
had his bullet found my heart he would
have regretted IL to his dying day.
.,,I, ~ Crrh a,I
now"
When the colonel had gulped down his
cocktail like a horse that had been three
days without water, he wiped of his
chin and continued:
And this case has an opposite, sub.
One Capt. Chester visited our town. and
met him in a law office. AS soon
as We had been INTRODUCED he said:
Col. Bunker. will you do me the honah
to nip with me?"
IT excused myself, and an hour later
I met him on the street Then It was:
"Col. Bunker, it would be a great
honah, suh-a great honah.''
II passed it again and later on met
him at the postoffice. Then it was:
"CoI. Bunker, I'd like it to go down
In history that We drank together"
Again I turned him down, but two
hours later, as We met in the hotel he
said:
"Col. Bunker, it would be an epoch in
my life
Then and there, sub, I challenged him
to a duel. He was nightly put out and
begged to explain. He had got hold of
history that stated that / always
challenged a man who did not ask me
to crink with him. and he thought he
was doing the correct thing to avoid a
duel. We drank together. sub, and there
was no duel sab, and-and-"
But there was no cocktail Forthcoming.