Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1915-07-14
A Sharpshooter
Duel
By SAMUEL E. BRAND

rs private In a sharpshootcr rpgi.
ment. was considered an expert In that
line Of warfare He knew all the
lodges in drawing an encmyss DIRE TO
an inanimate object. in causing him
TO show himself. and had the ability TO
put bullet jrst where he pleased at
almost any distance
Cunningham left college TO go to the
war. and when he came out OF II. be-
Ing much run down by the climate OF
Cuba. he decided TO go abroad 10 re
cover his strength.
In Paris Ned met a couple Of Young
Americans who had been Ia the Span.
ish war. aud the three set about see
Ing Paris. One evening at cafe they
ran up against party OF French army
officers. who. recognizing them for
Americans. began to make invidious
remarks against the United States,
They sahi nothing calling for resent
ment- however. TIL Ned took little
silk United States dag ont OF his pock-
ct and waved IL in their faces.
Put that dirty rag up said one Of
the officers
You call that a dirty rag. do your
said Ned. his eye lighting with anger.
"I'li give you colored shirt" And be
threw some wine from his glass In the
officers face and on his bosom. The
man thus attacked calmly wiped away
the wine with his napkin. then said a
few words to one of the Others. who
came TO the table of the Americans
and demanded satisfaction under the
code Cunningham asscnted. but. be
ing the challenged party and thus hav-
ing the choice OF terms under which
the duel should take place. chose for
the meeting grounds a farm some
twenty miles from Paris and for weap.
ons rifles. The principals were TO take
positions n mile apart aud advance.
each conducting the campaign accord,
ing TO his own secret will
This did not suit the Frcnchman at
all. There were but two ways Of hght
ed-the one with a foil. the other with
a pistol. the former being the ordinary
French method. He objected TO any
except one OF these methods Cunning.
ham would not yield. tie proposed.
however. that II the Frenehman would
apologize for speaking disrespecffuliy
OF the American flag he would apollo
gize for throwing wine over him. But
the officer. being In the army. could not
, permit such nh insult to pass without
n fight. He was therefore Obliged to
accept Cunningham's terms.
One morning bright and early the
two parties started by separate convey
ances to the farm on which they were
to fight. They had succeeded In keep
ing the affair from the public. but II
was known among army officers. and
they fiocked to the ground In order TO
witness this singular fight. They hare
sharpshooters In their armies abroad
but II Is question II there h the free
fighting. the ingenious methods prac-
deed among Americans. whose expe-
dents come down from the Indiana.
The two principals were placed the
one on the north. ths other on the south
side OF the farm The interval between
them was made up of fields partly and
thinly wooded Unless they purposely
covered themselves by taking position
here and there behind a tree the
duelists could see each other all the
way. The distance, 30 far as the nght
was concerned. was not 50 great as
would appear. for the carrying range
OF the rifles was considerable
They had scarcely left their positions
before Cunningham fired several shots
Whether he did this to get some idea
| Of the range or to rattle his enemy
| was not known. His first stop was
made behind a fence thickly lined with
bushes. At the same time his enemy
took position behind stone wall
They were at long range
i The American resorted to the com
mon device Of raising his hat above
his screen. Getting bullet In 1t. he
made up his mind that his enemy was
not skilled in this kind OF warfare
When he saw the Frenchman change
his position. passing gateway. Gun
ningham's surmise was confirmed lie
could have shot the man during the
few seconds he was exposed.
cunningham had no wish TO XIII his
enemy. During the maneuvering be
could have shot the Frenchman sever
al times. Desiring TO wing him. be In
vented stratagem that would permit
him to get an easy shot. Tearing a
loose piece of railing from the fence.
be picked up stick about three feet
long and with his handkerchief fas-
: tened II across the longer piece about
a foot from one end. Taking on his
coat. he put the sleeves on the cross
piece and put his hat ON the end. a.
tcarecrows are usually made. HaviAg
finished this work. he held his figure
against the top Of the fence 80 that II
would look to his enemy as II he were
sitting on H.
Two shots came In rapid succession.
nne OF them knocking the dummy over
The Frenchrnnn saw n fall and CON-