The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1916-12-22


the wah I did not know Majah Davis
until after peace came. Then he came
to settle in the town where lived.
'The majah had a good record as a
soldier, and it happened that we soon
became friends The first time 1 saw
him noticed that the lobe Of his right
ear was partly gone, and I made up
my mind that bullet had inflicted ths
damage. OF co'se 1 didn't refer to
1t, and 1t was a couple Of years befo'
he made any explanation. One day as
he sat in my Office he made some allu-
sion to his failing sight and added:
Colonel Venables, there was time
and it was not long ago that had the
sight of an eagle. I think l had the
best pair Of eyes in the United States
"I made some appropriate reply. and
he went on:
"'Colonel, FL tell you how good my
eyes were and see If you won't be as
tonished. At the battle Of Cedar
Mountain 1 sat on my horse directing
the operations of my regiment when |
saw a Yankee soldier beside a tree
half q mile away While / watched
him he drew up his gun and aimed at
me- l saw that he aimed to put bull
let between my eyes. Mind you. colo
mel, saw all this as plain as ! see
you. l could not finch befo' my regi-
ment, and l had to sit in my saddle
and await my doom. After a few Sec
onds his gun was discharged. / saw
the bullet coming straight for me. and
1 watched it until it was within two
feet OF my head. Then 1 lodged to
the left to avoid it, but did not dodge
quite far enough, and as a cOnse-
quence the bullet struck the lobe of my
ear
That was indeed wonderful l re-
piled, thinking he had been drinking
too much and was inclined to boast
eyes, suh,' the majah went on, i
saw the bullet every foot of the way,
and that's how good my eyes were.
I'm rather afraid that they are losing
their sight, although / saw a bird the
other day which was at least flying a
mile high
Then surely, majah, your eyes must
be all right. You are the only man l
ever met who had seen a bullet in its
fight
"'But maybe you don't believe my
statement, colonel he retorted.
Why, as you say you saw the bull
let am bound to believe you, although
it was a rare thing l myself have
seen cannon balls flying about
Yes, sub, I saw that bullet. and
the man who says I didn't means to
insult me-
Il tried to turn the conversation into
other channels, but the majah was OBJ
stinate and perverse and would not
have it. After a minute or two he
said:
Colonel Venables, l want a direct
answer from you. Do you believe the
statement 1 made or do you not?'
"'You might have possibly been mis-
taken, majah' l replied
''"That is enough, colonel he stiff1y
said as he rose up. I will send
friend to you, subj
There it was plain and straight, and
within two hours the details of duel
had been arranged. We met and
fought the next morning The majah
was a novice with the rapier, and
could have run him through within
minute. l did not wish him any hurt,
however. 1 let him off with a scratch,
and We went our ways. We would
probably have been friends again, but
within two weeks he caught the ty-
plus fSver and within a few days was
dead. After about three months
stranger entered my office one day
and said that he had come to challenge
me with a duel.
why, man, l never even saw your
face befo'r l replied.
But | am a brother of Majah Da-
Wis, whom you fought a few months
ago, You must give me satisfaction
According to the code of honah, if
you fought a duel with a man his rela.
tives could take it up as long as they
lasted. If the majah's brother thought
that any stain had rested upon his rec
ord he had right to challenge me. |
selected pistols, and when we met in
the grove | sent a ball through his
shoulder. and his bullet grazed my hip.
I'm about fOu' weeks another stranger
entered my office. His name was Da-
Wis, and he was a brother to the last
one, and he had come upon the same
errand. There was no hard feelings.
We spoke very pleasantly, and agreed
to accept the challenge from him. |
selected rapiers this time. and we
wounded each other He went away
home. and carried my arm in a sling
TO three or fou' weeks. Then. sub,
came the fourth Davis. He was a
brother to the others and fine spoken
man. | could not refuse his request.
as he had made journey of fifty miles
to make it. l returned to pistols this
time, and l wounded him in the side.
and he wounded me above the right
knee.