The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1916-03-02
Memories of Southern Cities


In looking over an old scrap book |
was reminded that had said nothing of
dueling in the South, common in ante
bellum days, but now wholly given up.
Here is an item from a New Orleans
daily, winter of 1858:
A fatal duel took place at o'clock
yesterday afternoon, IN field near
Carroton or Rickerville, between the
railroad and the river, The parties were
Mr.. Emile Hiriat. musical and operate
critic of the Daily Delta newspaper, and
Mr.. E. Locquet, cotton-buyer of Caron-
dolet street. On Sunday last Mr.. Hirat's
article in the Delta wound up with some
singing controversial remarks, which
drew forth a challenge from Mr.. l..
Placide Canonge, the operate critic of
the Louisiana Courier. At the same
time Mr.. Hiriat received a challenge
from Mr.. Locquet, whether from that
genteman's sympathy of feeling with
Mr.. Canonge, or otherwise, we are not
well enough informed to state. A few
days since the challenged party and MIR.
Canonge had their meeting al the
Metarie ridge. They exchanged three
shots with pistols, without harm on
either side though Mr. Canonge's clothes
were perforated Yesterday afternoon,
as above stated, Mr.. Hiriat had his
meeting with MIR. Locquet. The
weapons were double-barrel shot guns,
loaded with musket balls; the distance
forty PAGES. At the first fire Mr. Loc-
Quet fell mortalIy wounded and expired
without breathing word; bis adversa-
ries ball having passed entirely through
his body, from his left side to his right.
Mr.. Locquet's bullet struck the ground,
and glancing up, struck Mr.. Hiriat in
the breast, stunning him violently and
causing him to fall. The skin was not
broken, but the blow raised large lump.
Of course there was a woman, per-
haps more than one, in the case, and it
was currently reported at the time thai
there was third challenge, but it did
not materialize.
There were many cases in which, with
out the necessary formalties of a duel,
men went cunning for each other in the
streets; and recall one such encounter in
the Garden District, when a jealous hus-
band sought to remove gay lothario
from earth. Then, as late as 1872 when
! was in Atlanta, Georgia, two editors
went cunning for each other, but
I through the intervention of friends no
blood was spilled.
In recent article on San Antonio !
d escribed the Mexican carts, in which
all supplies We're brought from the coast,
a distance of 100 miles, and find in my
scrap book a letter dated Sept. 8, 1857,
which says that some men had stopped
all the teams near Goliad. $50 that we
W ere besieged here for a few weeks"
The letter says, further:
1t was supposed they were American
teamsters who wished to get possession
of the road and keep the Mexicans from
hauling. But as they do the work quick
err, and cheaper, than other teamsters
the merchants took the matter in hand.
Some three or four men were killed, and
as the wagon trains now go well armed
there has been no further trouble. 1t
costs from 81 to 81. so per hundred to
get goods from the coast here and prices
are therefore very high. Flour is SIS
per barrel; corn, 1925 per bushel, and
other things in proportion.
l had forgotten that Sam Houston
President of the Republic and later gov
er nor of the State of Texas-was living
a t that time, but find this item in the
letter just quoted from:
The political struggle is over here.
Runnells Dem.) was elected, and Sam
Houston, one of the last. survivors of the
Know Nothing party, was defeated. 1t
is said he is to start for Mexico to found
a new republic. 1t is thought that if he
can have two thousand men at his COM
mand, and is not interferred with by this
government, he may succeed in his I'M
dertaking. c. A. P.