The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, January 25, 1879, Image 1
It
Till-WEEKLY EDITfIONJ WINNSB3ORO, S. C.. SAT URDLAY, .JAINUAll-Y 25, 18r79 1 VO(L. 2.N. S
MARK TWAIN AS A DUELIST.
MEC SCR EWKM GAMRET T AISCOUR AGE
TO E POINT.
Proposes Axos but Compromises on
Toy Pistols at Thirty-five Paces in a
Dense Fog --Gambetta's Last Words.
Mark Twain has written a bur.
lesque account of the late duel
between Gamibetta and Fourton,
where the distinguished Frenchmen
exchanged a single shot without
effect at thirty-fivo paces in a dense
fog, one of the principals being near
sighted and the other mius an
eye. When he had heard of the
outbreak in the Assembly ho says
that ho called on Gambetta, whom
ho fonnd "steeped in a profound
French calm." Mr. Twain, after
being embraced, began the conver
sation:
I said I supposed he would wish
me to act as his second, and he
said, "Of course." I said I must
be allowed to act under a French
name, so that I might be shielded
from obloquy in my country in case
of fatal results. He winced here,
probably at the suggestion that
dueling was not rogarded with re
spect in America. However, he
agreed to my requirement. This
accounts for the fact that in all the
newspaper reports M. Gambetta's
second was apparently. a French
man. First, we drew up my prin
cipal's will. I insisted upon this
and stuck to my point. I said '
never heard of a man in his right
mind going out to fight a duel
without first making his will. He
said he never hlard of a man in his
right mind doing anything of the
kind. When he had finished the
will he wished to proceed to a
choice of his "last words." He
wanted to know how the following
words, as a dying exclamation,
struck me
"I die for my God, for mny coun
try, for freedom of speech, for
progress and the universal brother
hood of man!
I objected that this would re
quire too lingering a death ; it was
a good speech for. a consumptive,
but not suited to the exigencies of
the field of honor. We wrangled
over a good many ante-mortem
outbursts, but I finally got him to
cut his obituary down to this, which
he copied into his memorandum
book, proposing to get it by heart:
"I die that France may live."
I said that this remark seemed
to lack relevancy; but he said
relevancy was a matter of no con
sequeneo in last words; what you
wanted was thrill.
I then wrote the following note
and carried it to M. Fourtou's
friend:
81a--M. Gambetta accepts M.
Fourton's challenge, and authorizes
me to propose Plessis Piquet as the
place of meeting ; to-morrow morn
ing at day break as the time; and
axes as~ the weapons. I am, sir,
wvith great respet, MARK TWAIN.
M. Fourtou's friend read this
note and aboddered. Then he
turned to me, and said, with a sug
gestion of severity in his tone :
"Have you considere~h sir, what
would be the inevitable result of
such a meeting as thin ?"
"Well, for instance, what would
it be ?"
"Bloodshed I"
"That's about the size of it," I
eaid. "Now, if it is a fair question,
wvhat was your side proposing to
shed ?"
I. had him there; he saw he had
made a blunder, so he hastened to
explain it away. He said he had
spoken jestingly. Then he added
that he and his principal would
enjoy axes, ahd indeed prefer them,
but such weapons wore barred by
the French code, and so I must
change my proposal.
After proposing Gatling guns,
rifles, navy pistols and brick bats,
I left the choice of wveapons to the
other second, who flshta out of his
vest pocket a couple of little things
which I carried to the' light and
discovered to be pistols. They
were single.-barreled and silver
mounted, and very dainty and
pretty, I was not able. to~ speak for
emotion. I silently huing one of
them ogi my watch chain,' and rea
turned the other.. M9y companion
in erkne now unrolled a postaige
stamp containn Aeteral 4,attridges
and gave zne one of then4 dysged
if he meant to signify by this' tifA our
men wore to be allowed but one
shot apieoo. Hie replied that the
French code permitted no more. I
then bogged him to go on and sug.
gest a distance, for my mind was
growing weak and confused under
the strain put upon it. He sug
gested sixty-five yards. I nearly
lost my patience. I said:
"Sixty-five yards with those in
struments ? Pop guns would be
deadlior at fifty. Consider my
friend, you and I are banded to
gether to destroy life, not mako it
eternal."
But with all my persuasions, all
my arguments, I was only able to
get him to reduce the distance to
thirty-five yards; and even this
concession he made with relunct
ance, and said with a sigh:
"I wash my hands of this slaugh
ter; on your head be it." .
There was nothing for me but to
go home to my own lion-heart and
tell my humiliating story. Whon
I entered, M. Gainbotta was laying
his last lock of hair upon the altar.
Ho sprang towards me, exclaiming:
"Tho weapon ; the weapon !
Quick I what is the weapon ?"
"Thisl" and I displayed that
silver-mounted thing. He caught
but ono glimpse of it. then swooned
ponderously to the floor.
When he came too he said,
mournfully:
"'The unnatural calm to which I
have subjected myself has told upon
my nerves. But away with weak
ness! I will confront my fate like
a man and a Frenchman."
Ho rose to his feet and assumed
an attitude which for sublimity has
never been approached by man and
has soldon been surpassed by
statues.
After a long silenco, he asked:
"Was nothing said about that
man's family standing up with him,
as an offset to my bulk? But, no
matter ; I would not stoop to make
such a suggestion; if he is not
noble enough to suggest it himself
he is welcome to this advantage,
which no honorable man would
take."
"At what hour is the engagement
to begin ?" "Half-past nine."
At 9:30 in the morning the pro
cession approached the field of
Plossis Piquot in the following
order: First came our carriage,
nobody in it but M. Gambetta and
myself; then a carriage containing
M. Fourton and his second ; then a
carriage containing two poet
orators, who did not believe in God,
and these had MS. funeral orations
projecting from their breast
pockets; then a carriage containing
the head surgeons and their cases
of instruments ; then eight private
carriages containing consulting sur.
geons; then a hack containing the
coroner; then the two hearses ;
then the carriage containing the
head undertaker; then a train of
assistants and mutes on foot; and
after these came plodding through
the fog a long procession of camp
followers, police and citizens gen
erally. It was a noble turnout, and
would have made a fine display if
we had had thinner weather.
Trhe weather growing still opa.
que, it was agreed between myself1
and the other second that before
giving thme fatal signal we should
each deliver a loud whoop, to enable
the combatants to ascertain each
other's whereabouts. I now return
ed to my principal, who immediate~
ly stretched forth his hand and
said : "I am myself again ; give me
the weapon."
I laid it, all lonely and forlorn, in
the centre of the vast solitude of
his palm. He gazed at it and shud-.
dered. And still mournfully con
templating it, he murmured in a
broken voice : "Alas, it is not death
I dread, but mutilation."
I heartened him once more, and
with such success that he presently
said: Let the tragedy begin. Stand
at my back ; do not desert me in
this solemn hour, my friend."
I gave him my ,promise. I now
assisted him to point his pistol to
wards the spot where I judged his
adversary to be .standing, and
cautioned him~ to listen wellI and
furt~her guide himself by my fellow
second's whoop. Then I propped
myself against .M. Gambetta's back
and raised a, rousing "Whoopee I"
This was answered from out the far
dietance of the fog, and I immedi
ately shouted :
"One-two-three-fire!1"
Two little 'sounds like spit.! spit!i
broke uponsmy ear, and in the same
instant I was crushed to the earth
under a mountain of flesh. Buried
as I was, I'still Was ai~ e p atoh a
faint acepnt 'from a$l
effect:,
"I Ali: for....for...,perditions
tt14.lt, what is i1t I die for~ ....Oh,
yes--France) Z die that France
may livo 1"
ThoSi CI1rBR DE SPATCHES.
Uncle Sammy Demands an Investiga
tion- -Hewitt Contrasts the Candidates.
WASHINGTON, January 21.-Imineo
diately after the reading of the jour
nal Mr. Potter, of New York, called
up for action the resolution prisent
ed by hini yesterday, directing the
commit toe on investigation of (elc
tion frauds to inquiro into the cy
plher dispatehos and appropriating
$10,000 to defray the expouses of
such inquiry.
Potter opened the discussion on
the resolution, saying that he offer
ed it because he was instructed to
do so. He spoke feelingly conceorn
ing the imputations which had been
attributed to him, that he desired to
prevent an investigation of the cy
pher telegrams. Butler, of Massa
chusctts, opposed the resolution on
the ground that Congress had uip
jurisdiction ovor the private corro
spondence of anybody, and should
not take part in the slander of any
public man to satisfy the curiosiy
of anybody in the House or out df
it. Halo, of Maine, supported the
resolution. Now that the nachil
had been started and sot in motio
let it roll on and mako this inves
gation into both sides of the que
tion.
Hewitt supported the resolutio
He called the attention of Butler
the fact that there were occasions
life when there was soietnii
higher than judge or mem bar
Congress. It was when a sense of
manhood struck into the hunaB
heart. He stood here in that spirit
of nzanhood, to invite the fullest in,
vestigation of the telegrams ; thoeo
which had been published and those
ghich had not. Justice to Sanuel
J. Tilden demanded that the invoh
tigation should be mado ; justico to
the great Democratic party demand
ed it ; justice to the American
people, who had elected him to the
highest office in their gift demanded
it. Let Mr. Tilden havo an oppoik
tunity to confront his accusers afid
traducers, and show the world that
at least one of the candidates at, the
late Presidential election was not
a miserable trickster, willing to barb
gain for the highest offico in the
gift of the people.
Hewitt concluded by saying
"Let, then, Mr. Tilden have an op
portunity to confront his accusers,
his traducers, his inaligners, beforo
a competent tribunal. Lot the man
who of right should occupy to day
the Executive chair go on the wit
ness stand, if need be, and satisfy
the American people and the world
that one, at least, of the candidates
of the two great parties whose ex
istenco is essential to the mainton
ance of free government is not a.
niscrable trickster, willing to make
bargains for the highest office in
the gift of the people, every hour's
wrongful occupation of which only
intensifies the dishonor of its acqui
sition and tie humiliation of its
possession." The resolution. was
adopted.
A NEW POS-rAGE S'rAMP.--The
Post Office Department has ordered
a new postage stamp to be used on
letters not propaid. Heretofore a
stamp has been hold in tile office r~t
which it was mailed. The post mast
er at this oilice then writes to tho
individual addressed, saying that
such a letter has been held inl thlat
office for him, tile postauge not hav
ing been p~repaid. Tile new stamp
whlich has just boon ordered under
the new regulation is put . on tihe
letter not prep~aid and sent to the1
postmaster at the office of its desti
nation, whlo h~e is charged with the
amlount due, and to collect the
same from the person addressed on
the delivery of tile letter. A new
stamp hlas also been ordered to be
put on the letter after it passes into
thle hands of the carrier, wvho then
becomes responsible for the collec
tion of tile p)ostage. This newv
stamp is intended as a check upon
tihe carrier, whio is hereby prevented
from pocketitng his collections.
The new system ants somewhat
similar to the boll-punch of the
street car conductors.-BDoston
Heorakl
It is at great pity to see how many
people allow a cough or cold to go
unnoticed, and thus pave, the ;Way
to an difitimnelf grave from thle
eff'ects of consumption. A pleasant,
safe, reliabl~e and cheap remedy is
Dr. Ball's Cough Syrup. Price 25
eents~ -.. . -'..'
on top 'Vf et with a back-cotnb,
whereat the other seems quite 0ari
ta.-..QrapMc.
1'! I oUH CO U d T'f1u' F rCJ AUit.
Their Capture and Career of Crime
Succossos and Mishaps.
The secret service aglents report
theo arrest in Now Jersey of two of
tho kading counterfeiters in the
United States. They are Charles
Ulrich and Henry C. Colo, better
kmown as Harry Colo. Ulrich was
arrosted recently at his home in
Fanwood, N. J., w'liio engagod
in eligraving the Plates for a coun
torfeit legal tendor note of the do
nomination of $100. Upon his ar
rest he gavo such information as to
the future intentions of his employ
or-to furnish the press, paper and
other material to be used in the
printing of the notes when the plate
was completod-as in dueed the
chief to hold him in close confine
mont in his own house to await the
arrival of his employer. Friday af
tor noon Henry Cole, the employer,
Put ill an appearalco. Ho had in
his possession some of the expected
articles, and was at once arrested.
Ulrich is by birth a Prussian, of
fino presenceo and genial manner.
He is about 43 years old and has
been in the United States about
twenty years. lie has served two
terms of imprisonment, one at Sing
Sing and the other at Columbus,
Ohio, ponitentiary, both for coun,
terfeiting. In the latter place he
was senteuced for twelve years, in
Juno, 1868. He was pardoned in
1876, having served eight years of
the time for which he was sentenced.
Among the finely engraved coun.
terfeits excented by him previous to
his conviction in 1868 wore 100 dol-.
lar counterfeits on the Central
National Bank of New York city,
S100 counterfeits on the First Na
tional Bank of Boston, $100 coun
terfeits on the Ohio National Bank,
Cincinnati, Ohio. When arrested
in Cincinnati, in 1867, he wn cnaged
1pon an1d 01md.1 nouLiy completod the
b.ek plato for a $500 United States
note. There were also found in his
possossion unfinished plates for a $5
counterfeit. note. Since his roloaso,
in 1876, he has been unusually ac
tive in his nofarions businoss as a
eoumterfeiter. He has ongraved
plates and printed counterfeit is
sues as follows : Fifty-dollar coun
terfeit on the Contral National Bank,
city of New York ; $50 on Third
National Bank, Buifalo ; $5 on First
National Biank, Tamaqua, Pa. ; $5
n tho First National Bank, Han
over, Pa. ; $50 onNational Broad
WayBlank, New York, and $50 on
-'radesien's National Bank, New
York.
It will be remembered that thOe
sounterfeit issues on the two latter
banks found their way to Hamburg
tnd o thor European ports, and were
>assed upon emigrants leaving those
[)orts for the United States. The
vork of issuing counterfeit notes of
bhe same denomination of different
banks is greatly feilitated by what is
known to the counterfeiter as skele
ton or transfer plates, by means of
vhich he can, by changing the title
.nd location of the bank, together
with tie signatures of the president
~na cashier, (thme work of a week,)
produce a full set of plates, by wvhich
the issues of any national bank in
the same State can be conuterfeit
The guiding spirit under whose
lirection all the ischief wrought
by Ciarles Ulhich was accomplished
was Henry Cole. He is an old
counterfeiter and an ex-conviet,
ubont sixty four years of age. He
has a large family, lives in good
style in Philiadelphia, drives his
horses and has a valuable farm a
row miles out from the city. He
served a term in the Clinton (N. Y.)
penitentiary, and was pardoned by
lovernor Hoffman early in 1871.
In October of the same year he wvas
igain arrestedl in New York, having
few moments previous sold $5,000
in counterfeit ten and twenty dollar
bank notes. He w~as admitted to
bail in $10,000, and subsequently
giving information in relation to
the operations of an alleged coun
terfeiter named Miner, a noll proe.
vas ontered in his case. Immnedi
toly after the roleaso' of Ulrich
rrom the Columbus (0.) penitentiary
[-arry Cole paid him a visit to in.,
nuo to again take up counterfeit
ing. The result of his step is above.
stated. Cole, being a mnan of some
means, has controlled Ulrich's
>perations5 from 1876 up to the time
2f his arrest. The relations betwoo'n
bm were that of .employer and
myl~oyeo. Cole regards the;.'send-.
ng.of the counterfeit -fifty dollar
rotes to Enui'ope as one of. ther most
neccessful and profittble 'N~nturee
>f hie life. The aimoiiWi th4 he
sant ver' indedid466od~f't6 itnwar~y
Ngrakts wae tpward8 'of $50,000.
The sebret A dle had been for a
long time lookIp the mpg whd
uRIC-A - n:A c.
There are two a's to spoll separate,
but the wrong way is spolled with
the moro O's.-Puck.
Col. Fitzhugh, the biger man than
old Grant, has been elected door
keeper of the Texas Senate.
"Set solid," as tho printor said
when the chair he set down wasn't
there, and lie landod on the floor.
Uinceinnati Timnes.
The writer who uses the weak ar
gunents and strong opithets is like
the landlady who gives weak toa and
strong buttor.-New York Star.
."Whoro will it awl end ?" queried
the shoemakor as he punchod the
solo leather and resumed the thread
of his argument.-New York News.
They went to the theatroand then
took in an ice croam saloon. When
they camo out sho looked innocent
and ho looked out 75 cents.
"Life is what we make it," says
the poet. But when we ninhe it
spades and then got euchred, we all
have ia fooling of questioning the
poot.-Gowanda .interpr'ise.
"What's your occupation ?,' asked
a visitor at the capitol of a bright
boy whom he met in the corridor.
The boy happend to bo a page in
the Iouso. "I'm running for Con~
gross," was the reply.
We see that a in an in Connecticut
was killed the oth or day, while try
ing to "board a freight train."
Thoro is reason in all those things.
No doubt when the man took the
freight train to board lie gave it
salaratus biscuit, ryo coffee and
strong butter for breakfast, and
tough mutton three times a week
for dinner, till, in a fit of dyspepsia,
the freight train rose up and killed
him.
When Barry Sullivan was playing
"Hamlet" at Liverpool, a few 'days
ago, cat Came 1:p)Aen the stage in
the middle of the scene where the
ghost first appears, and insisted
upon bor rubbing horself against
tho ghost's legs. The house, of
course, was convulsed, and the en
tire act was ruined.
"Your- daukhtor has treated me
curt"-and the young man was lift
ed by the parental hoof from the
door of his girl's home to the horso
car track. He arose as quick-as hb6
could, and mildly explained that he
hadn't finished the word, which was
"courteous," and Alphonso was
taken under the unhospitable roof
once more, had his pants mended,
was done up in salvo, and theo sent
home to his ma in a hack. Thus is
true greatness rewarded, and im
potuosity robukcd.-Boston Trav
The mother's life is full of pros,
From early dawn till daylight's
close,
But oft, amid her household caros,
Some little poem unawares
Is written down within her heart,
And of her life becomes a part.
Some loving words a child may say,
A golden curl long put away,
A half worn shoe upotn the floor,
An outgrown dress the baby wore,
A broken toy or faded flower,
May touch the heart-string any
hour.
SIauaRa AcoIDENT.-The Kansas
Pacific Times records the following
curious occurrence to a passenger
train on the Kansas Paciflo
The train was nearing Topeka, and
being a little late was making extra
time. Suddenly the engineer felt -a
jar and slacked up his engine slowly
and finally stop~ped. On going
back to see what the trouble was,
he was surprised to find the sleeper
and one paissonger coach .ploe tp
the engine tender, and the mati) and
baggage car tother with the other
coach missing. Search . was at Qnce
made, and the mnissing part of *tlio
train was found a few hutidred yards
back. . The passotiger coachi had
stayed in its ordinary position run
nling out of the prairie a short way.
The baggage and mnail ears were
somewhat tumbled up, but no par-.
ticular damage done. No person
was seriousl hurt except tlie iews
agent, who. bad ..is nose broken' and
face -badly. out. On examination of
the track, about nino feet 'ofo ril
was apissing, a. short distance".from
where Balclidge. %rat felt '1bhimjar,.
ai no doubt thitwas dotie u4he.
~nginoasinig oer, and benth~Ia.
ag macl car' sa4 cpaoh 4It2e'
1t!I8 certsinly one-bf the re
extraQrdinary incidon~s or aodidents