BOTH KILLED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 234, 2 October 1937, Page 7

BOTH KILLED.

EXTRAORDINARY DUEL STRANGEST ON RECORD. DISTANCE OF SIX EEET.

One of the most determined duelling contests on record w»h fought near Philadelphia, U.S.A., in 1830, between; a Dr. Smith and a Dr. Jeffries. The distance was only eight paces, at which tliev exchanged shots without either of them receiving any injury. Some efforts were then mAdc by their friends to effect an accommodation, but

Dr. Jeffries declared that he would not I leave the ground until he had lost his own life or taken the life of his antagonist. Pistol.- were handed to them a second time, and the right arm of Dr. Smith was broken. When lie had recovered from the shock, D'r Smith declarer!,that, as he was wounded, he was ready to die, and requested the seconds to proceed. The pistols were put into their hands a third time, Dr. Smith using his left hand. Dr. Jeffries was wounded in the thigh, and his loss of blood occasioned another ! delay. When he had recovered, both desired to shorten the distance. They stood up for the fourth time, covered by blood, at a distance of only six feet. They were to fire lietween the words , "one" and "five," and the shots proved fatal to both. Dr. Smith dropped dead, the ball having penetrated his heart; Dr. Jeffries was shot through the breast, and he t survived only four hours.