DEAD ON HIS FEET.

Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 58, 5 September 1885, Page 1 (Supplement)

DEAD ON HIS FEET.

"I remember as thongh it were yesterday," said the old soldier, " the march of Hill's corps along the winding Shenandoah up to the famous Luray Gap. Who could ever forget that march 1 The road winding with the beautiful river and overhungwith the majestic chain of Blue Ridge Mountains, while across the crystal water the magnificent valley lay with its charming cottages, dotting the beautiful land. But the most engaging and lovely objects paled into significance beside the peerless women of this blessed country, and you may well believe that when the camp was struck the soldiers lost no time in making their way to the surrounding cottages. Soon the music of the violin was heard and the shuffling feet kept time to the music, while, for a time, the soldier's face was lit with old-time joy. At one of these cottages the belle of the valley reigned supreme, while the Southern soldiers vied with each other in paying homage to the queen. Among others were two young soldiers — one from Georgia and the other from Mississippi — who were specially energetic in their attentions, and so marked hud this become that those present watched the play with increasing interest, fully believing that both exhibited a case of love at first sight. This surmise on the part of those present was only too true, as the tragic events which followed fully proved. The Georgian seemed to have the lead on the Mississippian, and when the dancers were called toytake their places, he led the belle of the valley to a place in the set. At this point the Mississippian was seen to approach the couple, and heard to claim the lady's hand for the dance. A.n altercation ensued, but both were cool, brave soldiers — two of the best shots in the army — who did not believe in a war of words. So it was ended by the Georgian dancing ■with the lady, and the significant remark of the Mississippian, ' I will see you after this set.' " When the dauce was over the Georgian was seen to seek the Mississippian, and together they each called a friend from the crowd and departed When outside both claimed that an insult had been passed, which could only be wiped out iv the blood of the other, and that a duel to the death ) should be arranged at once. The full

I moon was just appearing above the i j tops of the surrounding forest, and 1 ' tell you talk of blood in the s til' ness of the night was anything hutp .easant. No argument, however, would avail with these men, so it was arranged j that the duel should take place on the top of the Blue Ridge, near the centre of the load that passes through the gap ; that the weapons should be pistols at fifteen paces, and to fire at or between the words 'one, two, three,' firing to continue until one or both were dead. " The point was cached, the ground measured off, t \d the men took their positions without a tremor. The moon shed its pale light down on a scene never to be forgotten. A moment or two and the silence was brokrn by the signal, 'One, two, three.' At the word ' one' the report of two pistols rang out on the midnight air, but the principals maintained their respective positions. The Georgian's left arm was seen to drop closer to the side, but the Mississippian was immovable and still held the pistol to the front. Again a pistol shot was heard coming from, the Georgian, and the Mississippian still held his position, but he did not fire. The Georgian protected that he did not come there to murder him, but no answer was returned. The Mississippian's second approached his principal, and found him dead, shot through the eye on the first discharge of the weapon. Death, it seems, had been instantaneous, so much so as not even to disturb his equilibrium. I may forget some things, but the midnight duel on the top of a spur of the Blue Ridge with its attendant circumstances is not one of them.