REMARKABLE CHALLENGE TO A DUEL.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume X, Issue 18, 6 May 1893, Page 412

REMARKABLE CHALLENGE TO A DUEL.

I ONCE saw a challenge to a duel issued and accepted, and the time, place, and weapons nominated. The affair, however, did not come to any issue. It was in Deadwood, some years ago, and the two men who were to have been the participants had been snarling at each other for many days. One of them was a consumptive looking young fellow from somewhere East, and, of course, was held in much contempt by the old timers. In some indefinable way, however, many of these seemed to have a kind of respect for him, as on one or two occasions he had given evidence that perhaps, after all, he was not to be laughed at. He was to these semi-admirers an unknown quantity, and while they were all anxious for some opportunity to present itself in which he would show what he was made of, yet not one of them cared to furnish the looked-for chance.

The man who did the snarling was, perhaps, the only man in the select clique that bung around the saloon where the quarrel finally took place who did not believe that the tenderfoot had any nerve, and he never missed an opportunity to hint as much.

On the night inquestion the two men had been unusually spiteful, and it seemed certain that there would be trouble before the daylight broke. Finally, the old timer made a remark to the other that there was no mistaking. It meant business. The young fellow heard it, and without movinsr a hand announced to the other that he had a proposition to make. The crowd was in the right humour, and the boy was allowed to go on. He said that he was a tenderfoot. He was aware of it, and he felt sorry, but he also said if the other would give him a fair show he would fight him. Then he made what was considered a remarkable proposition. He asked his antagonist to lay aside his gear, to make no play, but to issue him a challenge to battle royalHe had, he said, conscientious scruples against being the aggressor in a quarrel, but he was perfectly willing to do the square thing. After much parley the big fellow agree Ito the deal and the challenge was issued. The boy at ones accepted it, named guns as the weapons, the saloon as the place, and the time right then.

But the conditions upon which the duel was to be fought was the remarkable part of it. He insisted that he and his opponent should stand face to face, with the toes of their right boots touching. Their guns were to be in their belts, and at the word they were to 'draw and fire. There could be only one result. It was a daring proposal, but whether it was a bluff or not was never known. The other apologised, and the outcome of it was that the two men became partners. But no one in Deadwood ever again intimated that the young fellow was lacking in nerve. He showed that he had pluck.