DUELLING WITH CANNON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XVII, Issue VII, 15 August 1896, Page 200

DUELLING WITH CANNON.

The following is an account of an unique duel said to have taken place in the Crimean War. One day a message was received from the Russian army at the time a flag of truce was flying. ‘ Your 58-pounder gun,’ said the bearer, ‘ which your people call “Jenny,” is a beautiful gun, but we think we have one as good. We should like to have a fair duel with her.’ The challenge was accepted, and everything arranged for 12 o’clock next day. When the time arrived, all the batteries ceased firing, and the two armies looked on. Our sailors’ gun detachment (wrote an onlooker) mounted on the parapet and took off their hats, saluting the Russians. The Russians returned the compliment. The English gun was given the first shot as the senior one ; it struck the side of the embrasure. Then our opponents fired—a very good shot, too. The third shot from ‘ Jenny ’ went clean through the Russian embrasure. The bluejackets jumped up on their parapet and cheered, thinking they had beaten their opponent. Not a bit ! A minute afterwards out came the Russian gun again Several more shots were fired from both sides, all very good ones. ‘Jenny ’ got a nasty thump, but it did her no harm. At length—l think after the seventh shot from our side—we saw the Rus-ian gun clean knocked over. Our fellows cheered vociferously, and the Russians mounted the parapet and took off their hats in acknowledgment of their defeat. All the batteries then opened again. Thus ended the great duel.