A NOVEL DUEL.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3582, 4 January 1883, Page 4

A NOVEL DUEL.

A blood-curdling and novel duel was fought at Greenbro, North Cirolina, on October 25, between Ralph Johnston and Jack "Williams, two young fanners of that section and rivals for the affections of a young woman. Bad feeling had existed between them for some time and ended in harsh words the day before yesterday. Soon afterwards Johnston sent a friend to Williams with a letter demanding a retraction of certain language used. Williams declined to withdraw his remarks, and further correspondence resulted in an agreement to meet in hostile combat. The articles were drawn up andhorscwliips specified as the weapons to be used, something not heretofore recognised by the code in North Carolina. These weapons were chosen, it is understood, in order that the parties could thereby evade the penalties of the duelling law, which docs not specify horeewhips as deadly weapons. Under the conditions of the fight each man was required to .stand upon a line traced upon the ground, making the distance between the combats about three feet. They were armed with heavy horsewhips, specially selected for the tight, and the second of each duellist was supplied a\ Ith an extra whip, to be used by his principal in the event of the wearing out or breaking of the weapon first used. The combatants met in the morning, according to the agreement. The lines were made of" rope, fastened to the ground with long staples. After a vain attempt had been made by the seconds to adjust the difficulty, the men took thcit places for the fight. Both were in their shirt-sleeves, the provisions of the fight being that no coat, vest, or undershirt should bo worn. At seven o'clock the question was asked: "Gentlemen, are you ready :" Each man nodded his head. The command "Strike!" was given, and the duellists fell to blows with vigor. Although the blows given were heavy and fast, neither man flinched. Upon the hands and faces of the combatants great welts soon rose, and the shirts of the men soon gave evidence that blood was being drawn at times. They wielded their weapons with one hand, then with both, and occasionally one or the other was forced by a desperate assault of his adversary to fall back from his line. After fighting half an hour time was called, and the men, who were nearly breathless, were given a, brief resting spell. The fight conlinued fur three hours with short intervals for rest. The seconds finally decided that the requirements of the code had been complied v, ith, and forced the duellists to desist. It is understood that Johnston was more severely hurt than his adversary, and that there was not a place on his body that was not covered with welts. Many of the blows gashed the flesh in a horrible manner. Williams was almost in the same condition, and both men suffered terribly from the effects of their wounds, which were of such a nature they could hardly lie down. Their feet were almost the only part of their bodies not covered with whip cuts.