A NOVEL AMERICAN DUEL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1057, 20 January 1883, Page 3

A NOVEL AMERICAN DUEL.

A bloody, cruel, and novel duel was recently fought in the lower edge of Guilford, North Carolina, between Ralph Johnston and Saks Williams, two young farmers of that section, and rivals for the affectionß’of a young woman. Bad feeling bad existed between them for some time, ending in harsh words. Soon afterward Johnston sent a friend to Williams with a letter, demanding a retraction of certain language used. Williams do dined to withdraw his remarks, and farther correspondence resulted in an agreement to meet in hostile combat, the time time being fixed for the next morning. The articles drawn up specified horsewhips as the weapons to be used, something not heretofore recognised in the code in North Carolina. These weapons were chosen in order that the parties could thereby evade the penalties of the duelling law, which does not spec'fy horsewhips as deadly weapons. Under the rales of the fight, each man was required to stand upon a line traced upon the ground, making the distance between the combatants about three feet, They were armed with heavy horsewhips, especially selected for the fight, and the second of each duellist was supplied with an extra whip, to be used by his principal in the event of the wearing out or breaking of the weapon first used. The field selected was a high and level spot about half a mile from the main road. The lines were made of ro|* fastened to the ground with long staples. After a vain attempt had been made to adjust the difficulty, the men took places for the fight. Both were in their shirt sleeves, the provision of the fight being that no coat vest or under-shirt should be worn. At seven o’clock the question was asked : ‘ Gentlemen, are you ready?’ Each man nodded his head The command, ‘Strike!’ was then given, and duellists fell to blows with vigour. Although the blows were given heavy and fast, neither man flinched Upon the bands and faces of the combatants great welts soon rose, and the shirts of the men soon gave evidence tint blool was being drawn. At times they wielded their weapons with one hand, then with both, and occasionally one or ihe other was forced, by the desperate assault of his adversary, to fall back from his line. After fighting half-an-hour time was called, and the men, nearly breathless, were given a brief resting spell. The fight continued for three hours, with short intervals for rest. The seconds finally decided that the requirements of the code had been complied with, and forced the duellists to desist. It is understood that Johnston was more severely hurt than his adversary, and that there is not a place on his body that is not covered with welts. Many of the blows gashed the flesh in a horrible manner. Williams is almost in the same condition, and both men are now suffering terribly from Ihe effects of their wounds, which are such that they can hanlly lie down. Their feet are almost the only parts not covered with whip cuts. No airests have been made, and friends of the duellists are endeavoring to hush the matter up.