A NOVEL AMERICAN DUEL.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4403, 13 February 1883, Page 2

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 yoaag * ! farmers of that section, and rivals for ifee affections of a young woman. Had f?dtfsg had ez<stcd between them for some time, ending in harsh words. Soba afterward. Johnson sent a friend to/Willums with a le'ler, demanding a retraction of ceri.ua ' language used. Williams declined to withdraw hial'e'marks, and further correspondence resulted in an agreement ta meot in hostile combat, the time-feeing fixed for tue next moiniQg. The art'cles drawn up specified horsewhips as the weapons to be used, something not heretofore recognised by the code ia £f ogth Carolina. These weapons were in^order that the parties could thereby evade the penalties of the' duelling;law/, which does not specify horsewhips "as deadly .weapons." Ucdrr the rules: 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 arnted with heavy horsewhips, especially selected for the fight, and the second of each du«Ui»t was suppiiea with an extra whip, to lie used by his principal in the ©rent of the - wearing out or breaking ot the weapon first used. The field selected Waa,; a high and level spot about half a mile from .th-3 main road. The lines were made of ( rope fastened to the ground with- long staples. After a rain attempt had been made by the seconds to adjust thai difficulty, the men took their places'for the* . fight. Both were in their shirt sleeves* the provision 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?" Eaoh~, man nodded his head. .The command, ." Strike!" was then given, and the duellists fell to blows with vigor. . Although - the v blows were given heary md fas£ neither man flinched. Upon the hands*ana -'. faces of the combatants great welts soon rose,, and the ahirts of the {pen soon gave* .. evidence that blood was. being |rawn. At times they wielded their weapoas with one hand, then with both, and occasionally one or the other was forced; by the desperate assault of his adversary, to fall back from his line. After fighting half ao hour time was called, and the men, nearly breathless, were given* brief -resting spell. The fight continued for three hours, with short intervals for rest. The seconds finally decided that the require* raents 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 bis body that is not covered with weltfl. Many of tbe blows gashed" the flesh ia a horrible -manner. Williams is almost in the same ootidition. _ and both men are now suffering terribly from the effects of their wounds, which n* ■ such that they can hardly lie down. -^Their feet are almost the only parts not covered with whip cuts. No arrests hare beea wade, and friends of the duellists are en«deavoring to hush the matter up, *"