AN AMERICAN DUEL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 202, 14 December 1871, Page 7

AN AMERICAN DUEL.

(From the "iVew York Tribune.)"

Tlie evening of the recent election day in Paris, Kentucky, was uiark<*il, by one of those bloody incidents which from time to time occur in the southwest, as if to confirm and authenticate the wild stories of murder and violence which give to foreisrners. their only idea of American- life. A younjgentleman named Hibler was silting in front of the Bourbon-house in fiat town, according to- tho grpsy "habit of the we.t, passing the pleasant hours before midnight in conversation with ■ friends on the side-walk. An acquaintance," a" "member of the prominent family of Alexander, came out of the bar-room, and, passing by Hibler's chair,totd him to get out of the gangway. He replied there was plenty of "rooms • Mr. Alexander with true Kentyeky spirit, h iving objected fro the pbsition of Hi bier's chair on the sidp utalk, was bound by every dictate "of what is called' in that neighbourhood "jhonah " to right the wrong of which h£t ua"d~Tffnfptsinedr." "'"He therefore tried to push the seat and its contents "cAjt of his way. Mr. Hibjer. who wap, opt of line, and^-ive Mr.* Alexander the; ominous warnin<r that he had -bjptte/" desist, if he .did riot want a 'liifficulty." This huniourous patrician - retoj'tqd. " Cau/t jrou Jake a, joke £", tl which Mr. Hibler that

his' appreciation of the comic wa? very highly, developed, but that ai this moment he was. not mirthfully disposed. Upon which Mr: Alexander, touched to the quicirby this untimely seriousness, became imperative and profane, and said, "By ,Mr : Hibler, step your step ! " which in the South- Western language, has the same meaning which is conveyed by the '" Draw ! false traitor ! " of the melodramas: Mr. Hibler was not laggard He rose, saying, " If that's your game, I'm your man," and both these hightoned gentleman put tbeii* banda to their hips and drew the revolver, which seem to be a part of every rural Kentuckian's wearing apparel, and j, commenced firing. Uibler tells his story with a devilish coolness," which is full of character. H,is first shot struck Alexanderin the shoulder and disabled him. But riot wishing to leave his work half done, he kept on shooting. Finding he was in fie lisiht of the open door, dodged into the shaaow, and then dropped on 'tis knees so as to get. a good shot at his crippled opponent, as the smoke lifted and revealed him in the blaze of tho gaslight opposif •- Tois shot was effectual and finished Alexander; but Mr. Hihler, not wishing to carry a loaded pistol home, emptied his revolver in the corpse. All this Mr. Hioler tells in hi* own defence, and is perfectly exonerated and discharged. Tio chronicler says, " he bears an excellent name, and is obliging, good humoured, and popular."