AN UNPRECEDENTED DUEL

Waikato Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 2388, 29 October 1887, Page 2 (Supplement)

AN UNPRECEDENTED DUEL

A ‘‘duel without bloodshed ” of a painful character has been fought—if the expression is permissible -at llarrievillc, Idaho. The combatants were Colonel Sleefnrd, ex-editor of the Rarrieville Trumpet, who is said to have resigned his post for the purpose of engaging in the combat, and John T. MoArdle, a noted teetotaller of the district. The cause of dispute is described as literary in its origin/ The terms . u the encounter were that the opponents should he shut up in an unfurnished room, with a constant supply of water and no other sort of nourishment. Neither was to touch the other or interfere with him, hut only one was to leave the room alive. The fact that the Colonel was accustomed to alcoholic nourishment, and that his opponent had taken nothing intoxicating for twenty-four years, added to the interest taken locally in the result of the conflict. The chief difficulty in the negotiations turned upon whether or no the Colonel should be allowed to smoke. It was compromised by his being allowed three cigars a day, to be handed to him through the window ; and he was to preserve and return the whole of the asiies in order to show that he had not taken an unfair advantage by eating his allowance of the weed. Even the temperance party, it is alleged, allow that Colonel Sleeford honorably fulfilled this part of the conditions. The result was that Dr. Tanner’s record was successfully lowered by both parties, the Colonel feebly c dliug for the door to be opened after an imprisonment which had lasted forty-two days six hours and twenty-one minutes. The emaciated remains of Mr McArdlc bore witness to the fact that no violence had been used—indeed, during the last seven days of the encounter the Colonel was too weak to break the conditions even if be bad wished to do so. According to latest reports, it is greatly feared that the victor will follow his defeated enemy' to the grave. All Harrievilfe rings with praises of his gallantry and hopes for his recovery, and the suspense is described as nnproceden ted.