The Gentleman's Duel

Subject: The Gentleman's Duel Thu 02 Aug 2007, 5:40 pm

The tradition of dueling which was -- frightening and unfortunately -- so much a part of our nation's and our state's early histories, may seem strange to many of us today. That two educated and cultured men, often leaders of their communities and perhaps even occupying governmental office, would turn, face one another and draw guns over wounded honor, well .... let's just say it was another time and place before the waves of the twentieth and twenty-first century pushed some discernment into us. Of course, women dueled (their men, evidently) from time to time, also: as was mentioned here not long ago, dancer, gambler and sharp-shooter Kitty LeRoy -- who as a young girl had lived in Dallas -- met her doom in Deadwood (Dakota Territory) at the tender age of twenty-eight .... when beat to the draw by her fifth husband (who then turned the gun on himself). *

The last known duel undertaken on Texas soil was held just inside the border and some few miles from Shreveport, Louisiana, in 1892. It seems that Cal D. Hicks, Shreveport's first city judge and "a colorful figure in the old Southwest," ** was at the time editing a newspaper at the time. An editorial in his paper presented rival editor, W. C. Chevis -- of the 'Baton Rouge Advocate' -- in an unfavorable light. Chevis summarily challenged Hicks to a gentleman's duel, and the invitation was accepted. Both men made their ways into Texas to a dueling grounds (established or improvised?), drew their guns on the count of three, fired and missed. The Texas Legislature is said to have been brought to ire over this infringement, but that Hicks and Chevis later became fast friends. Mr. Hicks passed away in 1931.

Holly

http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/DD/jgd1.html

(for the role of the duel during Republic days)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duel

* Dee Brown, 'The Gentle Tamers: Women of the Old Wild West' (1958)

** "Frontier Times" (December 1931)
_________________
The woman of the frontier made the best of her situation, for she had developed a respect for the land that gave her freedom as well as the courage to live in it.
~~~ from the perspective of Anne Seagraves

Wrangler Joined : 13 Mar 2008 Posts : 23

They've nipped that in the bud for kids today, no danger of duels when they grow up. Boys can't even draw guns on paper today.

I'll come back when I have something serious to say. Yee ha & howdy doo.

Wrangler Joined : 18 Nov 2007 Posts : 13

You know what? For some reason I never thought about their having been duels in Texas. I always thought most of them happened in "Old New Orleans" because of the city being "so French" back in the days when duels were an accepted way of life.

In New Orleans they used to have a dueling site that was called "Dueling Oaks." The land is now the property of the New Orleans Museum of Art and the ground are lovely and one of the two Dueling Oaks is still standing and I've been there several times.

I wonder if they had duels in Dallas?

Subject: Re: The Gentleman's Duel Thu 27 Mar 2008, 8:49 am

Howdy, Teresa ...

There was the incident in which -- of I'm recalling it correctly -- John Neely Bryan shot and killed a man whom he believed had insulted Margaret's honor. This act of murder caused him to flea the burgeoning Dallas to seek refuge with Jesse Chisholm, but I don't think the other fellow's death came as the result of a duel.

Also, the time-frame is fuzzy to me. JNB went to seek his fortune in the California gold mines about 1850, remained out West for quite some time, and also dwelt with Mr. Chisholm prior to returning to Dallas (I think).

But there probably were some 'official' duels which took place in Big D during the early years.

So, they had a special spot set aside for dueling in New Orleans? That is not surprising, and I would love to visit the remaining oak, too Smile

Gaston is right in his words above. I remember boys producing all kinds of 'militaristic' art work in school when I was growing up .... which now probably would be deemed 'terroristic' by the same school.
_________________
The woman of the frontier made the best of her situation, for she had developed a respect for the land that gave her freedom as well as the courage to live in it.
~~~ from the perspective of Anne Seagraves

Subject: Re: The Gentleman's Duel Sat 29 Mar 2008, 3:39 pm

Do they still let you have arm wrestleing matches?

Subject: Re: The Gentleman's Duel Mon 31 Mar 2008, 2:01 pm

I think duels would have been better with magic wands. The duel would have lasted longer and been more entertaining. But I guess entertainment wasn't the goal back then.

Hey! A new Show idea: "Dueling with the Stars". Twisted Evil

I expect my share of the money if it happens and works out. Laughing

Subject: Re: The Gentleman's Duel Mon 31 Mar 2008, 4:01 pm

A laser duel would work. I saw a female contestant in American Idol who was supposed to be a champion at arm wrestling.

Madelyn