A SHAM DUEL. 749
sham duel came oflP, the only feature about it making it worthy of mention being the narrow escape from death of the victim. The fact is, those womanless towns would do anything for fun. Two friends, Raymond and Tucker, quarreled; the former challenged, and the latter accepted. Both were brave and noble young men, but Tucker was the best shot. He did not wish to kill his friend, however easily he might do so; indeed, he would not hurt a hair of his head. Shotguns were the weapons, but instead of balls, which had been agreed upon, the guns were loaded with blank cartridges. This was known to Tucker, but not to Raymond or his second. To the five hundred open-mouthed and panting spectators the trick was likewise unknown and unsuspected. At the first fire Tucker fell, and the red gore spilled from his breast. The crowd was stricken with horror. The prostrate man was carefully taken up, and borne to the house of a friend. Raymond fled, and escaped the fury of the people, for Tucker was a favorite. The man who acted as Raymond's second, however, was less fortunate, and before he was fairly away, amidst angry cries of " Seize him!" "Hang him !" a rush was made, and it was only by declaring to them the joke that his life was saved. Raymond lived three weeks in the belief that he had killed his friend.
Following is a copy of a California challenge:
San Francisco, August 3, '54. Mr W. R. Graham.
Sir—Your denial this morning of the arrangement made between us, and your insulting conduct in that connection, leaves me no resource but to demand the redress that a gentleman has a right to expect.
This will be handed you by my friend. Judge McGowan, who has full authority to act for me.
Respectfully,
M. E. Flannagan.
Some time in January 1851, Mr Walker, one of the editors of the San Francisco Herald e
