Bemidji Daily Pioneer Newspaper, December 8, 1916, Page 2

DUELS IN THE NAVY They Were Frequent and Deadly From 1799 to 18?6. HONOR WAS THEN A FETISH. In Those Days a Challenge Was Held to Be a Sort of Diploma For Naval Men, and the Victims of the Field of Com- bat Were Lauded as Heroes. ‘The number of United States naval officers killed in'duels’in the half ‘cen- tury from 1798 to 1848 was two-thirds the number of officers who lost their lives in the naval wars of the United States in that same period. ' In the eighty-two duels which were fought in that period’ thirty-six’ men were killed, of whom thirty-three were naval officers. Of those who.were not killed in those naval duels one-half were wounded. In those days of the old navy the duel was held to be a sort of indis- pensable diploma for the naval officers. Men ‘were sensitive as to their honor, - and very fantastic were their notions as to the necessity of its defense. Duels were fought between officers high in rank and more often between the midshipmen. The commissioned officers dealt with these “affairs of honor” between the youngsters with pompous solemnity. ‘* Verses were printed upon their vic- tims in the literary journals of the day, and their relatives caused epitaphs in the Johnsonian style to be placed upon _their tombs. Occasionally duels as- sumed the character almost of an in- ternational incident, and sometimes they became small wars. © Barly in the war with Tripoli offi- cers became involved in . quarrels among themselves and with the offi- . cers of the British navy who were on service in the Mediterranean. In 1819 the Americans and the British officers who were connected with the garri- son at Gibraltar fought duels so fre- quently that the governor prohibited the harbor to American ships. ‘Those old time middies were exceed- ingly bellicose. They were Vvery Jeal- ous of their rank. They had their own exalted ideas as to the meaning of the terms “gentleman” and “officer;” there- fore many a sanguinary duel was pre- cipitated by causes the most trivial. ‘What nowadays would be considered a practical ]oke then became an affair of ten paces with pistols. , Once a middy amused himself by sprinkling a letter that another middy was writing. Thereupon the letter writer sprinkled the waistcoat of the offender with the contents of the ink bottle. A few days later the two faced each other in a duel. That the number of deaths and seri- ous wounds in these duels was so great is not surprising in view of the fact that the distance between the com- batants measured about thirty feet. A marksman of fair ability could hit hig adversary at that distance witn- out much trouble if his nerves were NONE SUCH MINCE MEAT 0¢ l’acluge Grocers Makes Mince Pie twice as good as bulk mince meat, and costs half the price. Try it. e ¢ Like Mother Used to Make '; . MERRELL-SOULE CO., Syracuse, N. Y, Furs! Furs! Fursl The Fur Season will open the 1st of December. For the highest prices on FURS and HIDES ship or bring them to The JACOB G6OLDBERG HIDE & FUR 60, We will pay the following prices for the next two weeks: No. 1 Cured Hides. . .20 to 22¢ 1b. No. 1 Frozen Hides. .18 to 20c lb. Muskrats, from. .50c down to 10c¢ Wolves Hides, from $7 down to $1 Skunks Hides, from $5 down to $1 We are also in the market for COPPER,T BRASS, RUBBERS, IRON and RAGS ]-112 Third St., BEMIDJI, MINN. Phone 638-W. steady. In some cases the @istance | The combatants were Captaln P. K. | was much less. In the Bainbridge- | Landais and Captain D. N. Cottineau,’ Cochran duel it was twelve feet. In | both Frenchmen, who were in com- another duel the pistols almost touch- | mand of vessels under John Paul Jones ed, and both combatants were killed | at the battle with the Serapis. Jones!| found evidence of insubordination upon The largest number of the duels | the partof Landais in that engagement || which were fought gn the United States | and accused him of firing intentional- took place in the neighborhood of Nor- | ly into the Bonhomme Richard. There folk, of New York and of Bladensburg, | ensued a bitter quarrel, and in an in- which is near the city of Washing- | quiry made by Benjamin Franklin ton. But duels were also fought on | Cottineau 'gave testimony that caused Castle island, in Boston harbor; at New | Landais to issue a challenge. The duel Orleans and in various other places. | came off in Holland, and as Landais It was at Weehawken that Commo- | was a skilled swordsman he wound- dore Oliver H. Perry fought his duel | ed Oottlneau ueverely —Phllndelphin at the first shot. with Captain John'Heath! There were grounds abroad also which in the na- ture of the eircumstances saw many - of these naval encounters—for in.| * FTT U‘ stance, Rio Janeiro, Valparaiso, Port " ! T Mahon and in variops places in the Mediterranean and in the East Indies, ‘These naval. duels were most fre- quent between the years 1799 and 1836. The best known of them all probably was that between Decatur and Barron in 1820. This year marks the beginning of the slow decline of the practice, and the last of the duels in the old navy of which there is a record took place in 1850. Pistols were not always used, but the sword was sometimes resorted to— as, for instance, in what was practical., ly the first of the duels in the United Fhe, BERWICK | %P A RGW [ %m% COLLARS are curve cut to fit the shoulders petfectly. 15 cents each, 6forgos CLUETT, PEABODY & CO:INC Makers States navy. This took place in 1779. ‘Take advantage or a want ad. : Make it a Merry Xmas , g R, THE CHRISTMAS STORE The big store throughout is taking a real Holiday - appearance and bids you welcome to view all the useful and appropriate things suitable for gifts. VISIT TOYLAND IN THE BASEMENT Joymakers for the children! That sums up the reason for toys, and we have an excellent assortment right now, BUT they’re going! So shop soon. A REAL CHRISTMAS PRESENT We are offering your choice of our Ladies’ Tailored Suits, values to $35, all at one unusual low Suits, valu $35, all at one unu $|2.98 LADIES’ WINTER COATS $19.50 Winter is just commencing but still we must start clear- ing our ready-to-wear stock, and we offer 319 50 coat values up to $35 at.................... ] THIS IS A REFUND STORE TROPPMANS DEPT.STORE “‘You do Better Paying Cash” “‘The Economy Center” MAKE YOUR GIFT YOU will have a sense of Security in purchasing wearing apparel of us and you will have to pay no more here. than elsewhere for reliable mer- chandise. : : ; : % We present a most worthy gift collection of ,Suits and Overcoats, Mackinaws and Sweater Coats, Undorwear and Bath Robes, Suit Gases and Bags, Hosiery, Hats and Gaps, Shoes, Gloves, and Mittens, Neck Wear, Handkerchiefs, Mufflers, Leather Gollar " Bags, and Many Other Articles too numerous to memmn. GILL BR Q§ Refund Week Refunde. Defective Page Correspondence Cards—35¢ per box ) Ledgers Journals Record Books Card Files Sengbusch Inkwells Wedding Announcements Monogram Stationery Tubular Lanterns..$ 1.00 BIG Big Giant - AN UHIHHINN R i \ - A full line of POCKET Efio_ A o o0 $2 See our Tom Thumb Small Lanterns......... 40c $1.00 VAI_I]E Dark ‘Lanterns....... $1.26 Pitcher punips e Same slightly damaged . . . $1.00 Complete 5 ft. set pump . . . . $5.50 $6.00 Tubular pump A good Axe.......... " $1.00 Axe, handled............... $1.00 @g A good line of Axes guaranteed at.......... $1.36 Iron frame . I' ll‘ Wood frame . 2.50 -~y i— B Best wood frame . 5.00 “Wringer and Stand 6.50 $2.50 1 _ Itis a known fact that there are more useful gifts in a hardware store than any other. C.E.BATTLES “Home of Good Hardware" GET YOUR REFUND sa~ READ THE DAILY PIONEER WANT ADS ELULU T T T T T T T LT T LT PUT YOUR CHRISTMAS MONEY INTO SOMETHING USEFUL A FEW SUGGESTIONS ICY-HOT BOTTLES AND CARAFES A large assortment to select from. Prices $1.50 to $5.00. Lunch Kits $2.50 to $2.75. ANSGO CAMERAS Something that can be used all the year around. Prices from $2.00 up. * STATIONERY Eaton Crane Pike Co.’s line. .A new line just in. Prices $25¢ to $1.50. FOUNTAIN PENS Conklin’s Self-Filling. Prices range from $2.50 to $4.00. Every one sold on guarantee. FRENGH IYORY TOILET 600DS Mirrors, Brushes, Combs, Trays, Manicure Sets - JOHNSTON'S GANDIES Always fresh, In packages 1/; pound to 2 pounds. 30¢ to $2.00. GIGARS AND SMOKER'S REQUISITES Boxes of 5, 10 and 25. Just in., Prices range from 50c to $4.00 per box. MAGAZINES We take subscriptions for all the publications at right prioes. I PALMER PERFUMES Never fail to please. In fancy holiday packages, 25¢, 50c, 75c, $1 CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEARS CARDS AND SEALS Prices 1c to 15¢ each. LEATHER 600DS BEST QUALITY Manicure sets in leather cases, $1.25 to $10.00. Ladies’ Purses $1.75 to $5.00. Photo Albums, FLASH LIGHTS Something for the boys. Prices range from $1.00 to $2.65. CITY DRUG STORE LALIBERTE & ERICKSON Phone 52 309 Beltrami Ave. (We refund your fare) ot [T s s g 5 g = H