Democratic Sentinel, Volume 2, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 May 1878 — THE BENNETT-MAY DUEL. [ARTICLE]

THE BENNETT-MAY DUEL.

A Veracious History ot the Hostile Meeting. The New York Times prints the true story of the Bennett-May duel, given on the authority of George Wilkes, editor of the Spirit of the Times, who received it direct from Dr. Phelps, the surgeon on the occasion. The story is entirely creditable to Bennett. Dr. Phelps says it was plain on the morning of the affair that Bennett was there to fight. Both parties had their own pistols. Bennett’s wero new, with all tlie latest improvements. May’s were very old, and, as it turned out. hard upon the trigger. The one that Bennett got was so, fit least. The party took their places, aud the word was given to fire. Tlie directions wero to fire at tlie word “ Fire !” and not alter the word “Three!” Almost instantly upon the word “Fire!” May shot. “ One, two, three,” followed, and Bennett, who pulled at liis trigger evidently with the best will in the world, did not succeed in getting his weapon off. He was baffled by the stiffness of the lock. It was an exciting moment. No one who looked at his eye as it bore straight across the angry woun d which his opponent had inflicted upon his face a few days before could doubt what Bennett then meant to do, but the pistol exhausted the “One, two, three,” by its reluctance, and dropped harmlessly by his side. His second interposed, and claimed that, as Bennett had suffered his risk and disadvantage, through no fault of his own, he was entitled to a return shot at May. Tho claim, being according to rule, was allowed, and May took his place emptyhanded before Bennett’s pistol. The disk of the avenging weapon covered him as the word was given, but Bennett’s face changed as ho saw his opponent at his mercy, and, before the signal words wero counted cut, ho had forgiven him and fired in tho air. This terminated the proceedings. As ilio party left the ground Bennett said to the surgeon : “ Well, doctor, do you think I did right?” “I should have been very sorry lo have killed any man at my mercy,” was tlie answer. “But,” glancing at the shining fresh scar across Bennett’s nose, he added, “But with such a pistol iiand ns yours I should have beeu terribly tempted to wing him.” “At any rate,” said Mr. Wilkes, “his conduct was generous, and his opponents should liavo been glad to take any responsibility of prosecution, if that is what governed them, to savo him from being defamed and branded as a coward. 1 The gift of a life was worth certainly as much as that.” It may bo added that Bennett still wears the red mark left by the scar on bis nose.