Jasper County Democrat, Volume 3, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 October 1900 — MOST NOVEL OF ALL DUELS. [ARTICLE]

MOST NOVEL OF ALL DUELS.

Kentucky Preacher Chose Potatoes aa Weapon and Vanquished Enemy Ono way of combating an evil practice Is to make It look ridiculous. It was by this means that dueling was ■topped In a certain district In Kentucky. A traveling preacher named Bowman—a strong, muscular fellow—liras conducting services In Kentucky, iAt one of his meetings a well-know* desperate character created a disturbance, and, being publicly rebuked by Bowman, sent him a challenge to fight. Bowman, as the challenged party, had the choice of weapons. He selected a half-bushel of Irish potatoes, as big ' as his fist, for each man, and stipulated that his opponent must stand fifteen paces dlst&it, and that only one potato at a time should-be taken from the measure. . The desperado was, furious at belnj! thus freshly insulted, and made an Indignant protest, but Bowman insisted upon his rights as the challenged man, and threatened to denounce the desperado as a coward if he failed to come to time. As there was no way out of the fix hut to fight the desperado consented. The encounter took place on the outskirts of the town, and almost everybody in the place was on hand to see the fun. The seconds arranged the two men In position, by the Side of each being a half-bushel measure filled with large, hard Irish potatoes. Bowman threw the first tuber, it struck his opponent and flew into pieces. ,A yell of delight went np from the crowd, Ithich flurried the desperado, «nd his potato flew wide of the mark. {Bowman watched his chance, and every time his opponent stooped for a potato another hit him in the short ribs, knocking the wind completely out of him, and doubling him up on the grass. The people were almost crazy with laughter, but Bowman looked as solemn as if he had Just been preaching • funeral sermon. The desperado was taken home and put to bed, and stayed there for more than a week before recovered from the effects of the Irish potato dueL—Boston Herald.