The Polynesian (Honolulu

From the Boston Mercantile Journal.

"AFFAIR" BETWEEN A WHALING CAPTAIN AND A MILITARY OFFICER.

Perhaps some of my readers may have heard of the story of the duel between Captain Lovett of New Bedford and an English officer in Demerara. It has been variously related, but the only true version is as follows:

Captain Zechariah Lovett, after having performed several whaling voyages to the Pacific, found himself in command of a small brig belonging to New York, on a voyage to Demerara. He was a worthy man, and a good specimen of a Yankee sailor. His heart was full of the milk of human kindness, but he possessed a noble spirit, and would neither give nor take an insult.

While his little brig Cinderella lay at anchor in Demerara River, Capt. Lovett one afternoon entered a coffee-house where he met with a friend, and they amused themselves by knocking the balls about in the billiard room. Soon after, and before the game was half finished, one English military officers entered; one of whom, Captain Bigbee, stepped up to Capt. Lovett, who was arrayed in a very plain, not to say ordinary costume, and with a bullying air demanded the table, as himself and brother officers wished to play a match.

Captain Lovett gave the red-coated gentleman a stern look, but replied with courtesy, that he and his friend had engaged the table and would play out their game, after which, if the gentlemen wished to play, it was at their service.

"But we can't wait," said Capt. Bigbee in an insolent tone.

"You must wait," coolly replied Capt. Lovett.

"But we shall do no such thing," exclaimed the surly Briton: "we came here to play billiards, and have no idea of being disappointed by a couple of fellows who hardly know a mace from a cue, or ball from the pocket. It will take you the afternoon to finish the game--so stand out."

Captain Lovett and his friend played on.

"Come," continued the officer, "enough of this--marker, place the balls."

In which he, with a most impudent air, seized one of the balls which Captain Lovett's opponent had just driven into the pocket, and caught up another one which was near him.

The matter was growing serious. Capt. Lovett's eye flashed fire: for although he had mingled a good deal among Quakers, and respected that sect for their humility and quiet demeanor, he was no non-resistant man himself. He dropped his cue and doubled up a fist of portentous size. "Put those balls upon the table, you scoundrel," exclaimed he, imperatively, "and leave the room."

"Who do you call scoundrel, you Yankee blackguard? Do you know you are speaking to one of His Majesty's officers? Take that for your impertinence," at the same time suiting the action to the word, giving Captain Lovett a smart rap across the shoulders with his cue. But in an instant he received a blow on his forehead, exactly where phrenologists locate the organ of eventuality, which would have felled an ox, and submissively acknowledged the favor by measuring his length upon the floor!

His brother officers who were with him had the good sense to see that Bigbee was to blame, and although they looked rather black at the Yankees, they wisely forbore to molest them further, but assisted the stunned bully to another room, where, by the help of some restoratives he soon recovered his senses. His rage and mortification at the result of the rencontre, knew no bounds, and with many a bitter oath he declared he would have satisfaction.

Before Capt. Lovett left the coffee-house, a billet was handed him by Lieut. James, which proved to be a challenge--a peremptory challenge--from Capt. Bigbee, in which it was insisted that arrangements should be made for an early meeting, that he might have an opportunity to wash off the affront he had received, in Capt. Lovett's heart's blood.

Capt. Lovett smiled when he saw such manifestations of a christian spirit. "Tell Capt. Bigbee," said he, "that I will not balk him: he shall have the opportunity he so earnestly seeks. Although not a fighting man, I am familiar with the duel laws, and if he will be to-morrow morning on the bank of the green canal, near the South Quay--rather a secluded spot--he shall have satisfaction to his heart's content.

Lieut. James bowed politely and withdrew. Capt. Lovett went on board the Cinderella soon after, and ordered his mate, Mr. Starbuck, also a veteran whale-hunter, to select the two best harpoons and have them nicely ground and fitted, as an opportunity might offer on the morrow of striking a porpoise. Mr. Starbuck obeyed his superior officer with alacrity, although he wondered not a little why Capt. Lovett expected to find porpoises in Demerara River.

The next morning, as soon as all hands were called, Capt. Lovett ordered the boat to be manned, and requested Mr. Starbuck to take the two harpoons, to each of which some eight or ten fathoms of rattling-stuff were attached, and accompany him on shore. In a few moments the boat reached the South Quay, where Capt. Lovett was met by several of his countrymen, who had been attracted to the spot by the rumor of the duel, as well as several merchants and others, inhabitants of the place. They one and all remonstrated with Capt. Lovett for his folly in consenting to fight with the English military bully, who was represented as a practised duelist, an expert swordsman, and an unrivalled marksman with a pistol, being sure of his man at twelve paces

Capt. Lovett, however, did not show the least inclination to back out, but on the contrary seemed more eager for the engagement.

"I'll give that quarrelsome fellow a lesson," said he, "which will be of service to him, and which he will never forget as long as his name is Bigbee.

The challenger, with his forehead ornamented with a large patch to cover the impression left by the Yankee's knuckles, and his swollen eyes dimly twinkling with anger and mortification through two huge livid circles, accompanied by his second, soon made his appearance. He was followed by his servant with a pistol-case and an assortment of swords. He bowed stiffly to Capt. Lovett, and Lieut. James, approaching the Yankee, asked him if he was willing to fight with swords

"If so," said he, "I believe we can suit you. We have brought the small-sword: a neat, gentlemanlike weapon; the cut-and-thrust, good in a salle, and which will answer indifferently in a duel: and the broadsword or cutlass, which is often preferred by those who are deficient in skill in the use of arms. My friend, Captain Bigbee, is equally expert with either. You have only to choose. As the challenged party, you have an undoubted right to select your arms.

"Of that privilege I am well aware," replied Capt. Lovett. "and mean to avail myself of it. I shall not fight with swords."

"I expected as much," resumed Lieut. James. "and have brought with me a beautiful pair of duelling pistols, with long barrels, rifle bores, and hair triggers. What distance shall I measure off?"

"Eight paces."

"Only eight paces!" cried Lieut. James, a little surprised. "O, very well."—and he measured it off and placed his man at his post. Then advancing to Capt. Lovett, he presented him with a pistol.

"I do not fight with pistols!"

"Not fight with pistols--after having refused to fight with swords? What brought you here then?"

"To fight!" shouted Lovett in a thundering voice, which made the British officers start. "I am the challenged party, and have a right to choose my weapons according to the laws of the duello, all the world over: and you may rely upon it I shall not select weapons with which I am not familiar, and with which my antagonist has been practising all his life. Such a proceeding on my part is not only not required by the rules of honor, which, after all is a mere chimera, but would be contrary to all the dictates of common sense. No: I shall fight with the weapons of honorable warfare, with which I have ever been accustomed. Swords and pistols indeed!"

"But, my dear Sir," cried the astonished Lieutenant, "we must proceed according to rule in this business. What weapon have you fixed upon?"—and in fancy's eye he beheld before him a huge blunderbuss, loaded with buckshot.

Captain Lovett said nothing, but beckoned to Mr. Starbuck, who approached him with great alacrity, bearing the two harpoons. He seized one of the formidable weapons, and thrust it into the hands of Bigbee, who seemed absolutely paralyzed with astonishment.

"My weapon," said he, "is the javelin--such as the Grecian and Roman knights often fought with in olden times --a weapon which no man who challenges another, can refuse to fight with at the present day, unless he possesses a mean and craven spirit."

Thus saying, he took the station which had been assigned him, at eight paces distant from his startled antagonist. He coolly bared his sinewy arm--grasped the harpoon, and placed himself in an attitude. "I'll bet," said he, casting a triumphant look upon his friends, "a smoked herring against a sperm whale, that I'll drive the harpoon through that fellow's midriff the first throw, and will finish him without the aid of the lance. Mr. Starbuck," fiercely continued Capt. Lovett, in a loud and rough voice, such as is seldom heard, excepting on board a Nantucket whaling-vessel when a shoal of whales is in sight, "stand by to haul that fellow in!"

The mate grasped the line, his eyes beaming with as much expectation and delight as if he was steering a boat bow on to an eighty barrel whale; while Captain Lovett poised his harpoon with both hands, keenly eyed the British Captain, shouted in a tremendous voice, "Now for it!" and drew back his arm, as in the act of throwing the fatal iron.

The Englishman was a brave man-- which is not always the case with bullies --and he had often marched, without flinching, up to the mouth of a cannon. And if he had been met in single combat with an adversary armed with a sword or a pistol, or even a dagger or a Queen's arm, he would have borne himself manfully. Indeed, he had already acquired an unenviable notoriety as a duellist, and had killed his man. But the harpoon was a weapon with which he was altogether unacquainted; and the loud and exulting tones of the Yankee Captain's voice sounded like a summons to his grave. And when he saw the stalwart Yankee raise the polished iron, and pause for an instant as if concentrating all his strength to give the fatal blow, a panic terror seized him--his limbs trembled--his features were of a ghastly pallor, and the cold sweat stood in large drops on his forehead. He had not strength to raise his weapon: and when his grim opponent shouted "Now for it!" and shook his deadly spear, the British officer, forgetting his vows of chivalry--his reputation as an officer, and his honor as a duellist, threw his harpoon on the ground, fairly turned his back to his enemy, and fled like a frightened courser from the field, amid the jeers, the jibes, and the hurrahs of the multitude assembled by this time on the spot!

Captain Bigbee's duelling days were over. No man would fight with him after his adventure with the Yankee. He was overwhelmed with insult and ridicule, and soon found it advisable to change into another regiment: but his story got there before him, and he was soon sent to 'Coventry as a disgraced man. He was compelled, although with great reluctance, to quit the service; and it may with great truth be said, that he never forgot the lesson he had received from the veteran whaler, as long as his name was Bigbee.