Mower County Transcript

A Duel in the Clouds,
One of the most extraordinary duels ever fought took place in 1808 between two Frenchmen. Of course the quarrel arose about a lady, a certain Mademoiselle Tirevit, who, it appears, could not decide which man she preferred; and with some vague idea apparently of reviving ancient custom, she agreed to marry whichever worsted the other. The ardent lovers postponed their combat for a month, that they might feel "quite cool," and then agreed to fight in the air! Two balloons were made exactly alike, and upon the appointed day the rivals, each with his second, took their places and soared aloft, agreeing to fire, not at each other, but at each other's balloon, for which purpose they were armed with blunderbusses. The wind was moderate, the balloons rose half a mile, and then the preconcerted signal was given. One of the gentlemen missed his aim, the other sent a ball through the rival balloon, which instantly collapsed, and the car descending with frightful rapidity, the duelist and his second were dashed to the ground and killed, and we are to suppose that the successful rival was rewarded by the fair hand of Mlle Tirevit