On Wednesday last, lieut. Howard, of the United States troops in consequence of some offensive words which appeared in the Reading Eagle, printed by Mr. Schneider, determined to take satisfaction by an appeal to the cowskin. By some mistake or disappointment, lieut. Howard instead of meeting with Mr. Schneider, met with his journey man whom he immediately began to whip, before the door of Judge Rush. A crowd instantly collected and young Mr. Heister and others interfered. In this situation the officer drew his sword on the most active, which was Mr. Heister. The latter retired a few paces and seized a garden hoe, with which he struck the arm of the officer in so violent a manner as to break and lacerate it to a dangerous degree. Judge Rush then interfered and lieut. Howard was bound in heavy recognizance.The next article in the same column is about a minister who was attacked by soldiers who called him a "damned democrat." They started to carry him away for "punishment," but were forced to give up the effort when a "number of respectable gentlemen" arrived on horseback.
Picture something like that happening in response to this, for example. Seems pretty impossible.
2 comments:
"appeal to the cowskin" -- was that the usual euphemism for whipping someone until they apologized, or an original bit of phrasing?
Either way, I'm going to have to find a way to work that into my lectures somehow.
I've never seen it before, but it's a good one.
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