Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-03-17

The distance appointed eighty yards i is my
| firm belief that the distance stepped OF ny Mf"1ohes
and myself which we did pari passu was nearer one
HUNDRED Yards than eighty. The ground was measured
bpfre the choice of POSITIONS and believe That we noun
stepped with view Of preventing The parties from MT
ting each other The choice of position fell to my ot.
The giving Of the word fell 10 MIR. Jones.
KEPT nv eye upon Mr. Cilley; it was my duty to see
,bs, he the rules At first exchange Of sos
thought that he fired though perfectly lar too huFrleo,
w. and his ball did not reach Mr. Grnves because lie od
not raise his rife sufficiently high. MIR. Graves hired
after Mr. Ciey
As the rifle was put into Mr. Cleys hands the stcond
time saw though could not hear, MIR. Jones giving
him directions, as thought to be more deliberate
had heard that he fine maj ksman, and was fX-
,remeiv uneasy for the result. The word given
Mr. Graves's rife went Off quickly and, as liz told me
afterwards accidentally, and into The ground MIR Cilley
drew up very deliberately aimed lcared deadly shot,
and fred though, he had hit Mr.. Graves went
10 him. and inquired why he had shot 80 quick? he
said ha, he mus, have another shot, that Mr. Mencfse
had told him moi to put his finger upon the guard but
the trigger was too easy, ana lhat ne ~ond nexl lIhe
owing TO his taking his finger off the guard and he i'll.
sisted upon another shot
II was very apparent to me that Mr. Ciley had shot
al the life of Mr. Graves. If, when Mr. Gruvess rifle
went off, without harm to him. lie had discharged in the
d. or reserved his fire, the fight would have been at
an end he would not again have eopardeh MIR Graves
e. and would have saved bis own Mr. Graves was
not however, touched by his ball and again withdrew
the challenge as befnre, for exploration.
II was between The second aud third exchange of shots
and after the rifles ordered to be again loaded TOR
the third fire. the challenge having been renewed, thai
proposed to MIR. Jones that Mr. Cnley should say mat,
sin declining TO receive Col Webbs note he meant no
disrpsoect l., Mr. Graves either directly or indirectly "
In muking this proposition went beyond my instruc,
lions but as understood Ar Jones, Mr. Cilley would
not say those words alone, nor without adding WORDS
which did away the eitc, of the word ''indirecy and
which left The pares exuclly where they when they
came upon the ground.
The statement of Mr. Jones and myself contains sub
stanally all the propositions which remember 10 nave
been made on the field for settling the difference But
here il is proper to remark that when first the friends
assembled al my instance, mnch was said hy them upon
buh sides A debate likely 10 ensue, and, lest
dispute or difference should arise among ourselves 1t
was suggested that the friends should consult apart with
the respective seconds and That the seconds should be
The organs of announcing propositions for settling The
difference in the hearing Of all This seemed TO be ac
coded to by all parties noted nothing, therefore, rs
authorized except what proceeded from Mr. jones him
SELF and consequently do not, and cannot attempt 10
report what said by others. do not remember 10
have heard Mr. Cley speak after he went OIL The ground
He and Mr. Graves ordered to their POSITIONS alter
being instructed to the word and they kept their po
slons eighty yards apart until the Ghl ended. The
conferences Of seconds and friends were held exactly
equi. from them; of course, forty yards Oft.
made no proposition on the ground, and rejected
none, without consulting Mr.. Crlltenden and Mr. Me-
|
throughout the whole affair." met with their appreciation,
and that Of Mr. Graves.
It was ut the instance of MIR. Graves himself that
remarked TO Mr. Jones' Immediately previous to the last
exchange of shots "lG this matter not terminated this
shot, and is settled, will propose TO shorten the dis
lance Mr.. Graves had no confidence IN his own shoot
ing long dstanre, and directed me positively, if
they missed repeatedly 10 prevent proongallon OF The
affair By proposing closer quarters
The reason why Mr. Graves insisted upon Mr.. Gil
LAYS chat he declined note
Of Col Webb, because he not accountable for words
spoken in rbale that in declining to receive the
note he did not do upon the ground of personal OBJ
lection To Col. Webb as gentleman, was because Mr.
Ciey had made both these declarations as Mr. Graves
alleged 10 his friends, to him verbally lIe would not be
satisfied with the declarations announced on the ground
and his friends could not advise him to accept them as
satisfactory, for the reason that they admitted nothing
which MIR Cilley did not admit in his written
pondence and nothing which he did admit in his
versann with Mr.. Graves. MIR. Graves could not be
satisfied The field whilst his adversary was before him
with rifle in his hand, with what lie not satisfied
with before, whilst looking at pen merely in his own
hand
have now stated the facts, and the world can make
its own deduction Of the causes which led 10 The death
Of the Honorable MIR. Ciey. If | am proper judge
of those causes and expected say what they were
| | will sum them up in order:
FIRST Mr. Cllley, Mr.. Graves affirmed, and still af
firms denied in writing, satisfactory ans ser which he
had made to MIR. Graves verbally.
Second. He made this written denial in answer 10
letter Of Mr. Graves, which he had himself requested to
be addressed to him, with view to form preext for
written admission Of the very facts he denied.
| Third He impeached the honor Of one for whom as
gentleman Mr. Graves undertook, by the very act Of
benring his note, 10 Vouch.
For these canses, Mr. Graves challenged him to NOR
tai combat; and
Fourth When Mr.. Graves called on him for " that
satisfaction which is recognized among gentlemen he
prescribed barbarous and savage term unusual wea
pon The most deadly at the distance selected, in the
hands Of good shot.
Fifth He precipi,a,ed the time of meeting, when The
second of Mr.. Graves aVowing want of prepare
ton, and desire for delay.
Sixth A weapon, mol Of pair, was rendered Tor
the Of Mr.. Graves in manner That was considered
taunting.
Seventh. In the second exchange of shots, MIR. Cley
cred deliberately at Mr. G,avess life after the rifle q"
Mr.. Graves had gone off accidentally, and without effect
Eighth Mr. Graves called Mr.. Cilley out upnn point
of sufficient i'm portance, he thought to cause cla
lenge He did not get the satisfaction he demanded
aud he mi The leave the field, without gain.
ing that paint, after any number of Intellectual tTes
And for Of all these causes the combat proved
mortal M CIlIey killed; death light have been
the fate of Mr. Graves. Certna i, is tina, Mr. Graves
did not hold Mr. Cley accountable for the exercise Of
any privilege Of member Of the House OF hepresen
tavps. There point Of their controversy when
the Pea Of Mr. Cpys privilege Of debate would not
have breu held sacred and sufficient by Mr. Graves and
his friends Mr. Graves held him accountable in defence
only of his reracy, and OF the honor OF one ior
whom he had undertaken 10 vouch Us a gentleman
Such are the more prominent causes known TO me
which made this duel bloody, which made Mr. Graves
insist upon 81 and Sd exchange of shots, and which
brought Mr.. Cllry to unlimely cod.
Most respectfully, HENRY A. WISE.
(Fere follows the statement of the Seconds already
| published.)
| STEAMBOAT BuRST-I'he steamboat Tangipaho, N.
Sharpe master, on her way from The lake end Of The
Railroad 10 the Baze, was on the evening OF the End
abou, discovered TO be fire, about forty miles