Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1846-03-07
THE TRAGEDY AT n1cnMosD.
NJ Death sf Mr. PIeasah,s. a1alns


years the able and distinguished editor OF the
Richmond whig, and more recently connected
With the Richmond Star, died on Friday last, at
"a. NJ, from the wounds received on. .Wedne..
day in the dreadful rencoutrs with Thos
Rtehie, jr, Esq, editor Of the Richmond Enqui.
r'r ltseems that the conflict took place on the
Manchester eide ofthe river, that Mr.. P. receiv
ell Ave wounds--vix in bis arm. shoulder, upper
part of the left breast. left hand and upper and
inner part of the thigh--of which, tha last two
were the most serious. Mr.. Ritchie was no,
scriously hurt They met with pistols, short
swords, and sword canes. The agreement was
that they should take their stations two hundred
yards apart, to fire approaching. and cut as they
pleased II this account be trne, a more san.
culinary affair is not recorded in the annals Of
duelling. Mr. Pleasants, was IS years Of age.
The Washington Union Of Friday nigh, thus an.
nounces the fatal result; = 'or
ave hear with profound reeret OF the death OF
John Hampden Peasants, Esq, of Richmond.
who breathed his last in that city at 2 o'clock
yesterday morning. We regret on every &C.
count, both the death ofithis gentleman, and the
manner of it, He fell near Manchester. on the
banks the James river, opposite to Richmond,
very early on Wednesday morning, in an unfor-
tunate rencounter with one who is related to the
editor of this paper by the tendercst ties. We
had hoped that he would have survived hiswounds;
but it has been ordered otherwise. 1t 10 not our
duty to enter into the circumstances which have
brought about this amented catastrophe. Bu,
rs it too much TO ask a suspension Of public opn.
ion until all the circumstances Of the case shall
have been fully developed Mr. Pleasants had
edited the Lynchburg Virginian for several years
until the winter of 1929. "a when he estabised
the "Richmond whig." one of strongest pa.
pers in the South He left that journal few
weeks since. when he associated himself in the
editorship of the "Rchmond Star" He was a
gentleman of brilliant talents-one Of the best
writer's in Virginia, and an able. experienced,
aud ardent politician" " fHH ,f.
The Washington correspondent, Of the Balti.
more Patriot, gives the following as containing
the facts of this melancholy case.
The quarrel had gone on in their newspapers
TO such an extent, that Mr.. Peasants thought
himself called on to bring the matter 10 a crisis.
He therefore sent request to Mr., Richie to
meet him at a specified place and hour across the
river from Richmond with side arms. Mr.. Rit.
chic sent word back that he could not consent 10
settle the affair in that way. MIR Pleasant. then
sent him word that the matter must bs settled
and in that way.
Mr.. Richie then prepared himself with re-
volver Of six barrels, two duellng pistols, snd
horse mans short sword, and repaired to the
place designated. at the time named.
Mr.. Pleasants, who had not arrived, with tive
Tor four-there is doubt about this) common pis
tolls and a sword cane. A friend of Mr.. Pleasanti
approached Mr.. Rite hie and said to him, that III
thought the difficulty might be settled if the lat
ter would do one thing, and that was, toa eknowl
edge that he believed Mr. Peasants TO be a brave
nan. Mr.. Richie replied that once he could
have done this but not now. Mr.. Peasants ha
wing called him there, and not appearing himself
be could not make such an Acknowledgements
Mr.. Peasants friend then informed him that b,
presumed he would have to fight. Mr.. Ritehit
replied, very well, he had come there to NEE
Mr.. Peasants
The friend OF the latter len the srot and wen
TO his principal not far off Soon after this, Mr.
Peasants appeared approaching Mr.. Ritchie con
siderable in advance Of the two friends who hac
accompanied him TO the spot. As he approach
II Il. 4. 4 4
his two dueling pistols, resting each on his lef
arm, drawn up in an angle for that purpose. IL
then presented his revolver and fred either fou
or FIVE Of its barrels After he had fred first mp
on Mr.. Peasants, the latter drew and fired thric
without effect, all the time rushing up to Mt
Ritehie, and when near enough he struck hin
with his sword cane when the scabbard few of
and Mr. Rtche struck up the blade or spear wit
his short sword-in doing which he received th
point of Mr.. Peasants spear in the corner of hi
mouth, cutting upward slight cash,
Mr.. Peasants then fell, having received fv
wounds from the pistol shots of his antagonis
il not one from his short sword One ball rake
across the back of his left hand, carrying ava
all the muscles and tendons leading TO the FL
gers--another passing through the heshy part
his left arm, half way up from the elbow to Ii
shoulder-anolher entered the left breast and raj
ged round under the aru--a fourth entered Il
left groin and proved mortal. The fifth wour
was in the right thigh, either by . ball or
thrust from the short sword, above alluded I
], is thought TO have been from the latter.
So has ended the career of the gifted the big
minded, the generous, whole. .souled John Ham
den Peasants, His loss 10 the community
which he moved, to the editorial fraternity