American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-03-02

HE RAGEDY At RICHMOND EdTt!cNInl
cfhe AFFAIR. We announced on Saturday the
death Of John Hampden Peasants, Esq, the
late accomplished editor of the Richmond
Wing, from ounds received in the rencontre
with Thomas Richie, Jr, Esq, the editor OF
the Enquirer. The death of Mr.. F., under
any circumstances, would have accustomed
deep regret, as he was one of tho most talent
cd and able political writer's in the country; bat
as he has fallen victim to false sense Of
| honor, and been prematurely hurried 10 the
grave in one Of the most bloody and terrible
rencontrGs we have ever had to record, the
event has produced widespread and universal
sorrow. lie was about As years Of ago, wild
over, and the father Of several children. Mr..
hi'chie is about 2G years Of age, The contro-
Versy between them arose from a charge made
by the latter, that the former was about to COM
monce the publication CT an abolition paper in
Richmond, which was denied on the one hand
and reiterated OH the other, followed by Grim
nation and accumulation, uutl challenge
resulted from Mr.. Peasants. The Washing
ton. Union, OF Friday evening, edited by the
father Of young Ritcho, in announcing The
tragical end of this unl0runate affair, asks ''for
a suspension Of public op!non until all the cir
cumstances of the case shall have been fully
developed" The Union adds:
"Mr. Peasants had edited the Lynchburg
Virginian for several years, until the winter OF
I9O2-1Od X han bp nctahlishad Tho HRiph-
mond Wing" one of the strongest papers i'll
the South. He left that journal few weeks
since, when he associated himself in the editor
ship of the "RichmoDd Star" He was gen
tleman Of brilliant talents-one Of the best
writer's in Virginia, and an able, experienced,
and ardent politician"
AS the Richmond papers of Saturday have
not been received, we copy the following par
tlculars of the rencontre from tho Patriot, as
furnished by its Washington correspondent:
The quarrel had gone on in their newspapers
to such an extent that Mr. Peasants thought
, HIMSELF called upon to bring the matter to a
crisis He therefore sent request to Mr. Rit-
chic to meet him at Il specified place and hour
across the river from Richmond with side
arms. Mr.. Richie sent word back that no
OulN INV tDHS'uh w stLltD tUC hlAh III llIIl
way. MIR. PI6a+ants then sent han word that
tie matter mW1Lb be settled, and in that way.
Mr.. Richie then prepared himself with
revolver Of six barrels, two dueIling pistols, and
horseman's short sword, and required 10 the
place designated, at the time named.
/ MIR Peasants, who had not arrived, with
two Cor four-there is doubt about thls) com
mon pistols and sword cane. A friend Of Mr..
/ Peasants approached Mr. Richie, and said to
/ him, that he thought the difficulty might be
settled if the latter would do one thing, and
! that was, to acknowledge that he believed Mr..
Pleasanls to be brave man, Mr. Richie re-
piled that once he could have done this; bat
now, Mr.. Peasants having called him there,
and not appearing himself, he could not make
such an acknowledgement Mr.. Peasants
friend then informed him that he presumed he
would have to fight. Mr.. Richie replied, very
we'll, he had come there to meet MIR. Plea
SAINTS. The friend of the latter left the spot and
went to his principal, who was not far off,
Soon after this, Mr.. Peasants appeared APP
preaching Mr. Richie, considerably in adj
vance of the two friends who had accompanied
him to the spot. AS he approached at a rapid
pace, MIR. Rtchie fired successfully his Two
duolling pistols, resting each on his left arm,
drawn up in an angle for that purpose. He
then presented his revolver and fred either
or of its barrels. After he had fired first up
on Mr.. Peesnnts, the latter drew and fred
thrice without effect, all the time rushing up to
Mr.. Richie, and when near enough he struck
him with his sword cane, when the scabbard
few off, and Mr. Ritcho struck up the blade
or spear with his short sword--n doing which
he received the point of Mr.. Peasants spear
in the corner OF his mouth, cutting upwards
slight cash,
MIR. Peasants then fell, having received FIVE
wounds from the pistol shots of his antagonist,
if not one from his short sword. One ball ra-
ked across the back of his left hand, carrying
away the muscles and tendons leading TO the
fingers anotherpassed through the fleshy part
Of his left arm, half way up from the elbow to
the shoulder-another entered the left breast
and ranged round under the arm-a fourth en-
tered the left groin and proved mortal. The
fifth wound was in the right thigh, either by
ball or thrust from the short sword, above al
luded. 1t is thought to have been from the
latter.