Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1846-03-06

Horrible Fight.-Wc give below all the par
ticulars we have received concerning most horrl-
Bile rencontre which took place between Messrs.
John H. Peasants, late Editor of the Richmond
" hig, ard Thomas Richie, Jr Senior Editor of
the Richmond Enquirer. The fight or duel, as
some call it, terminated in the death of Mr.. Pleas
ants. We extract from the Charleston Courier,
Of the End inst:
Further IF the Richmond Reneontre-Death
of J. II. Pleasants.-A gentleman arrived here
Yesterday, direct from Richmond, gives US
the following particulars of the deadly rem
contrc mentioned in our paper of Saturday be-
tween Messrs. Richie and Peasants.
Our informant states that message was
sent to Richie by Peasants, that he would
meet him on an island, in the river, opposite
Richmond armed. No arrangements as to the
terms of,he fight, it would appear, were made,
nor were regular seconds appointed, but each
were attended 10y several friends, as witnesses
Of the horrible and disgracefu scene. On aP-
preaching within some thirty yards of each
other, the parties commenced firing with re-
volvng and dnelling pistols, advancing all the
while. Several of the shots took effect on the
person of Peasants, while Richie was not
materially. if at all harmed. After firing the
last shot, Mr.. P. it is stated, threw his empty
pistol at his antagonist, hitting him in the
mouth, when the two belligerents commenced
operations with bowie knives, drks, or swords,
or Gas reports differ as to the character of the
weapons used in the contest,) perhaps, all
these instruments of destruction were used.-
The result was that Mr.. Peasants was Sc
verely cut in several places-one Of the wounds
L. - IL al
low his entraIs to protrude. The meeting
took place on Wednesday morning. and Mr..
Peasants expired on Thursday night or Fri
day morning.
We give the above particulars as they were
communicated to us by the gentleman alluded
, tn above, and their general correctness is un-
doubted, as the facts were communicated TO
him at Washington, Richmond and Peters
burg, with but little variation. Mr.. Richie
was at Washington on Thursday night.
The Richmond papers with the exception
of the Compiler, which briefly aludes to the
fact,) are silent on the subject.
e Below, we give such particulars as we find
in the Baltimore papers.
The Baltimore Patriot Of Thursday after
> noon says $50 1t is said that Mr.. r. fired
eight times, AMI Mr.. Peasants four times with
= out effect. The parties then closed, and Mr.
e P. received severe wound across the abdo
l. men with bowie knife, and MIR. r. sligh
d wound with sword cane"
o In another paragraph, in the same paper, |
j. is stated that "they were stationed 200 yards
q apart with pistols, short swords and swor'
e canes-to fire approaching and cut as the.
d pleased. Peasants was not quite killed, bu
l. is expected not to live. Richie received
u cut across the face from mouth to ear-no
< dangerous. All The wounds inflicted at clos
N quarters. Richie came to Washington las
evening-is at his father's."
" The Sun of Friday morning. gives slmila
'e statement, Justly remarking that if /" this vel
:" sion of the rencon:re is correct, 1t may witt
H. out fear of contradiction, be deemed the mos
In murderous and bloody affair that ever occurre
al among civilized men,"
n A Washington correspondent OF the Su'
d, thus relates the occurrence -
III "Much sensation has been produced he
by the intelligence of the Richmond duel,
IS tragedy. Mr.. Richie is here. He has
an slight wound on his face, covered by pate
ed which he received from his adveisares swo
nd cane. Mr.. Richie had two pair of dueIllr
lat pistols, one revolver, and a bowie knife
The pistol shots did not take effect. NJ
ar Peasants received his wound from the bow
en- knife. Mr.. Peasants gave the invitation
Is Mr.. R. by letter. to meet him on w ednesd;
OF morning, within four yards of a certain polr
nd They met on the towpa,h of the Canal"
~. The Baltimore american thus notices 4
De affair, received also from correspondent
Washington:
'ur "The mail will bring you the partcula
IAN , of rough and tumble fight on the James Ri
'rl er opposite Richmond yesterday morning, b
XXI fore the departure of the cars for the cast.
Jay The parties TO it were Mr.. john H. Pleasan
'he late of the Richmond Wing, and recently
the new paper established at Richmond. a
cir Mr.. Thos. Richie, Ir. son of the Editor of
I'M Union. The parties wentso the field by ayr.
H0' ment, armed with several pistols each, a
with swords. They took their distance a
commenced fring,-the one firing four a
am the other six shots, each nearing the other
'al- they fired. The parties soon came in Gle
contact,-one of the pistol shots taking eff
Avs upon MIR. p. The swords were now used
in Mr.. Peasants struck blow which is pro
ST., bly, true, as he was in the Rotunda of the G;
day itol this morning during the session of
ssel House. Mr. Richie inflicted q heavy bl