The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-06-18
He started as il from sleep, and ran with
furious haste from the rayine

furious haste from the ravine.
Again the mother looked towards her SON.
He had fallen upon his knees, and was whis-
pering the little prayers she had taught him.
not in cowardly fear, but thought came
across his mind that he must die. The dis.
tracied mother could keep still no longer
She rushed up the steep ascent with the ener.
gy OF despair, reckless Of danger, thinking only
OF her son. The rocks crumbled and slipped
beneath her feet, yet she fell not. On. ON she
struggled in her agony.
The ieT0cious creature paused moment
when he heard the wretched mother approach.
True to his nature, he sprang at the boy
he barely touched the crag and fell back
ward, as Hannah ascended the opposite side.
"Ah = said she, laughing deliriously, "ihe
pahtner must try II again before he parts US,
my boy; but we won't part" and sinking on
her knees before him, she fondly folded him
to her breast bathing his young forehead with
her tears.
UnaIterable in his ferocity and the manner
ot gratifying it, the panther again sprung from
his situation. This time he was more sue
eessful. His forefoot struck the edge of the
crag. ale will kill us, mother, he will kill
us !" and the boy nestled close 10 his mothers
bosom. The animal struggled to bring his
body to the crag-his sewage features but a
step from the mothers face.
"Go away, go awav," shrieked the mother,
hoarse with horror, "you shan't have my
child"
Closer-still closer he comes-his red eyes
flashing fury, and the thick paintings of his
breath came in her very face. At this awful
moment she hears the faint report of firearms
foothold fails, his sharp claws loosen from the
rocks, and the baffied beast rolls down the pre-
sipice, at the feet of Josiah Eaton.
The sums last rays cleaned on the little
group at the mouth of the gorge. They were
on their knees-the mothers hands raised
over the head of her son, and the voice of
prayer going to their Guardian for His mercy
in thwarring the panther's leap.
FATAL AFFRAY.-Our city was Yesterday
the scene of a serious and fatal affray, between
Mr.. Robert Leckie. proprietor of the umbrella
manufa ctory, No. l79 King street, and Mr.
Augustus Hall, book keeper at the dry goods
establishment of Mr. Bancroft, the affair re-
sulting in the death of the former. The cir
cumstances leading TO this sad result were as
follows: On the previous day. Sunday party
OF gentlemen, among whom was MIR. Leckie,
were engaged in game of quoits at one of the
popular resorts near the city. Mr.. Hall re-
fused to join the party upon the ground that
MIR. Leckie was no gentleman.
A personal attack was threatened by Mr..
Leckie, who threw of his coat, Mr.. II. seizing
a loaded whip to repel the assault. The af-
fair was however. interrupted by parties pre-
sent, when Mr.. Hall informed MIR. Leckie that
he could have any satisfaction he wanted by
calling at his store the'next day. On the fol-
lowing morning, (yesterday,) a friend of MIR.
Lecke's called upon MIR. Hall, who refused
any satisfaction through personal encounter;
whereupon that gentleman declined any tur;h-
er connection with the affair, telling MIR. Leckie
that he must be prepared for hostile measures
in the event ofany determination on his part to
push the matter further.
MIR. Leckie thereupon armed himself with
one of Aliens revolvers, and called at the store
in which Mr.. Hall was employed, who, being
armed with one of Colts six-barrelled revoI.
vers, accompanied him until they reached
Beaufain street, down which they turned about
twenty yards. taking position on opposite sides.
When about five or six PAGES apart they both
Immediately drew, and commenced firing. At
the second round the ball of Mr.. Hall took ef-
feet in the right side of his adversary, infict.
ing mortal wound. MIR. Leckie stag gered in
to the store ofMr. DeLand, at the corner, pro-
claiming himself wounded, but went again to
the door and fired another shot at Mr.. Hall,
who Intellectually returned it, the Lall striking
the brick work at the edge of the door. Mr..
Leckie was conveyed into the store of Mr.. De-
Land, where, in the course of fifteen minutes,
he expred.-CharlestOn Standard, 18th.