Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1852-02-19
- Eorrespondenes bslloeefi Iae Pafties
Raltimors Sun IF Friday.

trated at Cumberland, Md, on wednesday eNth-
inc. on the person of Nj. Wm. @ Sprigg, of Jo-
4ari. hq Mr. Robert Swan, and have since re-
celved poruun ur mo -~%--es pondence which
passed between the parties previous 10 the anSor.
tunate affair. The following letter from Alr,
/ Sprgg, accompanied by letters from Drs Scol.
lay and Doughefy, and 5. Z. Semmes, Esq is
published in the Cumberland Unionst y
To THIS PuBEIc The public is aware Of diff
| ficuliy that has recently occurred between Mr..
Ro5t Swanand myself aud which thought had
! been settled honorab'y TO beth parties There
/ has appeared a card however with my apology
I and note dppendei5g Mr.. SitGa witch coaSeys
the idea that chad given the apology becanseoi
his challenge MF.,Swan knew n hen he pub
ished the note thathe was publishing a talSeh0bd
shall give full, candid and impartial state,
ment o the whole affair. Ca I thursday, ia, al
ri 23l Mr. Swan and myself had difficulty lat
one OF the assemblies, and Thought from his
conduct, and from what | heard that il WIS his
intention 10 offer me al insult. | gave Mr.. Swan
chance to explain his conduct u ma about the
matter, bul he did not. therefore took the FIRST
opportunity to offer him an Insult, WHICH didby
splitting ia his face; (thiS was On Saturday Ith
He went off and aimed himself, as he told friend
of mine, with TWO pistols, and said thai lie would
give one TO me and take tie other himself j TIE
gentleman q whom he communicated tais told
him that was already armed. EheH1t was that
he MIR. Swami senta gentleman 10 me 70 say that
he had put the matter into the hands OF tread.
That evening, however, Mr.. Swan came to Mr..
Cowtun hotel, where was in conversation WITH
Arthur Johnson, and asked meeeut. Armed as
was tinstantly toll him in Mr.. Johnsoao pre-
sence thai | was ready FOR him IN any way be
thought proper Still he asked me 10 wax ith
him. | refused, aud told him he had sent me
word thathe bad put The matter in the Lahds.oi>t
friend, lie asked me II lie was TO Tetfacf what
deemed was an insult tome, what would be my
course; and added that lie did not intend TO in-
suit me, thai our family relations had been init:
mate, and that he would reduce il TO writing !
said 10 him promptly, any apology thai could be
given by me would be given and II that %ay
we pasted on Saturday night.
/ On Sunday morning ] went into tie country,
and did not get back until about o'clock, 7. Nj,
when letter was banded u me by The batkerp
I err which. on opcping, | found 10 he from Mr.
/ Swan, and which Was told Mr.. Swan had lsTm
SELF Jeff al the bar-abouk o'clock Sunday.
The Je4teEsA hieh ! publish below. ] immediately
1 Atkinson, and could not tind him About 10
o'clock, however, Iagain started in pursuit., in.
and, in front Of Mr.. Cowton's hotel. met MI
| Swan-aEd told him thatI bad received his n.te
aud that he had better say SIX o'clock His ok.
,clamatinn was, Well, l have come o9er 10 See
/ you and wish L. Withdraw that noIe dub have nine
matter settled" Then4it was that / said he
j shonld MOI have his note and that | would take
no iurher notice Of him; he then asked me TO
60 oVet The Mineral Bank steps and talk The
matter over, which we did lie tkeB told I'M.
that he could getno riend to ACT for him in Cum
bcEand My rsplylNas, he could % u distance
| and get friend and II would follow him INV
most uneqdiyocay that SO Ear as il regards a
meeting between Mr. Swan ard myself the next
morning, no such thing ever was contemplated
by either Of Us when we parted ON Sunday niali,.
heard nothing more frem Mr. Saan un,il The
night Of the 27;h, when Dr Sco!Iay and DR.
Doughetty called on me 10 hare The affair AMIGA.
bly, settled, and what took place 3@ilI Anpear-By
reference TO their letters, which publish below
maze The apology voluntarily -nay, cheerfuily,
not because supposed there was a challenge
hanging over me, but because Mr. Swan had said
10 me III the presence OF Mr.. Johnson that he III
tendad me no insult, When Mr. Swan publish
ed the note 10 my apology he knew he was pub
fishing a ialsehood. Robert Swan knows also
that ! know bm-he is a coward First, lie
would baVe pistols would give me one-(gene
rous iello";) but When he found was armed.
then he would put it into the hands of friend,
next morning he screwed his courage up, and
wrote me the note published below when i
suggested 10 change the hour from / o'clock
an hour when we would certainly be detected |
TO SIN O'Clock IN the morning, then il was that he
hadJast come TO withdraw the noe !; and insist.
ed on talking II over anicaby; and now il an.
pears, ICON his statement TO Dr. Ieollay, that be
was on the ground precisely at O'Clock! ~ |
Courageous man, this Mr.. Robt Skan. In this |
whole affair Mr. Swan has shown himself total. |
" devoid OF courage, principle or truth Nv adj |
vice to HIN wonld be 10 90 back 10 Mr.. Perr>,s !
meadows-and stay there. |
WV Q. SfnieG Of Jos.
The Challsage-Lej1 at Mr.. C's Bar.
CUMBERLAND, Jan 81, 1852.
w. Q. Sprigg, Esq-Dear Sir:-I have Welt
looked oyer our relative positions since saw YOU
and have come TO the conclusion thai bur aff.jr |
cannot otherwise be adjusted :hanJy N ,,noaali. |
he'd unequivocal apology there fore. Inow pro
pose that we meet on Charles Perry's Meaeos vs.
10 morrow at / o'clock, armed as both think pro,
per, without friends on either side ] propose |
tits merely because ! do not wish others 10 ba |
evolved in 50 SERIOUS quarrel-and to prevent |
publicity /
Again permit me 10 say, upon reflection, that |
The deep. stain Of having my face spit upon, de /
mands spmething besides a simple apology. based /
on retraction BY me u something Is hich had I
gone befnre
\ Meet me, then. asI PROPOSE. and The survivor
will take care Of tie slain.
lam, with the highest respect, &c,
RpFERr SWAN.
Tie APolqgy, 9Th he Note appended, as publish Il
ed and Appended
CUMBERLAND, Jag, 81, 1852.
Mr. Robt Swan-Sir: Having. conceired my
self insulLed by you which now say upon infor-
nation which came 10 my-ears after The insult
was offered BY ne, | am fully convinced was MOI
intended as an insult BY sou, | in return offered
you tie gross insult, for which | have since fell
The deepest regret; il being not only gross out
rare 10 You for which no suitable apology can
be made, hut in act entirely unworthy Of myself
as a gentleman.
Ii Is due to myself, sir. as well as 10 YOU. thai
should make ibis acknowlsdg meut, and assure
you il gives Inc pleasure to do SO and ask thai
ny offence may be overlooked
Very respectfully, &c,
w. q. SRRIGe, Of Jos. Il,
The above letter Of apology was written in H
lnswer TO written invitation from Roberl
swan, to meet him on Charles Rerry's Meadows,
rmed as each Ofshe parties might think proper. /
friends on either side, The survivor 10 take
are Of the slain c
Ia regard 70 this last, the letters Of Drs Scol.
" and Don ghprfv md 9 n Sa..-.x- ..fs..I I