Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1852-10-16

your blood be on you own hands" and seiz-
Ing one of the weapons, he deliberately pre-
sented it a, the head of Wilkins.
"Hold," exclaimed the American, some.
what sobercd al the determination and ha-
tired expressed by Srnihson, "hold, sir, un.
til retire and arrange my affairs AMI will
then meet you Oh any terms you may CHOSE
to dictate"
"Like all your countrymen," retoItcd the
Enslishman, "uhen you find yourself in
position requiring GOODNESS and bravery,
your skulking traits come out, and by cunning
you endeavor 10 invade that justice a brave
gentleman would inllict. Publicly acknowl-
edge yourself liar and poItroon, and will
condesccnd 10 forgive you"
wilkins cheek burned al this insult, ard,
grasping the remaining pistol, told his oppo-
nent that although unused 10 the employ
menl Of deadly weapons, he would prove
himself drawer man than was Smi,hson.
avery well, sir we will fight"
tln this room and without witnesses 2"
asked The American.
"Cerlamly, Why not "
'Because, if an accident should occur TO
either OF us, there would be no testimony TO
exoneraie the survivor"
"Tha, difficulty shall be ohviaied and no
further excuse offered by you shall be enter
tanned by me-" was the Englishman's re-
ply.
The major sat down and wrote few lines
detailing tho circumstances under which
they had quarreled, mutually exonerating
each from entertaining other than the most
honorable motives. To this declaration
Smithson placed his name, and then handed
il 10 Wilkins, who without hesitation appen-
dcd his signature. The EagIshman then
wrote by way of postscript that he had
"lorced' wilkins to fieh, The prelimna-
ries nov being settled, Smithson rose from
his seat, and, in reaching for his pistol, his
ann upset the lamp which was immediate
ly extinguished, and two men, resolved if
possible TO destroy each other OF the instant
were standing in the dark, armed
f'Had you not better ring for a light ~ re-
marked Wilkins.
"And give you an opportunity TO evade
the punishment am about TO innicl 2"
sneered the Englishman."
'Come, sir, prepare yourself we will not
further procrasiinate," interrupted wilkins,
in determined voice 'lf you are resolved
10 push this ridiculous matter 10 an issue,
we had better begin"
'Well when call OF, fire, prepare your
self"
wilkins had, while speaking TO The Eng
lishmar, silently slipped his feet out of his
shoes, ard walked noiselessly to the !uuhest
end of The room, and, as near as he could
Judge, TO the right Of where he supposed
Major Smi,hson stood There was pause
for few moments, and SO silent were the
opponents, so suppressed their breathing,
that if person could have opened The doer
he would have supposed it ,enaniess. The
click of The Majors pistol was heard by
Wilkins, and tina next moment the word
rfre' hissed, rather than spoken. Nervous
ly Wilkins raised his pistol, and pointed il
a, random, for he had little desile 10 aim at
the Englishman. SO simultaneous were the
movements of the men thus singularly en-
gagged, thar, when they fired, the reports
sounded TO those who were in The room be-
meath, as once. Wilkins felt sharp iwinge
on the crown of his head, but before he
could determine its cause, he heard the
body of the Engishman fall heavily on the
| floor. A moment after, and The door was
burs, in by The landlord and his domestics.
The scene which presented itself TO their
aslonished gaze, on The subsidence of the
smoke, was appalling. Wilkins stood in an
angle Of The room, his face covered with
blood, the ball from the Eugliehman's pistol
having cut complete furow through the
hair. but slighly grazing tie scalp. The
blood flowed copiously, however, and as he
stood, he looked as il the upper pat Of his
skull had been blown OF, As for the Major,
he lay across fallen chair, with his head
and feel resting on the aoor. The life cns-
rent was pouring from his heart When
raised By The landlord, he was dead The
pistol of wilkins, although fired, as we have
said, at random, hii sent ball through
the Enalishmans heart 1t is unnecessary
10 say that, on am examination of the paper
written by Snhson, Wilkins was eSoner-
aiel.
The history of this extraordinary rencohire
was confined 10 few persons, aud, although
the community beard the particulars, the
names Of the bei9erenls are known 10 few
even al this day. Wilkins from the intense
excitement which he had undergone, vas
thrown into raging fever, and for many
weeks II was supposed that he gould pot re-
cover. He became convalescent, however !;
bul his reason was gone. Some Two years
subsequent 10 the events aboye related, be
died il an insane ho,piial, rayins madman
Before his death he repeated, iacoherenly,
the preliminares Of the fatal night, and jusl
as he uttered The word Sire" fell over, a
corpse
REpucrIos OF FARE,--The fare 10 Boston
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