The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-03-30
NEWS BY LEGRAPH.
GREAT EXCITEMENT.IN WASHINGTON.
The difficulty between Messrs. Cutting and
Breckenridge.
STARTLING REPORTS-RUMORED DUEL,
CONGRESSIONAL AND LEGISLATIVE BUSINESS
Ten children Burned to Death,
&C., &C., &C.

&C., &c., &C.
The Esnucte between Mcssrs. Cutting and
breckenridge.
The most recedented excitement prevailed in
Washington yesterday, concerning the unfortunate
,ss,eufe between Messrs Cutting and Breckenridge
An idea o, tho feeling manifested may be gained
from the following dispatches which we give in the
order received =
WASHINGTON, u O'Clock NJ,
March %, 1854. !
We hare intelligence here that any meeting has
taken place between Messrs Cutting and Breckenridge
The report to New York to the effect that meeting
took place .hs morning. and that Mr. Breckenridge
wounded, is undoubtedly false.
Neither OF the above gentlemen have made their ap-
pcarance in the House of Representatives to-day.
WASHINGTON March 29-1 30P.M
The g hasds" in the House exclusive Of Walsh)
game say that thero shall be fight between Breck
cnsidge and Cutting any other hard If the South
want it. Mcssrs Benton and Richardson have just been
called in counselors in the
The Marshal Of the District of Columbia is searching
after Cutting in order to arrest him. is not known
where Breckenridge is.
QUARTER 10 O'CLOCK, p. NJ
The city thrown into great excitement this morn
ing by report that duel had been fought between
Hessrs. Cutting and Breckenridge. The excitement
mUCh increased BY all Sorts OF exaggerated rumor6 the
most prominent of which that Mr. Breckenridge
was shot the neck From the most reliable
we gather information indicating that meeting did take
place early this morning at Dadensburg. That shots
were exchanged not denied but intimate friend Of
Breckenridge denies cmphaticaly that he (Mr b.
wounded that any damage done to either party.
More informant viii not say. All crcum.
stances corroborate the that fighting
has taken place. Mr.. Cutting left the city yesterday
n
enrdge followed in the o'clock train This led to the
impression that the duel take place Badens
burg, at which place Mr. Cutting left the train but Mr.
Breckenridge being in the express train carried to
the junction and obliged to return which he did h
time to secure meeting at the place designated.
The affair has been 50 decatey arranged that nothing
be known beyond the personal friends of the partes
but there be doubt that neither hurt and that
the difficulty will be amsably arranged.
The challenge written by Cutting on Monday,
short time after the adjournment of the House, and
made known to Breckenridge about IL O'Clock at night
Yesterday the friends Of tho parties busy in making
arrangements the meeting Of this morning, but the
public under the impression that efforts were max
ing to settle the matter and apprehensions were felt
that encounter would take place so soon.
The Marshal of the district and Attorney General
the alert and the parties win be prevented from meeting
again. if their friends fail to satisfactorily arrange
he matter.
WASHINGTON March 20-1o O'Clock P. M
There exists the most intense excitement throughout
the city and everybody is nquirng as to the result
of the apprehended duel No hostile meeting has yet
taken place between Messrs Cutting and Breckenridge
Two friends on each side have been borng assiduousy
all day elect reconciliation but yet without sue
cess and they have called in afth as umpire
The report that Messrs B. and C. out of town is
incorrect They been within the limits Of the city
day the officers have not been able to learn their
whereabouts.
The statements contained In despatch dated at 145
P NJ (printed above) generally current here at
the time firmly believed by deeply interested
friends of both parties Later Developments show that
Messrs Cutting and Breckenridge concealed here,
md only await the decision of those who hold the
control of the affair to fight or become reconcled Mr.
Benton and Boyd exerting themselves to bring
about satisfactory adjustment of the difficulty without
recourse to weapons Nothing exceed the excite
nent which rervades the whole city.
WASHINGTON March 29-1OK Pm.
The difficulty between Messrs Breckenridge and Cut
spg still remains unadusted, each party being willing to
fight but their friends making strenuous efforts to bring
about q reconciliation. Both gentlemen are still in
Washington do not believe hostile meeting will take
place
WASHINGTON March 2e-Mdnght.
As matter of paramount interest in New York, we
give the current rumors the day concerning the pend
ing duel The city startled this morning by report
that Cutting Breckenridge had met upon the field,
and that Breckenridge mortaly wounded in the
neck Great was the sensation produced but 1t soon
subsidized. 1t ascertained that although both
parties had mysteriously disappeared somewhere,
10 6ght had taken place. On going to the Capt.
ol at twelve O'Clock, were met by the report
that Messrs Monroe, Shields, and other friends of
Cutting and Messrs Hawkins, slidell and other friends
of Breckenridge had submitted the quarrel to the arb
ration of Beron, and that the prospect that
Old Bullion would compel both parties to treaty Of
peace. This evening" however, among the most correct
rumors reported that Cutting and Breckenridge in
stead going 10 Badensburg had crossed to the
virginia side the river; that Cutting taking
dinner at the principal hotel in Alexandria, and that
subsequently, going ont into the country,
near the District line to meet Breckenridge the imme-
aiate friends of both parties intercepted by Col
Benton and Speaker Boyd a mission Of peace It was
further said that they had failed and that hostile meet
ing was to off somewhere among the pine thckets
ON the Virginia side, at sundown.
Atten O'Clock we have news Of fight or 0 recon
<ation SO that the affair stands probably adjourned
tyer till sunrise tomorrow morning. The Marshall the
strict Attorney and others of legal authorities
hive been on the alert all day, and may possibly
in arresting the bcgerents On the other hand
the principals have each a host Of friends of both
houses North and South, working for reconciliation
Meantime Cutting and Breckenridge keep out OF sight
although we believe they are both in the city, awaiting
the issue of negotiations and TN spite OF the challenge
between them we incline 10 the opinion that reconcu
alton win be effected without bloodshed
reported that in accepting the challenge, Breck
enrdge had selected rifles the weapons-the nstru
ment 1t will be recoected, which used in the fatal
duel between Cey, Of Mane and Graves, Of Kentucky
This may be rife shooting Is favorte pastime
with all Kenuckans but the friends Of Cutting say that
he will not be scared of, even by Kentucky rife.
The affair has rapidly assumed the complexion Of a
sectional dispute Nebraska Some Of the soft
shes beginning 10 stand up 70 Cutting, pleading