Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1856-11-07
THE HOAX PLAYED OFF ON THE
LONDON TIMES

States has hoaxed tho London Times with
an article giving an account of several
duels on railroad train at the South Il
The article is entitled 1.-The Narrative Of
a Scene in the Railway Cars in the State
of Georgia. United States of America. !"
IL appeared in the Times of the 18th
ultimo, and was represented as written
by "an eyewitness" In its issue Of the
next day, the Times devotes leading
article to this singular and almost
incredible" narrative, with the assurance
to its readers that its insertion was de-
layed for some days, that the editor
might obtain satisfactory vouchers for
the writer's responsibility, sanity, and
truthfulness; and on these points the
editor of the Times has no doubts.
Now here is the Times own SYNOPSIS
or the tale of horrors, which it publishes
to the world as true story, charactcris
tic of American society, and of railway
travelling in this country:
1.-The train starts with 25 passengers,
occasionally taking up same and putting
down some in the course of Journey
which begins at five in the afternoon and
ends at half past three the next morning.
The passengers know about as much of
each other at starting as passengers usu-
ally do. Three get into the train to-
gether; another is an ACQUAINTANCE of
theirs; two others are friends, and there
are two fathers with their sons. In the
course of ten hours and half in this
select community, no larger than is some
times assembled around private dinner
party in this metropolis, thore are five
actual duals with fatal results; sixth
duel, which was arranged but did not
come off, owing to the death of an in
tended principal in another duel; a sew
onth duel, which there was every reason
e believe had taken place, though the
- went on too soon for the results to
tram eighthlY, murder. OF the
transplre :, a 8 Z. $780,
two dozen passengers, fifteen are men
toned as entering more or less into the
drama; twelve took direct part in duels;
six were killed, and three were left on
tho way fighting. Four of the duels
were fought at convenient spots, the
train stopping for the purpose; one was
fought in the luggage car while the train
was in motion and the one with uncer-
tain results was fought at regular stop
ping place. Three of the dead bodies
were left behind one was carried from
the scene of the duel and deposited on
the luggage; another lay where it fell
in the luggage car; another was thrown
out ON the roadside.
"Of the six killed, two were fathers
and two were sons, one father killed
while avenging his son, and one child
killed for lamenting his father. On the
occasion of the first duel, the train did
not stay out, but the result followed by
telegraph. AT the second and fourth,
the conductor, becoming keen in the
sport, waited, and the survivors remount-
cd the train; but in the last instance the
conductor seems TO have felt qualm,
and he managed to leave one of the sur
viyosy on the road, while, with tho aid
arthe fireman, he boxed up the other to
prevent further slaughter. The time
Nas generally night, the last affair being
at three in the morning. 1t is stated
that these are not uncommon incidents,
and that scarce a week passes without
some fatal encounter on the road"
This suggests, add the Times, some
rather serious reflections as to the future
Of the United States, for what we have
described appears to be the normal state
Of things. The date Of the narrative is
the 2Sth of August last, only six weeks
ago; the Georgia papers are wholly ST.
lent as to the affair; SO. Of course, no.
body was brought to justice Indeed
the conductor, simply for his own comfort
had adroitly managed to leave the muir.
derer par e1celleace behind on the road
But the idea of law or investigation
seems to be the last to disturb theil
thoughts.