Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1856-03-14

west because the wind was setting from
the northwest, from q knowledge of the
fact that Mr. Cilley was crack shot,
thinking that he would make an allowance
for the wind against his ball. the variation
of which, from the effects of the wind in.
the distance of eighty yards. would be six
inches. This arrangement, and nothing
else, saved the life Of Mr.. Graves. Mr..
Cilley stood east, Graves west. They f.
red at one. o'clock, P. M, nearly across
the rays of the sun Mr.. Graves face in
the shade, Mr.. .Cilley in the light. Mr..
had good sight and at the word "three."
The first ERE Mr.. Graves obeyed orders
coolly, but clearly missed his aim. MIR.
Cilley's ball struck the ground about for.
,ty yards from the place in which he stood.
The loss of his Ere made him anxious for
another exchange OF shots. A second
shot being determined on Mr.. Menifee.
placed the rife in the hands Of Mr.. Graves.
and upbraided him for being so low. All
being ready and the combatants appear
ing cool and collected, at the word "fre."
the rife of Mr.. Graves went off. his ball
striking the ground about ten PAGES from
his feet. MIR. Cilley raised deliberately
and shot with dead aim at about two and
half count. All eyes were then turned
to Mr. Graves. who dropped the breech
OF his rifle as his second ran up to. him,
thinking he was certainly hit; but it turn
ed out that he had only been trigging at
the trigger, when he very calmly
blew into ,hemuzzlc, 'xclaiming 'Why,
the gun is off," He did not think he had
fired. This mortified him. Then came
his time for demanding another fire for
the same cause that induced Mr.. Cilley to
desire second shot. Mr.. Graves deman-
ded and would have third fire. Had
Mr. Graves coat been unbouoned, the
second ball of Mr.. Cilley's rifle would
have passed through the lapel of his coat.
This conclusion was arrived at from the
position in which Mr.. G. stood and where
the ball struck the fence behind him.
AS to the propositions of settlement,
they were never made, except to inquire
what was then TO be done. Mr.. Cilley
yielded nothing and there was still
cause for the duel unmoved. uuexplain-
ed. unadjusted, and point of punctillio
which can never be explained. Mr.. Gil
ley was obliged to demand second and
Mr.. Graves third fire. Being ready for
the third FIRE, they both appeared cool and
collected and there was never a fairer
exchange OF shots. Mr.. Cilley fred
| little first, and in one forth of second re-.
ceived his mortal wound in front of the
left hip, the ball passing entirely through
him. severing. no doubt. the descending
aorta. " His rifle fell ont his hands, he
beckoned to his second, and died in few
moments without single struggle or mp
pnrently a pang."
After the death OF the unfortunate Gil.
ley the public mind was so excited and in
dignant at the innumerable falsehoods and
ISLANDERS emanating from the misinformed.
and the enemies of those who were en-
gagged at one time in an attempt at recon
ciiiatlon and adjustment, that the House
Of Representatives appointed committee
of investigation, the report of which now
stands as public record. When the
committee sat. one of the objects was to
throw the onmS Of the whole affair upon
Mr.. Wise. Mr.. Clay heard of the inten-
tions Of the committee-told Mr.. Wise to
tell them to call luponhim, that although he
had shed tears over the "nine days bub-
BILE" yet he was cognizant OF all the con-
nected facts, and would take great pleas
UEG, III uIl SIIQSS III SGILlu2 kIlU ull9IcpT6-
sented in their true position.
Mr.. James Watson Webb, in 1912. al.
legged. in tho Courier and Enquirer, chat
Mr.. Wise had instigated the duel. Such
a charge was totally unfounded, unjust
and cowerdly from the fact that anything
of the sort should emanate from man
like Mr.. Webb, who was Indirectly and
knowingly connected with the whole af-
fair. Soon after this slanderous and ma
licious allegation appeared in the Courier
aud Enquirer, Mr.. Wise published the
facts of the case in the Madisonisn.-I
Mr.. Clay, finding that explanation might
injure him in the presidency in 1914. or
some future lime, wrote to Mr. Graves, aud
got him TO say that he CLAY had no part
whatsoever in the advice. counsel. or pre-.
parstion Of the duel. Mr.. Clay published
that letter ia the National Intelligencer as
true. Whereupon Mr.. Wise wrote to-
him categorical questions, which he pls-
ced in the hands of DR.. Linn, of Missouri.
Mr. Clay replied and admitted his whole
part in the affair, and generally justified
ar. Wise as we'll as himself. For this
act Of injustice Mr.. Wise could never (nor
JUSTLY forgive Mr.. Clay. How unjust
anu uH6iuu IL 10 W aECGSS luuOS0AS A4Su
of being the instigatcss of that which is
at all times exceedingly offensive to the
masses
Mr. Wise used all possible and honora-
bls means to prevent a hostile meeting
between those gentlemen /; and never did
he consent TO accompany Mr. Graves nm
til he told him that he was determined to
go upon the field, whether he aceomPani-
cd him or not.
Mr.. Wise once put challenge into the
hand of Hon. S. s. Prentiss, Of Mississip-
pi. for Hon II. GhOlson. OF the same