Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1856-02-23

ptTsUHdi uudiFci. anu WAS Tthuy 10 HSH
for him,-that he he'd more confidence in
him than any ore else, as his friend. on
the ground and that il be {Wise) suffer-
ed HIM to go upon the field without guar
Ding his life and hi, honor, and he was
brought back corpse, he desired his wife
his children and his friends TO know :hat
he (W,se) had failed to stand by him af-
ter he knew he was determined to fight
whether he (Wise) wished him or not
Is there aE honest, courageous and chival-
rows heart that beats in the breast Of man
that could have witbstood such an appeal
coming as it did, under such circumstan-
ces, and at that particular time?
After this appeal had been made by Mr.
Graves, Mr.. Wise told hun that if nothing
else would do him but to fight, and that
against his advice, he would consent to
guard his life aud his honor MIR. Wise
then carried the challenge to Mr.. CiIley.
copied BY Mr.. Graves from Mr.. Clay's
manuscript. MIR. Wise then resolved in
his own mind to prevent, if possible, the
hostile meeting. After nigh,iall, General
GEORGE W. Jones brought an acceptance,
and the terms roposed-eighty yards,
with rifles. MIR. Wise demurred. Mr..
Clay instantly exclaimed i: mo Kentuck-
Ian can back out from rifle" Mr.. Wise's
object stIll being that Of delay, he met
Gen. Jones the next morning and said he
must have time TO go to Philadelphia for
IA rifle, as he did not know where else to
get one that was reliable. Mr.. Jones re-
heed: Certainly, sir, there must be
gun whic., can be relied on III the whole
Distric: OF Columbia At this answer
Mr.. Wise was somewhat vexed, and re-
pl ed, If YOU know OF one, si., | woula
De glad II you would furnish me with IT,"
fhrreupon, the next morning. rifle
pow der flask, bullet monds, &c, were
found upon Mr. Vi.e's table. with po-
lite note tendenng the ri1e. &C., to Mr..
Graves. This was no doubt done bona
Gde upon the part OF General Jones' but it
certainly had the bad effect Of fastening
the duel. THIS dot btlcss would not have
happened had General Jones understood
the object which Mr.. Wise had IN view
that OF delay. The arrangements being
thus tai made, there waS no time for play
ing. Mr.. Graves went out the morning
previous 20 the meetlng TO practice with
the rifle. He proved himself to be a ve-
~ bad sho; at mark. His hand was SO
huge aud clumsy, bis fingers SO course,
that he could not taste II hair irisger.-
He would invariably fire before the word
was given. and could no, hit a barn door
at eighty yards. BY this time Mr.. Wis
had procdred fine, large rifle frcm NJ
John G. Rivts of the Globe. and filled II
with vinegar the night before the duel
for the purpose OF cleansing it of rus; and
by the appointed time Mr.. Wise had Mr..
Graves ready and upon The field. Hr was
accompanied by Henry A. Wise as his
armed second, aided by Hon. John j Crit.
tenden and Hon Ricafd H. Men,fee. OF
Kentucky. Mr.. Cil!ev was accompanied
By Hon, George w. Jones, as his armed
second, aided by Hon. DR.. Duncan, ci
Ohio, and Hon. Jesse Bynum, Of North
Caroline. Before these gentlem wen
out. propositions Of adjustment were wrlt
ten for the guide Of Mr.. Graves second
in case an adjustment should be proposed
MI Graves won the position. Mr.. Cil'ey
tn. word. Mr. Graves second selected
the west because the wind was setting
|
the fact that Mr.. Cilley was crack shot
thinking that he would make al allowance
for the wind against his ball, the variation
of which. from the effects of the wind III
the distance of eighty yards. would be SIN
inches. This arrangement and nothin,
else, saved the life of Mr.. Graves. Mr.
Ciley stood east, Graves west. They fir.
ed at one o'clock, p. NJ. nearly across
the rays of the sun; Mr.. Graves face in
the shade. Mr.. Cilleys in the light. MI
Graves was ordered not to fire unit
ne had good sight and a, the word three.
The first fire Mr.. Graves obey orders
coelly, but clearly missed his aim. Mr.
Cillry's ball struck the ground about forty
yards from the place in which he stood
The loss of his fire evidently made him
anxious for another exchange of shots. A
second shot being determined on MIR
Meniiee placed the rifle in the hands o
MIR. Graves, and upbraided him for being
so slow. All being ready and the combat
ants appearing cool and collected, az III.
word "tire," the rifle o: MIR. Graves wen
off, his ball striking the ground about ten
PAGES from his feet. Mr. Cilley raised
deliberately and shot with dead aim al
about two aud a half count. All eyes
we've then turned TO Mr.. Graves who
dropped the brerch OF his rifle as his Sc
cond ran up to him, thinking he was cer-
talhiy hit; but il turnel out that lie had on
~ been tIigging a, the trigger, when ht
very calmly blew into the muzzle, exclaim
ing: IVhy. the gun is off, tie did moi
,hink he had tired. This mortified him
Then came his uae Tor demanding anolh
or fire for the same Cause that ne!uccd Mr.
Cilley TO desire ii second shot. Mr.. Grave
demanded aud woull have taird fire.
Had Mr.. Graves coat been unhulioned
the second ball ct Mr. Cilley', rifle would
have passed through the lapel Of his coat
This conclusion WAS arrived al from tn.
position IN which Mr.. &. stood aud Where
the ball struck the fence behind hm.
AS to the propositions OF settlement,
they were nevrr made. except to 'nqnlfe
what was then to be done. Nir. Ci!ley
yielded ro,hing, and there was still cause
Tor the duel unmoved. unexplained, nnad.
justed. and point Of pnnctillio which
can never be explained. MIR. Cilley wa,
obliged demand second and M. Graves
lhnd fire. Being ready for the third
fire, they both appeared cool and collected
aud there WAS never a tairer exchange Of