New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-10-10
A RUMPUS AMONG DISTING UISHED
JOURNALISTS.

JOURNALISTS.
On Friday night of last week quarrel, resulting in
the knocking down and sevhe beating Of one Of the
cootestants occurred at the drinkngsaoon Of Conck
lin Titus, No. 900 Broadway. The parties TO the af
fray are two literary men. both connected With the
newspaper press of this city; the one being Mr. Geo.
Wilkes. of Porters Spirit Of the Times, and the other
Mr. Ftz James O lrien formerly Of The DAILY Times,
and now known as the Man About Town Of The
Journal Of Ctri-atiOa also person of some mark IS
a poet and magazine writer. Two stories are current
relative to the particulars of the affair and that there
may be 10 " explanations " corrections or cards
to print hereafter, we give the two versions First,
the vertable history as related by the Wilkes party
During the course of conversation in saloon, on
Thursday night Mr.. Brien, who was much excited
BY wine, took occasion to call Mr.. Wilkes to account,
in very inpertnent terms for certain editorial articles
lately printed in Porters Spirit Of the Times saying
that if James Walack were twenty years younger he
would thrash him tWilkes) for his insolence. MIR.
Wilkes, though very indignant at this interference
with his sacred editorial rights, perceiving OBrens
condition and being himself alone, while the other
had two friends with him, smo'hered his anger, bid
the gentlemen very short Good night, and LEFT
the precincts The next night be vent to drinking
saloon on the corner of Fourth street in which he ex
pected to meet Mr. o Bren and waited there for the
purpose of having explanation aud retraction or
settlement. After waiting in vain for the advent OF
the "Man About Town, until O'Clock in the morn
ing, the barkeeper wished to close his establishment,
which he did, after which he invited Wilkes to go
across the street and take parting drink. While im-
bibirg this spirtuous luxury Mr. OBren entered the
room, and perceiving Wkes, came up and offered
bis hand to him. Mr.. w. jected it with an ndis-
nant slap and addressed him as follows: "Were yoa
drunk last night, Sir" To which inteTosatory he
received decided negative. lie then propoundsd
similar question, with slight alteration as to time
care you drunk now, SIR" And the answer being
sti in the negative he said "Youinsulted me grossly
"as night, Sir, and take that striking him at
the same time in the face with bis Hat hand oBnen
did not sail ip," but contented himself with saying:
"You will hear from me in the morning, Sir, and
then be at orce left the room.
As be was leaving the saloon, he became engaged
IN a quarrel with bsckmsn, who knocked him down
srd pommelled him. This Last fight was al entirely
different affair fsOm the ARRAY with Wilkes, and that
person has no knowledge of the hackmao, and did not
ircite or in any way encourage his attack on Mr..
OBrisn. Such is the version of ore Of the high con-
testing parties.
We now proceed to relate the story according 10
the report Of the 0'Bren party. They say that the
Two septeme en- were strangers until the evening be-
fore Thursday, when they met and became &C.
ouaipted a. Florences dripkingplace in Broadway.
In the course of conversation upon certain articeS
lately printed in Porteys Spirit" which followed
the introduction Mr. Wilkes made very broad as.
sertion TO the effect that all actors blsckguards
Mr. Brien instantly took oense at this remark and
said that he had the honor Of numbering among his
personal friends number Of the prominent members
Of the theatrical profession who were in every respect
true gentemen-he also in very emphatic terms, gave
Mr. Wilkes the assurance that if old James WalIsck
Z" were twenty years younger he would whip him.
(Wlkes). At this Mr.. Wilkes made no belligerent de-
monstrations, but shortly left the room.
On Friday nigh. the parties again met, in the early
part of the evening" at Nibo's Saloon, but words
passed between them. A couple Of hours sfserward,
Mr. OI3rien having occasion TO enter the saloon No.
COO Broadway found there assembled Mr.. Wilkes and
number offghting men, among whom were the nOto-
rious California rufian Billy Mulligan and Charley
Walsh. with number of hackmen. Mr.. OBrien was
alone. He was approached by Wilkes who addressed
him thus: "Last night yeu insulted me by saying
" that if Jim Wallack was twenty years younger he
would whip me-" Having made this little OBSERVE
ton, Wilkes proceeded to punch O'Bhep's head
whereupon, the latter made a demonstration to hit
back, but was at once seized by Muligan and held
while Wilkes struck him twice in the face
OBrep, seeing that no one was disposed to gee fair
play attempted no further resistance, and was soOn
permitted to leave the room which he did, with the
remark TO Wilkes: "You will hear from me in the
" morning
Az he stepped upon the sidewalk he was set upon
by one or more hsckmep friends Of Wilkes, and men,
bers Of his "crovd," who were congregated there,
ard who Knocked him dow and beat hi n very severely
about the head In he course of the latter row, MI
OBrien also receiving three slight cuts in the face,
which he asserts we're made with small knife, such
az is SON etimes concealed in Q ring. Mr. OBhsn is
rrora,t of the names of any Of bis last sssasrt but
friend Of bis thinks that he viii be able 10 identity
toe ore who Knocked him down.
A lookeron who saw the frey, but who know,
ro,hipg of the causes which led to it, gives the follow
ire account:
About Il o'clock, Mr.wIkcs csms into No. GOO, ac-
cempanied by q man named Wilson aud Charley
walsh Soon Billy Muligan and number Of other
fighting characters dropped H. Wilkes and the others
took number of drinks, and ip about half an hour
OBrien came in. He stspped 10 the bar and asked
the bartender to be kind snosgh 10 give him cigar
which he took and lighted wilkes now stepped up 10
hin, and tie following dialogue ensued: Do you re-
member gravsIy insulting me last night ?"
."I do not
"were You drunk last pight7'
al may have been siehtly."
"Do you remember telling me that il Jim "susek
was younger man be would lick me 7"
al don't remember any thing Of the kind. 81,
"Do you remember telling me that yos ''u''e'
would thrash NE r.
81 certainly do not"