Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-05-22

A Pull and True Account of the Dread
full Duel at CattIettsburg-HOw Two
bIOOd-fhirsty KenLuckians Shot each
other Six times.
Correspondent to the Cincinnati Gazette
CATLETTsBURa, Ky, Thursday, May 10.
One of the most dreadfllly bloodiess duels
it has ever been my lot to witness, took place
opposite this town, this (Thursdsy) morning
at 8 o'clock, between two chivalrous gentle
men from Louisville, KY. The principals
were A. D. Lawrence, "a married MANI and
John W. Owings The circumstances as l
have Just learned them from one of the party
are these:
Lawrence, attracted by the beauty of poor
girl in Louisville, married her. After mar
rage, her beauty attracted this John W. Ow
ings, and their intimacy became town-talk.
The husband threatened him, and three differ
times did challenge him, but each time Owings
promised faithfully not to do so any more If
lie would not shoot him, ard the difficulty was
for the time settled. But the intercourse still
continued. and at last Lawrence grew despe-
rate and swore be wouldn't stand it any Ion
ger. he separated from his wife, sued for
divoce, and sent another challenge to Owings.
The dreadful crisis had come, both seemed des-
perate and most bloody conflict was antici-
pated. So determined and blood thirsty were
they, that the whole town of Louisville was
wrought up TO such terrific state of excite
ment, that my informant said he should not
wonder if the folks there got up another mob,
or turned and hanged somebody.
As duelingis forbidden in Kentucky, the par
ties started up the river to Virginia, to fight it
out on soil consecrated to chivalry-the Old
Dominion.
Lawrence was attened by Henry Churchill
as his second, and DR.. Pyles as Surgeon, and
Owings by WIN. Booker as second, and DR..
Forsyth as Surgeon.
AS the principals were capital shots, two
Surgeons were taken instead Of one, rs is usual,
nobody doubling but the services of both would
be required.
Arrived at Cincinnati they laid over oneday
TO practice, stopping at the same hotel (the
Spencer House, and engaging the same pistol
gallery. 1t may seem singular that these two
sangunary gentlemen would submit to travel
together, but | suppose it was great satis-
faction to them TO make mouths at each
other across the table, and besides, they
didn't like to travel alone-not being much
used 10 it.
THE BLOODY GROUND.
At 5 o'clock this morning the party took a
yawl and went over 10 Virginia Point, accom-
panied by the watchman of the boat and
deck hand. 1t was raining but they went into
q log blacksmith shop aud loaded; then the
seconds went out under an umbrella and step
ped OFF fifteen PAGES. The pistol were carried
out under their ooat-tails, and the doomed
were 10 a most solemn stillness-broken by no
sound but the pattering Of the rain on the
roof OF the blacksmith shop; took their places,
dreadfally pale-from their early rising.
They exchanged six shots without effect
nobody knew where the balls went. The
gentlemen having by this time become so nerv.
Gus that it was feared that their weapons
might go off accidentally in their hands, and
kill thesurgeons or somebody else, the seconds
suggested, as it was raining hard, that they
had better put il OFF till pleasant weather This
they cheertully scceded TO, and as the steam
er Boston was just about 10 leave for Oincin-
matt, they all got aboard and started home
again.
The gentlemen are said to be peri sotly salts
ned. By this brave act not only is the honor
of both healed, aud their insults avenged. but
the lady placed forever above the reach of sus-
picion. J. N. MoO.