The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-07-30

ciusion.
Understanding the term "perpeodsuar to the line OF
] have obc,ioa toM
scoede TO the remaining propositions, except with re-
gard 70 toe place OF meeting think would be hszs.d
Gus W stsemp 90 beyond the limits Of the S,ae and
the place OF meeting. WA. OLO, JR.
TO COL J. Locus 0AyIs.
COL WIN. OLD, JR-
july ID, 1850
DEAR sRTte mdDgh. hour striking shortly after the
row morning 70 prepare reply 10 the objections urged
~ you IN reference TO terms nc. am. sw, very
pecC.iqGy' your ooedient servant. j. LUCiUS DAVIS.
Ny DEAR SR:-rhe articles accompanying your note OF
18th would limit the plumber of friends 70 four six
Accepting OF this proposition let the parties be prinspa
second, one surgeon and one other frend--f0ur In ALL
AZ 10 the mode OF firing n any abn primal usage has
ARISEN IN any part oil Virginia. Ia too limited both As %
duration and extent Of adoption and sanction 70 DO OF an
Dndpg force Whatever, especially when vioatve OF tue
universally known rules Ut general code II such
custom has arisen here be origin sioce
under the usual code rules have occurred in Virginia
As TO the firing, respectfully submit that you have
no right 10 insist change there being nothing unusual
or Unfair IN the terms proposed.
4. The line OF lghv' is understood 70 be the line
nom the observer TO the centre OF light, viz the sun
3. Place. Ny principal has twice sentei 10 O meet
ing in the Safe OF Virginia the result considerable
embarrassment to the He Is deter mined 10
repeat the same incpg pain and embarrassment where
ne Las no right TO do hence the meeting must take
place out of the State you s that every effort
will be made to effect speedy Of this unplea
J LUCIUs DAVIS.
WIN. OLD, JR TO COLONEL DAVIS
DEAR sR-your note handed me this,morniug, q, the
Column oian Hotel by yourself, requires prompt reply
While retain my opinion "a 10 tie mode Of firing and as
TO The place OF meeting SO desroas as the friend Of
Mr.. Ayett, 70 bring this matter 70 speedy and 6oal
issne, that assent TO the terms proposed in your
note Of to day. Did not know that any inconve.
vience had been suffered by the Governor Of
Virginia from previous affairs Of this nature; and while
am OF couIse anxious spare all persons unnecessary
trouble Inconvenience from action OF mine only
70 say that not that the present Governor OF
Virginia has any more connection with this affair than
in controversy which may result In hostile meeting
will be grat6ed to receive early nent OF
the time and place appointed for meeting. Very
specifically, your obedent servant,
TO Col j. LuuUs DAVIS WILLIAM OLD, JR.
COL DAVIS 70 WILLIAM OLD. JR
RICHMOND July l3-1H Pm.
DEAR SIR-n reply TO your muncaton Of this date,
propose that Messrs. Ayett ard Wise eha
place near Mlton, North Carolina, on Friday morning
next, ut sunrise
cannot designate the exact spot for meeting
having been In the neiyhborhood.
sha leave with Mr. Wiee in the Dauville train Of
tomorrow morning. and arriving at Barsdale station
sba take the stage for Milton, where hope the
ho1es 70 ,Ss ea S1 of Brown
gnia " Very respectfully, ]. LUCIUS DAVIS.
VIM. OLD, Jr Esq
WIN OLD, JR 10 DAVIS.
DEAR sm:-Your note OF to-day has been received by
me- have no reply to make except that will be with
you at the point fixed upon by you in your note am
ignorant you Of the means OF getting TO North Caro-
Ina but any information obtain will communicate TO
YOU / shall leave town tonight. Respectfully, your
friend, WM. OLD, JR.
To Col. j. LUcus DAVIS Present.
ACCOUNT DUEL.
The proposed arrange mept place OF meeting beipg
impTaccabIe and both parties having reached the Dan
vile train q. the point and at the time, while
on the cars was agreed verbally TO stop in or the
town Of DanviIe until next morning and then leaving
Danvle TO proceed together TO place then
The parties met In North Carolina about sunrise on Fri
day the 18th day Of July; Nc lett being accompanied
by Mir, VIM. Old, Jr., OF Rishmond, Va and another
friend; Mr.. Wise being accompanied by COL j. Lunius
Davis Of Henrico county, Va and COL Warner T. rsa.
ferro Mathews county, Va Each Of the principals
proceeded to measure the ground aud arrange preina
res. Mr.. Old having won the choice Of "word" Or "po
s1n elected d. to give " tn the ,. MosSa ,,
Bed; Mr.. Wise also brought one pair. These were the
only weapons from which to select
After their due inspection by the seconds Col. Davis
expressed the opinion that the arrangement Of the sgha
Of MI AyIet pistols gave them some advantage
those Of Mr. Wise, while Mr. Wse's pistols had the ad
vantage In length Of barrel Mr. Wse nterposed TO
that he preferred his pistols to those OF M Aylet
because the latter provided saw handles which
Mr. Wise regarded as and as he consider
ed there difference in his pistols he per
fecty willing Mr. Aylet should select one Of the n ,oa'
ther that he was willing that each principal should
his own ~egpon.
announced that Mr.. Ayett would OF his pis
tos that Mr. Wise could take the other relect from
pistols the lock of which hal been recently repaired
might possibly feared, prove unreliable II then
agreed that each principal shoud select one fen his
pair.
The pistols were then loaded by the seconds In the pre-
Of all parties The written terms OF the duel
then read aloud in the hearing Of ALL Some expauat
ensued MS to the positions Of the prnc pals and the
ner Of holding the pistols II was finally understood that
each principal could face In any direction he might prefer
QpG act wv or MN r,-
TO the right or LETT 10 manner SO that the line Of d
recion Of the pato before the word are should be 10
plane at right angles to the line OF fire. Col Davis
being entitled 10 the choice Of poaor then selected that
which he preferred for his principal All pares being
announce the which be should give the word;
whereupon, COL Davis remarking that the manner
unnecessarily deliberate, Mr. Wise promptly replied that
be did not think so-the mode OF delivery was proper.
Mr. Old then ead he should give the word had an
nounced and rehearsed ntwce thereafter, Col D. making
no further objection The principals were placed Ia
position, each receiving hg pistol from the hand Of his
second The seconds then took position side by sde
standing next 70 bis own principal, such position being
best adapted to the irregular nature Of the ground Mr.
Aye't held his pistol down, Mr. Wise held hisup Mr. Old
gave the word.
Between the words ONE, and "two" Mr.. Aylett
raised his pistol little before the word " Stop Mr.
Ayett's pistol pointed horizontally towards Mr.
Wise; Immediately after the word 81 stop Mr.. Aylett
lowered his pistol without firing. Mr. Wise did not move
his weapon from its original position, but held it, pointing
upward, until the word stop" Immediately after which
he laid the barrel m MS LEFT hama resting It nsre sash
ed, What's the df1cultyP' Mr.. Old Immediately added
that med to be about the
word and raid, " Resume your positions;' and " Cen
temen remember that the word now given order to
fire."
The word being then repeated by Me-. Old, Mr. Aylet
fred deliberately about the word "two." Mr. Wise after
receiving the fire. turned from Mr. Ayett and dsch Urged
his pistol in the air. After this Mr. Ayett left bis posi-
ton and advanced towards Mr. Old. He was immediately
requested By M Old and Colonel Davis to return to his
position, which he promptly did
Colonel Davis accompanied by the surgeon on his sde
advanced to his principal asked IL he were hit received
negative answer, and returning, asked Mr.. Old what
proposition he bad 70 make Mr. Old replied he had
stbat he withdrew his principal from the 6eli; Mr.. Wise
having refused 10 fire at Mr. Ayet he c,uld not ask ano
Their fire." After short interval, Colonel Davis without
stood him gay thai he would not accep another fire il
were offered, 10 which Mr.. Old promptly repet he
"woud not the present occasion" Mr. Old announced
Afterwards repeated. that the affair was ended Mr.
Ayett approached the gentlemen who had acted
onds and said he wished Mr. Wise 10 be informed that he
'believed the offence offered him by Mr. Wise was
the result Of Misunderstanding, and wished by.