Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1860-11-22
More About tho Bethany Dlmeu1ty


More About the Bethany Dimculty.
We remarked yesterday that We had re-
cei'ed second long communication from
Bethany, in regard to the fracas there
Since that we have received third ar
ttcle-this time in the shape of card
from Mr.. W. T. Hamilton, the person de-
signated in the Unions article, as the one
who did the firing at the Students. AL
though, as we said yesterday, we had de-
termined not to reopen our columns to
further discussions, either pro or con,
about the matter, having published what
we conceived to be the simple facts of the
difficulty, yet. for the sake of doing the
fair and square thing all around, and let
ting Mr.. Hamilton be heard in his own
defence, we make the following extract
from his card, dated West Middletown,
Nov. 10th, 1860:
In order that your readers may know
how the fracasS did occur, will briefly
state rs follows:
Serenteon Republicans from West Middle
town, Pa, were returning from meeting
held st West Liberty, Va, on the day
specified. Arriving ut the q peaceful viii
lage" of Bethany, where reside these
"Many Students" of ''cqtnr and peaceful
habits, we noticed on our right I'm assem-
hlage of what we supposed to be men, lis
tening to political harangue Upon
seeing US, they raised shout for .Bell,
( Breckenridge, and Wm. L. Yancey;'. and
/ dared us to shout fors.our own man. and
!. branded US with cowardice for not doing
so. The crowd left the speaker and ap-
preached our wagons, led by a mild,
gentle student, named Johnson, of Ten
eSsee with n club in one hand and bowie
knife in the other, closely followed by au
innocent looking vsltO'e, fellow named Car
vajal, also student at Bethany They
came close to the first wagon, Shouting for
their men, (Aourishing the bowie and cane
lustiEy) but our men passed them by with
out deigning reply, rs also did the sec
ond wagon. As the buggy in which was
seated came up, they were still hallooiny
for their men, and daring similar demon
strntion from us. l shouted for Lincoln.
whereupon perfect v0lley of stones was
hurled ut us, several of which struck our
buggy. Being fully convinced that we
were set upon by set of cowartily black
guards, drew my revolver. whirh keep
for the purpose of shooting dogs and
blackgunrdS, aud discharged four balls ut
stopped his bowling and throwing of rocks,
had not my first shot been accidentally
discharged. Upon hearing the report of
the pistol, the rest of the Middletowu party
jumped from their wagons and came to our
rescue. Those of :hem having firearms
used them for the purpose of keeping
hack the crowd, which theydid very effrctu-
ally. although we were in the midst of a
perfect shower of rocks all the while
After partially cxhauSting our ammuni-
ton, and feeling no inclination to waste
any more of our precious time in such So
ciety, we beto0k ourselves to our vehicles,
and giving three hearty cheers and a tirer
for Lincoln and Hasulin, we very deliber-
ately pursued our journey homeward. If
Gle signed ''Many Students" they were
very careful to keep entirely out Of sight
and hearing of US.
will here state that did advocate the
principles of the Bell-Eyecett party, not
only in Bethany, but also in this, my
native town, as any of its citizens can
testify. But this, to US. new modtts opcr-
dndi, as practtced by .'Many Students of
instilling their principles into the minds
of the people, considerably staggered my
faith in that party-so much SO. that I
felt more than ever that it was nav duty to
vote for honest Abraham Lincoln, OF
+ Springfield, Illinois, President elect OF
these United States
In regard to my having Joined the Wide
Awakes, will first say, it is a positire lie
as can truthfully say of the entire article
written by Many Students
Yours truly,