The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1868-09-30

scious tranquility of Mrs Clay anna
81 could not help thinking" added
Col: Benton, chow differente all tha
might be thenext night" e-27 >;
Mr. Randolph quietly replied, as h
looked up from writing his ,wilr: 90 b
Il "F shah do nothing to disturb THE
lsleep!of The child or the reoose 9th,
mother. - I. 77se .fa-l 3fri o.Ea =
( A few minutes after be sent his man
servant to The. United States Branch
Bank to get rine pieces of poId-s
scarce conrno dity at that day as at pre-
Skept Fhe man soon returned, saving
that the bank had no god. INSTANTLY
the masters shriH voice was heard !, ex.
claiming. ~ as.. - II -1';fa.s ~
"Their name is legion! and they are
a set ofliars from the begipninga J5hh
! n.y., bring me my horse" s=-
q. A few minutes later he was at the
bank counter, asking the state > of his
accounts Four thousand dollars was
the amount of money he had in the
bank and he asked for it. The teller
took up some packages of bank notes,
and politely asked in what sized notes
he would have it. 'S"'@ 'r s''-- S2.a
II want my money" reared Mr.. RAN
dolph. u ',-e,'' = atv-a .aE b, --r
The teller, little puzzled, said
"You want silver?' -> g.
II want my money" replied the ir
table Senator.
The teller, lifting some boxes to the
counter. asked him, in his politest tone.
Have you a cart, Mr.. Randolph, TO
put it in?" h.s --s -
That's my business, sir" said the
Virginian. So. ~ y 'g's el
At this moment the cashier came
forward and ascertained what Mr.. Ran
dolph wanted, aud gave the nine peices
of gold, which he condescended to take
and returned with them to his lodgings
Then he gave Coll Benton a note, re-
questing him, f he was killed, to feel
in his left breeches pocket, and take
out his gold. Three peices were for
Col. Benton himself, for seal, and the
other six pieces were to be divided
among two other friends, for the same
purpose. -....--... ....-
1t was about sunset, in the thick for
est, on the Virginia side of the Poto
mac, that the antagonists met to decide
their differences by exchanging shots.
A pistol was handed to Mr.: Randolph,
loaded and set with hair trigger, and
it was accidently discharged while the
muzzlc was pointed to the ground Ran.
dolph was exceedingly mortified at the
accident. .. = -.
81 protest agrinst that hair trigger"
SAID he. .-..-.-..
Mr.. Clay instantly remarked ait
was clearly by ACCIDENT and every
one on the ground confirmed the asser-
tion.
Mr. Randolph, it seems, had chang
ed his mind, and was now determined
TO direct his pistol, if possible, SO as to
disable his antagonist without doing
anv serious injury. He came to this
determination after hearing that Mr..
Clay objected to the shortness of the
time allowed by the seconds for firing.
saying that he did not think he could
discharge his pistolin the time specified
Randolph misunderstood the remark,
and considered it indicative of q deter
mination on the part of Clay to infii,t
a fatal wound.
lf "He has determined" he wrote in
penciled note to Benton, Hto get time
to kill me. May I not then disable
him? Yes. if you please"
The men are placed. The pistols
were discharged. Both were remarka-
bly, we'll aimed. and each bullet came
within few inches OF its mark. Col.
Benton went forward and offered to
mediate between them. Mr.. Clay wav-
ed his hand as though putting away a.
trifie, and said.' -, -
"This.is child's play. Idemand an
other fire." ...1 sgs4s .4 u
Mr.. Randolph also demanded anoth
er exchange of shots. " hile the pis-
tolls were loading, Gel. Benton took
Randolph aside and implored him to
consent to an accommodation, but he
found him. restive and irritable. He
evidently regretted having aimed at his
aud he now explained to
Col Benton why he had done So, He
declared that he had aimed below Mr..
Clay's knee, 'for,e said he, it is no
mercy to shoot a man in the knee, aud
my only object was to disable him and
spoil his aim" He then added, in a
most impressive manner &c bl~a snea.
'I would not have seen him fall NOR
tally, even doubtfuily, wounded, for all
the land that is watered by the king of
floods and all his tributary streams.
The men we're placed second time,
and The word was given to fire. Mr.
Clay's bullet passed through Randolph's
coat. Randolph raised his pistol, dis
charged itiin the air, aud as he did he;
said: 9is'r -a a''5e En1 or.' a..-z |
II do not fire at you, Mr. Clay" I
; With these words he advanced and |
offered his hand, which. Mr. Clay took
with cordiality which became him.
i'"Y ou owe me a coat, Mr.. Clay" said
gaily. o., |
AZ am clad the debt is no greater"
was Mr. Clay's heppy reply. - :, . az II
The parties now returned to the city
with light hearts, OD 55reaching his
lodgings, the eccentric Randolph; ;stook
the nine pieces of gold from his pocket, I
and said to the 'thre friends for whom {
he had designed them W" . & n
"Gentlemen, Ciay's bad shooting |
sban't rob you Of Your seals. : I am 60
ing toLondon, and have them made
Ana 50 he aid fixing great care, too
10 get upon them the correct afmoriai |
bearings, Oh, tie Monday after the
J-ali ~ - ,,.x,.oa;,t Al. ~ rdSf |