Nebraska advertiser. [volume] (Brownville, Nemaha County, N.T. [Neb.]) 1856-1882, 1868-04-23

81 want my money" replied the irrita'
bic Senator.
The teller then, lifting some boxes to
the counter, asked him, in his politesi
tone:
''Hnve you cart, Mr.. Randolph, to
put it in?''
"That is my BUSINESS, sir" said the
Virginian.
At this moment the cashier came for
ward. ascertained what Mr.. Randolph
wanted, and gave him thenine pieces of
gold, which be coedescended 10 take,
and returned with them to bis lodgings.
There be gave Colonel Benton note,
requesting him, if he was killed, to feel
in his left breeches pocket, and take out
this gold. Three of the pieces were for
Colonel Benton himself, for a seal, and
the other six were to be divided among
two other friends, for the same purpose.
Il was about sunset, in thick forest,
on the Virginia shore of the Potomac,
that the antagonists met to decide their
difference by exchanging shots. A pistol
was handed to Mr.. Randolph, loaded
and sci with hair trigger, and it was
accidentally discharged, while the muz-
zle was pointed TO the ground. Rand
Olph was exceedingly mortified at the ac-
cident
II protested against thathair trigger"
said he.
Mr.. Clay instantly remarked: "It was
clearly an accident" and every one on
the ground confirmed the assertion.
Mr.. Randolph, it seems, had changed
his mind, and was now determined to
direct his pistol so as, if possible, to DIS
able, his antagonist without doing him
any serious injury. He comes to this
determination after hearing that Mr..
Clay objected to the shortness of time
allowed by the seconds for firing, say
ing that be did not think he could DIS
charge his pistol in the time specified
Randolph misunderstood the remark, and
considered it imdicotive of determina-
ton on the part of Mr.. Clay to infict a
fatal wound.
He has determined" he wrote, in a
pencilled note to Benton, "to get time to
kill me. May / not then disable him?
Yes. if please
The men were placed. The pistols
were discharged. Both were remark
ably we'll aimed, aud each ballet
came within few inches of It's mark
Colonel Benton instantly went for
ward, and offered to mediate between
them. Mr.. Clay waved his hand, as
though putting away a trife, and said:
This is child's play. Idemand another
fire."
Mr.. Randolph also demand another
exchange of shots. While the pistols
were loading, Colonel Benton took Rand
olph aside, and implored him to consent to
an accommodation, but he found him
restive and irritable. He evidently re-
GREETED having aimed at bis antagonist;
and he now explained to Colonel Benton
why he had done so. He declared that he
had aimed below Mr.. Clay's knee; "FOr, :"
said he, sit is no mercy to shoot man
in the knee, and my only object was to
disable him, and spoil his aim" He then
added, in his most impressive manner:
Il would not have seen him fall NOR.
tally, or even doubtfully wounded, for all
the land that is watered by the King of
Floods, and all his tributary streams"
The men were placed a second time,
and the words was given to fire. Mr..
Clay's bullet passed through RandOlph's
coat. Randolph raised his pistol, dis
charged it in the air. as he did so, said:
u do not fire at you, Mr.. Clay"
With those words he advanced. and
offered his hand, which Mr.. Clay took
with the cordiality which became him.
"You owe me a coat, Mr.. Clay" said
Randolph, gaily.
II am glad the debt is no greater"
was Mr., Clay's happy reply.
The parties now all returned to the
city with light hearts. On reach
ing bis lodgings, the eccentric Randolph
took the nine pieces or gold from his
pocket, and said. to the three friends for.
whom he had designed them:
"Genllemen, Clay's bad shooting
sha'n't rob you of your seals. am GO
ing ~ L.AI4@ ~ Ill hn.-a- them for
YOU"
Aud so he did, taking great care, too,
to get upon them the correct armorial
bearings. On the Monday after the
duel. the antagonists exchanged cards,
and they remained on terms of civilli'y
during the rest of their lives. Seven
years after, when Mr.. Clay was in the
Senate, and was expected to. deliver an
important speech, poor Randolph, who
was near his end, went to the Senate
Chamber TO hear once more the voice of
the grea: Keniuckian. As Mr.. Clay
rose TO begin his speech, Randolph said:
"Help me up, help me up. l came
here to hear that voice.
When the session was over, Mr.. Clay
offered his hand, and they had brief
but cordial interview.
re -.,,-,. l.. A., ,,ssboa fo ancoupOo 6ar