The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1868-10-02

but calm conversable, and without the
slightest apparent consciousness Of the
impending event.
When at length the family and the
company had all retired Colonel Ben
ton approached Mr.. Clay and assured
him that his personal feelings toward
him remained the same as formerly,
and that in whatever concerned his
life or honor, Mr. Clay had his best
wishes. The Secretary Of State re-
sponded cordially, and at midnight
they parted. The next morning Colo;
mel Benton called upon Randolph,
chiefly anxious to learn whether he still
retained his intention not to fire. He
told him of his visit to Mr. Clay the
night before-of the late sitting-the
child asleep-the HHeOncious tranquil
ity of Mrs. Clay.
81 could not help thinking" added
Colonel Benton, show different all that
might be the next night"
Mr.. Randolph quietly replied, as he
looked up from writing his will.
~ shaH do nothing to disturb the
sleep of the child or the repOse of the
mother"
A few moments after he sent his
tman-seryant to the United States
Branch Bank to get nine pieces of gold
"a scarce commodity in that day as at
present. The man soon returned, say
| ing that the bank had no gold. In
stantly the masters shrill voice was
heard, exelaiming:
"Their name is legion and they are
set of liars from the beginning !
Johnny, bring me my horse"
A few minutes later he was at the
bank counter, asking the state of his
accounts. -Four thousand dollars was
the amount Of money which he had in
the bank, and he asked for it. The
teller took up SONS packages of bsnk
notes, and politely asked in what
sized notes he would have it.
Il want my money" roared Mr..
Randolph.
The teller, little puzzled, said you
want silyer3" {
81 want my money" replied the
irritable Senator. 81
The teller lifting some boxes to the
counter, asked him, in his poitest
tone
"Have you a cart, Mr.. Randolph,
to put itin!"
''That's my business, sir" said the
YirgiDian. III
At this moment the cashier came
forward, ascertained what Mr.. Ran
dolph wanted, aud gave the nine
pieces of gold, which he condeseended
to take, and returned with them to
his lodgings There he gave Colonel
Benton note, requesting him if he
was killed, to feel IN his left breeches.
pocket, and take out his gold. Three
pieces were for Colonel Benton him
self, for a seal, and the other six were
to be divided among two other friends
for the same purpose.
1t was about sunset in a thick
forest on the Virginia side of the
Potomac, that the antagonists met to
decide their differences by exchanging
shots. A pistol was handed 10 Mr..
Randolph, loaded and set with a hair
trigger, and it was accidentally dis
charged while. the muzzle was pointed
to the ground, Randolph was exceed
ingly mortified at the accident
81 protest against that hair-trigger,
said he. /
Mr.. Clay instantly remarked; at
was clearly an accident" !" and every |
one on the ground confirmed the
Mr., Randolph, it seems bad changed |
his mind, and was now determined to |
direct. his pistol, if possible, so as to |
disable his antagonist without doing
any serious injury. He came to this
after hearing that Mr..
Clay objected to the shortness of time
allowed by the seconds for firing, |
saying that he did not think he could |
his pistol in the time speci-
fed. Randolph misunderstood the
remark, and considered it indicative of
q determination on the part of Clay to
infict fatal wound. /
"He has determined" he wrote in a
pencilled note to Benton, ''to get time
10 kill me. May I not then disable
hint Yes if L please" " 30 -7.5
The men we're placed. The pistols
were discharged. Both were remark
ably well aimed, and each bullet came
within few inches Of its mark. Col
onel Benton instantly went forward
and offered to mediate between them.
Mr.. Clay waved his hand, as though
putting away a triAe, and said:
"This is child's play. l demand
another fire"
Mr.. Randolph also demanded an
,ther exchange of shots. While the
pistols were loaded, Colonel Benton
ook Randolph aside and implored him
o consent to an accommodation, but {
le found him restive and irritable. He {
regretted having aimed at
lis antagonist and he now explained s
o Colonel Benton why he had done SOL
lie declared that he mad aimed below ,
Lr. Clay's knee; ''for," said he, st is |
10 mercy to shoot man in the knee,
md my only object was to disable him
md spoil his aim" He then added, in
lis most impressive manner:
81 would not have seen him fall '
even doubtfully wounded, for {
Il the land that is watered by the king S
f floods and all his tributary streams, &
The men were placed a second time, G
md the word was given to fire. Mr.. +
Jlay's bullet passed through Randolph's t
.oat Randolph raised his pistol, dis I