The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-08-06
PISTOLS And COFFEE FOR Two.
The Fashionable World of
Newport Excited.
A Little Unpleasantne@ Between New York
Hospurs-Hard Words and Few Blows in
Club House Gotham's Chivalry FIX
perience sensation-An Affair
Of Honor in Prospect.

NEWPORT r. l., August s. 1871.
On Wednesday morning Of this week Mr.. James X.
Whitaker and his friend Mr.. A. W. Clason, or New
York. arrived in this city and were conveyed at
to the ocean House, where their individuality
was for the time being merged into the grand CON-
munity OF the guests In that huge caravansary-
merged so totally that up to last evening only their
personal acquaintances were aware of their pres.
ence; but last evening they suddenly TO fame.
The whisper began to be breathed in the club that
high toned resort OF the arstocratlc summer visi-
tor and thence spread to the hotels that those gen.
tlemen were here on errand little out of the
common order; in fact that they were here as prn-
cipai and second respectively OF renconire of the
chivarous type, to avenge the wounded honor OF Mr.
Whitaker. In short,
A DUEL WAS ON THE TAPIs,
As TO the cause, further than the common cause
which the wise Eastern rajah asserted was at the
bottom OF every trouble, gossip was divided. The
only fixed bearings from which to base q departure
were the facts that Mr.. Whitaker and another gen.
tleman, whom Dame Kumor named as Mr. Louis L.
Lorillard, had had dispute IN club house in New
York. and had come hitler to settle VI 20 arms;
that they first met on California steamer year
ago, as Mr.. Lorlard was returning from visit to
the land OF gold aud that the intimacy there con.
tracted was continued since their return also
ton on board the boat, and sundry charges
not wholly uncOnnected with game OF
cards that were passed, were treated as idle
fancies, well as the subsequent rumor of
the application OF ''he title backguard'' to the
former and sundry resounding saps to the face OF
Mr.. Whitaker by his chyalrous opponent; "for,n
said all who knew him, ''Whitaker is terrible man
when reused, and the slow process Of the duello
would not satisfy the revenge his naughty spirit
would crave upon the man who should lay his hand
upon his (Whitaker's face, In the way OF KIND
ness shaving" Those wretched sccptics-for
there were some VINO inslnuated that Whitaker
wouldn't fght--were laughed 10 scOrn and informed
that his California education had fitted him, If
his early tastes had not for the profession OF fire.
eater in resort o! fashion and folly like
Newport. An earthquake could not create
more OF a sensation han social scandal OF this
magnitude and the HERALD commissioner on visit.
ing the Ocean House and endeavorlng to ascertain
the facts in the case was made the recipient OF
sundry condolences from divers people On inqulr-
ing for Whitaker or Mr.. Clason the HERALD repre-
sentative found they were like "Betsy and ~ both
"out." But he waited patiently and little before
midnight had the pleasure OF Introduction to Mr..
whitaker,
THE REPUTED CHALLENGING PARTY.
found him tall and elegant young man OF some
lweny-ci light years. attred fashionaby In dark coat
ana trousers white vest, blue neCktie pearl hat
wearing no beard and being distinguished for a
suavity OF manner and pleasing grace of address
lie at once prOlesseu himself ready TO enter into
conversation, and an interview essentially follows
= HERALD CoMMIssroSEn-You are aware, ! pre.
sumo, Mr.. Whitaker, OF the stores afloat in which
your name IS prominently mentiOned9
Mr.. WHITAKhR-Ycs, sir; and | hope you do not
propose to prinS any such lies as that about me.
IocRALD CoMMIs,IoNSR-We shall certainly not
become a pubic matter, we would be happy to re-
celvc any authoritative statement on the subject.
general one that the statement is essentially false m
nearly every particular. The only desire / have Is
tnat that matter may be entirely ignored as false
Sut has printed an article which is simply
TISSUE OF FAIsEHOODs
deny t-that would be giving 1t an importance
which it does not deserve and securing additional
readers for the statement. The more you stir dirty
thing the worse 1t smells, and am not disposed to
crafty the paper TO that extent. No paper but %
nasty damned sheet like the sun would have printed
the statement. The paper IN question but q
very small circulation. believe, among decent
people, though 1t IS eagerly bought up by the pruri
scandal is u sweet morsel.
HERALD COMMissIOSER-Quite right, sir. win
particularly refer?
Mr. WHITAKEE-wc!l, sir, nearly the whole thing.
dld form an acquaintance with Mr. LOriard on
the California steamer, but that he ever addressed
me an unpleasant word or slapped my face Is un.
qualfedly false. My friends know 1t to be absurd,
ami was much amazed at reading II. The state
ment with regard to my engagement being broken
of IS equally iaIse. The father OF the young lazy
whom am engaged has pcen dead for over twenty
years; consequently he could not nerpose any seri
OlS objections at this time.
HERALD CoMMIssIoNER-So l should Judge I
am, thcn TO understand that the story Is raDrica-
ton out oil whole cloth, and that no unpleasant
tons exist between You and Mr.. Lorlari.
Mr.. WHIrAKER-The story IS plausiby con-
coCtcd, and there are so many lngeniOusy applied
circumstances That 1t becomes more than ever mis-
ol,n hnun hn.rVv Inafa
matter, except that wish nothing said about 1t. |
don't see now such story ever gained publicity.
ny ny friends will only laugh at 1t and care nothing
HERALD CoAMIssIoNEF-Ihen you received no
intimatlon that 1t was to be printed -
Mr. WHGrAkER-NO. sir. l can only imagine 1t
was prompted by desire to blacknail either Mr..
Lorlllalvl or myself; put as am IN New ork very
little III summer they would have great difficulty IN
finding ME.
HERALD CoMMrssIoSER-Then am to understand
that all this talk about duel IS simple iaisehoody
MI. WHiTAKER-I have already said that the state
ments are, In their essence, false. nave nothing
say nG he further 4R na Sa n'
This interview terminated, the HERALD CQmmis.
sioner retired to ms room and rumlnaled. Whlia.
not be drawn into any statements OF the difr,cuIy;
yet when the question OF the friendly relations be.
his idi6el Vas Strangely tonstraiaed, and he nes
taied BEFORE MAKING his evasive answer Mr.
Cason, OF course was under his principals eye and
Mr.. Whitaker did. Mr.. Lorilard was on board his
Tim yacht wanderer, tossing on the blue
waves of the Harbor, and inaccessible to a
newspaper man. "Barrin' he wor burd,n
as the freshman would say, ''or a great sayplg.n
But Mr. He tksner Ay, tnat was The man 10 be
interviewed on behalf of the Lorlilard sde 10 the
dispute. therefore resolved TO pursue the matter
further. and tins morning called on Mr.. Jonn q.
Hccksher, the reputed second OF Mr.. Lorlllard, at
his elegant cottage, corner OF Catherine ana First
streets. sending IN my card was at once ushered
into beautiful library, hung in cretonne and fur
nshed throughout III corresponding taste, the furni-
ture being covered with cretonne and The pattern OF
the rich moquette carpet harmonHng herewith.
Mr. Heckshcr Is Il gentleman Of perhaps thirty-dve
years OF age OF rather short but ROBUST figure. with
symmetrical and patrican face, destitute OF beard,
except Il small sandy mustache. lie was seated al
his desk writing, but received the representative OF
the HERALD with great courtesy. and motioning
HIM to seat requested him to proceed with MS
inquiries
HERALD CoMMrssIoNER--You are aware OF course,