Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1872-11-09

body, but he was willing to accord to Mr..
Clay the privilege Of shooting him. IL was
his wish that Col. Benton should act his Sec
ond, but before making the request, he ascer-
tanned that the Colonel was blood relation OF
Mrs. CLAY. He afterwards choss Colonel Tat
nall and Colonel Hamilton. As soon as he re-
ceived the challenge he impaired to Colonel
Benton. in strict confidence, bis determination
not ts FIRE at Mr. Clay. Referring to this cir
cumstance, Colonel Benton relates an interest
ing incident. On Friday night he called on
Mr.. Clay for the last time before the hostile
meeting. There had been alienation between
them. and he wished to avow that there was
nothing personal in it. The family were in
the parlor, and the yougest child lay asleep
on a sofa. There were visitors, and the COL
ouel was obliged to wait until they were gone.
Mrs Clay, bereaved by the death OF her daush-
ters and a picture Of desolarion, was apparent
ly unconscious of the impending event. Mrs.
CLAW rctired-the two were left alone. A
brief amicable interview ensued. They part
ed at midnight.
The day for the duel came almost the hour.
1t was noon-thcy were to meet at half past
four. Mr.. Randolphs house was midway be-
tween Browns Hotel-now the Metropolitan
Mr.. Bentons stopping place, and George
town, through which the combstants had to
pass in order to cross over into Virginia at the
Little Falls Bridge. During the interval that
had elapsed, Mr.. Benton had heard netting
from Mr.. Randolph tsuchus his original de-
termination not to return Mr.. Clay's fire. lie
felt anxious to know that he was Stsadtast IN
this purpose, but dared not ask him the ques-
tien SO he fell upon the expedient of relating
his visit to Mr.. Clay the night belore-the
late sittins-the child asleep-the unconscious
tranquility Of the mother-and added how
different that all might he within few hours.
Mr. Randolp phi compreheuded the motive, and
his reply was delivered almost in a tone of re-
buke: :" | shall DO nothing to disturb the sleep
of the child or the repose Of the mether."
While this scene was enacted in one room,
the preparations for the duel were soing for
ward in another. Mr.. Randol ph wanted some
geld pieces to give to his seconds and Col.
Benton as keepsakes, in case Of fatal result,
and he dispatched his faithful servant a. john
Nv to the United States Branch Bask, on the
corner Of Fifteenth street and Pennsylvania
avenue, in which he kept his account. The
same banking house, but little changed, is
aow occupied by Riggs & Co. The servant
returned with the answer that the bank had
no gold. His personal interest in the hostile
encounter that was To- take place within the
hour did not restrain his resentment. In the
shrill tone peculiar to him, he screamed forth
his denunciatieus, and, mounting his horse,
rode down Pennsylvania avenue to the bank,
Johnny following at the regulation distance,
forty PAGES in the rear. Arrived at the bank,
he threw down his checks for the amount of
his deposit, over four thousand dollars. The
teller offered him packages of currency, which
be Indignantly declined, and demanded
money" withan emphasis that was startling
Immediately box after box Of coin was placed
upon the counter At this juncture the cash
icr stepped forward and told Mr.. Randolph
that the message conveyed by the servant was
a mistake the bank had gold, and he could
have what he wanted The matter being thus
adjusted, there was time for no further delay
in proceeding to the field of conflict.
The original determination of Mr.. Randolph,
not to fire at Mr.. Clay, was changed and this
is the explanation Of it: 1t had been agreed
between the seconds that ;he word, " " one,
two three, fire" should be given in quick sue
cesson, in order to reduce the result, as near
ly as possible, to chance. Mr. Clay objected
to this, because, not being accustomed to the
pistol, he might not be able to fire within the
time Mr. Randolph construed this objection
to he desire to prolong the preparatory words,
in order to get time to kill him, and he there
fore felt justified in returning the fire, that he
might disa lie Mr.. Clay.
The moment for placing" the men had
arrived. They approached aud courteously
sauted each other. They were stationed en-
a line sast and west--a small stump behind
Mr.. Clay a low, gravelly bank in the rear of
Mr.. Randolph The latter stood holding his
pistol in his hand, the nuzzls towards the
ground, when it prematursly exploded. Tho
annoyance to Mr.. Randolph was very great,
and he reminded his second that he had re-
nonstrat.d against the hair trigger. Mr..
Clay, with consummate delicacy, remark ed
that the fire was clearly accidental. The dis
charged pistol was replaced by a loaded one
The word was given. Both weapons were
discharged, AIR. Randelp ph's bullet fracturng
the stump behind Mr.. Clay, and Mr.. Cays
bullet disturbing the sravelly bank in tho
rear Of Mr. Randolph. Mediation was imme-
diateIy interpossd, but Mr.. Clay mpatsntly
demanded another fire, and Mr.. Randolph sus-
tanned the demand. He was annoyed at the
premature discharge Of his pistol, and with
himself for having changed his purpose not to
fire at Mr.. Clay.
While preparations were being made for the
second fire, be explained these things, and
avowed that ne only designed to spoil the aim
of his antayprist bv wouuding him below thu