Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1872-10-24
[From the atlanta Sun, 19th.]
A Shocking Duel.

Between sundown and dark yesterday
afternoon the community was startled by
the announcement that Mr.. J. H. Town
send, a young lawyer Of this city, had
been shot in duel by Mr.. Houston T.
Force; that Townsend was mortally wound
ed, being shot with shot gun at few
PAGES distant; and that ten buck-shots
were lodged in Mr.. Townsend.
1t was difficult to obtain full and
satisfactory account Of the affair, but from
one or two witnesses to the sad oc-
currence we CLEAN the following
Our readers no doubt have read the
correspondence which appearedin the Sun,
of yesterday.
1t seems that no formal challenge was
passed, but that MIR. Force and Mr.. Hart
principal and second, considered the note
Of MI. Townsend, the second of Mr..
Haskell, as Indicative OF his willingness
to take Mr.. Haskelrs place; and having
declined to have any further communica
tion through Mr.. Joseph II. Smith, moth
ling remained but for the seconds to ar
range the preliminaries for meeting. Mr.
Forces friend was not informed of the
approaching meeting, ard Mr.. Force
chose Mr.. Crutchfeld, of Virginia, as his
second, Mr.. Townsend selecting Mr.. Geo.
Wallace, of this city, for his second.
Shot-guns charged with. ten buck-shot
cartridges were selected, and the parties
repaired in carriages to spot near the
cemetery, Mr.. Townsend and Mr. Wal
lace, and MIR. Penn Bedell, a friend of
Wallace, going in one carriage, and Mr..
Force and MIR. Crutchfeld in another
Mr.. B..W. Briscoe and DR.. W. F. West
moreland were near the place, and rem
dered assistance after Townsend fell
though they did not witness the combat.
They knew the meeting was contemplated,
and went out to try to prevent it-failing
in which, they refused to witness the
dreadful deed.
Itwas agreed that the antagonists should
stand twenty PAGES apart with their backs
to each other, and wheel and fire at The
word. The position and the giving Of the
word were determined by lot-Townsend
winning both, and Wallace, His second,
gave Iue SlSlldl
There are various reports about the
manner in which the word was given, and
the facts were not reliably ascertained by
US. It seems that the word fire" was
not pronounced at all. The most proba'
BILE account of the affair is that Mr.. Wal
lace cried out: care you ready? One
two-three p instead OF Fire One
two-three p; that Mr.. Force wheeled on
the word "one," and fired before the
word I" three" but that Mr.. Townsend did
not wheel promptly from some cause (pos-
sibly owing to the failure to give the
word correctly causing him to hesitate
Mr.. Bedell, who was only spectator,
called out saying, I" that is wrong, gentle,
men"-intending to arrest any shot till
the word could be correctly given, but he
was too late. It is alleged that several
seconds elapsed after Mr. Force had turn
ed round before he fired, as if he were
waiting for Mr.. Townsend to turn, or was
also confused by the improper word given,
and was hesitating. How all this was we
do not know. We do not giveall the re
ports we heard-only the one which seems
most likely to be correct. &
Be this as it may, Mr.. Townsend re-
ceived the contents of Mr.. Forces gun
as he turned round, in his left shoulder
and arm; and some ofsthe shot entered
his body behind the arm. He-fell instant
", and his gun was discharged in the air
as he fell. The bone in The arm above
the elbow was shivered.
Mr.. Bedell first reached him, and has
tened to give him water, which was his
first request. DR.. Westmoreland attended
him, and after he was brought home
number of physicians attended him and
rendered ali needed assistance. Mr.. Force
assisted DR.. Westmoreland to place him
in the carriage, returned to the city and
delivered him to lis rendering
his hand Us token of sympathy, recon-
citation and absence OF any personal i'll
will.
Mr.. B. w. Briscoe and DR.. Westmore-
land demonstrated and pleaded to arrest
the combat but without avail. 1t is un-
derstood that neither Mr.. Hart, Mr. Has
kell nor Mr. Joseph H. Smith knew any
thing of the combat till all was over-the
two latter not having any dream that
ANYTHING of the kind was on hand-so we
are told; while Mr.. Hart, it is said, ex-
pected to meet Mr.. Townsend upon the
issue presented in yesterday mornings
correspondence, perhaps to-day or to-mor,
row-being confined to a sick bed and
locked in by DR.. Westmoreland, his at
tending physician.
We learn that u warrant has been lssu-
ed for Mr.. Force. We do not know that
any effort has been made to arrest him.