The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-08-23
EDITORIAL FIGHT.
LIVELY TIMES IN THE STREETS OF DAN
yILLE-Two BROTHERS OF THE QUILL
GET ANGRY AND ATTEMPT TO PUNISH
EACH OTHER.
from the Danville Express


fired, and the streets OF Danvilc have been
disgraced by street-fight. Disgraced, do
we assert, for much do we deplore the ne
cessity that possibly gave rise to an issue
that ought never have been thought Of bya
man who understands the true mission Of
journalism. The fight is now over; it seems
it had to come but we claim that it was
wicked issue that brought it about. Two
editorS-Daniel Dechert and w. T. Man.
ming" fit and fought, and fought and fit"
the first one with q cane, and the other party
with a cane and a pistol, and 1t is now to be
wondered that one or the other OF the COM
batants was not more seriously injured.
Whilst we say and claim that the whole at
fair was n disgrace, yet we claim that the
issue was forced upon us, and now that the
storm has subsidized, let us hope and trust
that Danvlle will not have to undergo such
n painful inliction again.
For our part, we shall pursue but one
course in the editorial conduct OF this paper,
and that is to carefully refrain from attacks
on brother editor in the private walks Of
life. We shall never, we trust, invade the
scanctity OF his home by threats that will
make his blood tingle with shame. We shall
carefully abstain from billingsgate and lam
guage that ought not to enter the family
circle: but we shall press steadily forward,
approving the right and condcmning the
wrong, regardless of fear or favor from any
quarter. We shall continue to be liberal in
our views, but will resent an insult with the
same spirit, the same determined zeal, and
the same force OF words that has character
lied our course in the past; and. il need,
we shall defend the truth, rs we yesterday
done, at the risk OF our life. This. then,
shall be our status in the future; and while
t.1o ri
ing up the hill we shall DC thankful for all
the help that may flock to US.
And now we shall briefly refer to the
! fight as it occurred yesterday, and in no
vain spirit OF Boosting shall we make this
reference, for rather would we have had
the affair reported for Us. Mr.. Manning
was the attacking party, and had laid in
waiting for our coming from the court
| house (whcrc we had gone on buSiness), we
! have been informed, for over an hour. AS
! we passed up the street we noticed
that Mr.. Mahning'S attitude was u
hostile one, so we prepared to defend
ourseli. AS we approached him we
drew pistol, but Mr.. Manning
signifying that he meant to fight us with his
cane, we threw the pistol away, and so the
battle started with canes. Mr.. Manning had
advanced upon us from one side OF the
!
| gan to fall Mr.. Manning kept backing until
| he backed across the street and into the
gunsmitl-shop OF Mr.. White, where we ran
him against the partition, and where he
probably would have been severely punish
ed but that he drew Il pistol at this june
! ture, which he placed against our left breast
and fired. Fortunately the ball striking n
bone stunned us, when the police rushed in
and put a stop to further hostilitieS.
During the progress OF the fight not a
word was spoken by either party, and in
the two minutes time that the fight lasted
TIC street in the vicinity OF the Exchange
became crowded with excited citizens, who
rushed to the scene. No bones were for
tunatcly broken; and speaking for oursclf,
we have but few slight bruises on our left
suffered from blows on the head, neck, and
arm, but to what extent we did not learn.
The sequel found both combatants az
raigned before Mayor Luck and Joseph
Hobson, Esq, who tried the case before 4
full house, finding both com5atan in the
sum OF $3.50 each. which included costs.
This ended the editorial Street-fght,
which, we repeat, was disgrace to the civ
! iization OF our city, and which, as far rs
we are concerned. we hope will never occur
again, unless it should happen that the
rights Of the peaceful domestic circle should
be invaded, when we shall ever be found
ready to resent a great wrong.
Both parties would have been bound over
! to keep the peace toward each other, but it
was mutually agreed that so far as anything
in the past had happened, all was to be bu-
ried in the past. Mr.. Manning and ourself
pledged our word OF honor to drop all past
issues. AS to future ones, if Mr.. Manning
behaves himself and lives up to the letter
and spirit Of true journalism, we will prom
Use him that he will never have occasion to
attempt to scotch the little Border Express
Wagon while it Is toiing up the big hill!
[Mr. Manning's account of the affair has
not yet reached the Dispatch otice.]