Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1876-08-26

STREET FIGnr AT DANvILLE, NA.-Col.
Dechert, editor and proprietor of the
Daily Express, published at Danville,
Va, and formerly of the Hagerstown
jfaik, and brother.in-law to Mr.. David
Hout of this town, got into street
! fight with Mr.. Manning, one of the
editors of the Duly New', also OF that
city, few days ago. The difficulty
grew out of some sha-p-shoOiing which
! occurred through their respective news
papers. Col. Dechert gives the follow
inv account of the street encounter III
one of his last issues of the Express.
Col. Dan has got the sand on the gig
gard" and is able to take care OF him
self
The Editorial Street Fght-Blows
have been struck, pistol has been fired
and the streets of Danville he's been dis
graced by the street fight. Disgraced,
=. do we assert, for much do we deplore
the necessity that possibly gave rise to
an issue that ought never been thought
of by 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. 7. Manning "lit and
fought and fought and fit, the first one
with a cane, and the other party with a
cane and pistol, and it is now to be
wondered that one or the other OF the
combatants was not more seriously III
iured. Whilst we say and claim that
the whole affair was disgrace, yet we
claim that the issue was forced upon US,
and now that the storm has subsidized,
let us hope and trust that Danville will
not have to undergo such a painful In
Fiction 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 a brother editor in the
private walks Of life; we shall never,
we trust invade the sanctity of his home
by threats that will make his blood tin
ole with shame; we shall carefully alb
stain from billinsgate and language that
ought not to enter the family circle; but
we shall press steadily forward, APPROX
ing the right and condemning 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 characterized our course
in the past; and if need we shall defend
the truth as we yesterday done, at the
risk of our life. This, then, shall De
our sinfus in the future, aud while the
little Border Express Wagon keeps
toiling up the hill, we shall be 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 70
vain spirit of Boosting shall we make
this reference, for rather would we have
had the affair reported for us. MIR.
Manning was the attacking party, and
had laid in waiting for our coming from
the Court House, (where we had gone
on business) we have been informed,
for over an hour. As we passed up
! the street we noticed that Mr.. Man
nino's attitude was a hostile one, so we
prepared to defend ourself. AS we ap-
preached him we drew pistol, but MIR.
NJ. signifying that he ment to fight us
with his cane, we threw the pistol away,
and so the battle started with canes.
Mr.. NJ. had advanced upon us from one
side of the street to the other, but when
the blows began to fall, MIR. Manning
kept backing until he backed across the
street and into the gunsmith shop Of
Mr.. White, where we ran him against
the petition, and where he probably
would have been severely punished, but
that he drew a pistol at this juncture.
which he placed against our left breast
and fired Fortunately, the ball strlk-
ing a bone, stunned us, when the police
rushed in and put stop to further hos
| Titles
! During the progress of the fight not
word was spoked by either party, and
in the two minutes time that the fight
lasted, the street in the vicinity of the
Exchange became crowded with excited
citizens, who rushed to the scene. No
bones were fortunately broken, and
| speaking for ourself we have but a few
slight bruises on our left arm and hand.
Mr.. Manning we believe suffered from
blows on the head, neck and arm, but
to what extent we did not learn.
The sequel found both combatants
arraigned before Mayor Luck and Jo-
seph IIobson, Esq, who tried the case
before full house, finding both COM
batants in the sum Of $3.50 each, which
included costs.
This ended the editorial street fight,
which we repeat was disgrace to the
civilization of our city, and which, as
far as we are concerned, we hope will
never occur again, unless it should hap
pen that the rights of the peaceful DO
nestle circle should be invaded, when
we shall ever be found ready to resent a
great wrong.
Both parties would have heen bound
over to keep the peace toward each
other, but it was mutually agreed that
so far as anything III the past had hap
pened, all was to be buried in the past
Mr.. Manning and ourseif pledged our
word of honor to drop ali past issues
As to future ones, if Mr. NJ behaves