The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1877-01-26
THE SENNEg AsFAIg.
spaculatieas as - the Causes Of the Altarca-
tisn.

NEW YORK;. Jan. 4.-The assault or
james Gordon Bennett BY Frederick May,
On the sidewalk in front of the Union Club,
has literally been the town tank to-day.
"Ha zaast fight p resounded along the
fashionable avenues, the meaning being that
Bennett nust challenge May. There was
soaae difference of opinion, however, upon
the question: whether under the Gods a mar
who had been cowhided may properly send
challenge. Should Mr.. Bennetb assert
the right 70 challenge Mr.. May, the latter
it is said May properly refuse to acknowl-
edge any letter from the proprietor of the
Herald, although he could not honorably
refuse 10 give Mr. Bennett satisfaction af-
ter the publicity Of yesterday q pnmmeling.
Tbs friends, of both seemed to fancy that a
duel must follow the cowhiding. Members
of the Union Club said that they could not
understand bow a fight could be avoided.
Mr.. Frederick May, however, said this
evening: ST have heard something about
challenge from Mr.: Bennett, but have re-
ceiveG no word from him."
THE MYSTERIOUS CAUSE,
part uff tths affair that excites most
speculation, however, is relative to the
causes that led to the cowhiding. The
marriage engagement between Mr.. Bennett
and Miss May, while broken off by mutual
consent, was unquestionably ordered to be-
nullified by Miss Mays father, and un-
questionably one of the reasons was that
Mr.. Bennett had, in addition to being con-
tinually i'll his cups for a'year Or more, said
some things concerning Miss May at which
her family took offense. This talk is said
to have been made to some Of Benefits
club companions and it soon reached the
ears of the May brothers. With their
father they insisted that the match must be
broken. Miss May was willing to overlook
some Of Benefits eccentricities, but the
three insisted, and she agreed to try to ar
range an amicabte settlement; hence the
interview in which she told him frankly
that she could not live happily with him,
and in which he as frankly replied that he
was unworthy of her, and at which the en-
gagement was dissolved This was what
the brothers were waiting for, and then
they began to prepare to chastise Mr.. Ben
nett in public. tits said by one who should |
know that one of Mr.. Bennett's offensive
remarks in public place vas that he did |
not wish to marry Miss May and that he |
was tired of her society. He supposed he |
must marry her, but would give any man a |
hundred thousand dollars to take her off |
his hands. Benefits friends say that he |
would scorn to touch May in retaliation un-
less'in duel. They say it is idle to repre-
sent him as coward, and predict that he
will insist upon meeting.
As to the affray itself, the weight of tes-
ti1nony seems to be that May, with his little
across the face. each blow bringing blood.
Bennett then rushed ON May, and, making
a motion towards his hip pocket, gave May
the impression that Bennett was about to
draw weapon. May, therefore, struck
Bennett twice in the face, the second blow
K nocking him to the sidewalk, which was
soon stained with Benefits blood. Then
May coolly sat down for an instant on Ben
nett's body, and, rising, walked leisurely
away unmolested. Bennett was assisted
10 the club house.