Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1877-06-19

] ""H ''''Ny VI ''C pSNPiS VI w oSh-
| ingtOn county"
said, Mr.. Fowler: l desire to know
whether, in this article, you had any
reference 10 me or my brothers
TO this l replied Maj. Campbell,
This is a general article : names no
one, and | do not think your question
is one necessitated by the nature of the
article.
He replied "Mr. Fowler, / desire
to know just to whom you refer in
| that article Pr
/ told him, II refer to the Court
House Ring. DO you mean to say
that you and your brothers compose
| the Court House Ring Pr
Said he, "Mr. Fowler, there have
been several such articles in your pa
per and l have determined to stop
! them ~
He Immediately and quickly drew
! from beneath his coat cedar club,
evidently prepared for the purpose,
and smote me with all Of his strength
across the head. The blow was a very
eavy one and, to q considerable eX-
tent, at once paralized me. Dr. John
ston at once took possession Of the en-
trance by posting himself just with
out the door. My position was one of
almost entire helplessness. The brick
wall of the building was on my left,
the end wall of the editorial room was
Immediately in my rear and on my
right was MY circular editorial-table.
My chair sat diagonally in this OPEN
ing, which was only large enough to
| allow me to sit in this position in it,
My feet were partially under the ia
BILE and the front legs of the chair
were supported by Blake's coiled steel
springs. The blow was struck with
out any notice whatever. 1t was i'm
possible to push the chair back ward
or to either side, and, as it was thrown
partially back ward by the spring, my
effort TO bring my body forward, 80 ag
to rise from the chair failed, and the
springs returned it to its former posi-
ton, when | was struck upon the head
another stunning blow with the club.
| could only free myself from the
chair by throwing my body forward
in a position almost horizontal and
in this position, | was struck u third
blow by this modern
"JUBILUM"
and felled to the floor. My assaiIant
than sprang upon me and kept club
bling me until
ICALLED TO MR.. SMITH
| and asked him if l was to be "mur-
dered by two brutal rufIians and have
no assistance" To this he responded
| that there was no one there but him
self, and that he was prevented from
aiding me by
DIR. JOHNSTON,
whom | heard say, mo, God damn
'you, you can't interfere. Major
Campbell shall have his satisfaction.
"By God, mean to
SEE FAIR PLAY :"
| was then upon my back in the floor
and Major Campbell was over me,
beating me with the club.
Here was lineal descendant of the
illustrious Princess Pocahontas calling
this "fair play" and swearing it
should go on. Hee was the club Of
the ruillan descending on an unpro,
tected head. Gods, what contrast
Pocahontas threw the royal figure Of
woman beneath the club Of the exc
cutioner and cried "strike me, but
save the friend of my father, King
Powhatan." But here was her de-
scendant, with His stalwart hand up
on his pistol, swearing that this ruff
fan should brain the friend of his
father, the L. S. Senator. Here was
her descendant saying to the feeble
foreman of the Ne,Os office, "NO, God
damn you, you shall not stay the war
club Of this brutal assassin.
Here was the son of "mine own ia
miliar friend" John w. Johnston,
whom / had thrice aided in making
U. S. Senator, and who, in his Sec
Ond struggle for that most exalted
honor beneath the Parliament of Eng
land, came to me and
"Did cry, Help me, Cassius, or I sink"-
Here was his son, standing as an arm
ed sentinel, swearing l should be
Drained with the bludgeon of this
bully.
Stung by the damnable infamy Of
such treachery, bleeding and paralized
though | was, l determined to die
rather than surrender. l succeeded
in catching hold of the club with one
hand and then the other, and, after
kicking him repeatedly while on my
back, he calling Justify to me "let 60
my stick, sir 90 sprang to my feet
and for the first time stood
FACE TO FACE WITH THE COWARD,
both clutching the club. After wait
ing to see that he could do no more
harm and fearing that | might recov-
err sufficiently to protect myself, Dr.
Johnston turned to Major Campbell
4