The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-11-01
A TERRIBLE ENCOUNTER.
The Political Meeting that Ended in n Horri-
flying Combat Between an ex-United
States Minister and n Mail Agent.


States Minister and n Mail Agent.
A writer in Western paper, giving
some "reminiscences Of Cassius M. Clay,
once United States Minister to Russia,
tells the following story of an appalling
incident in his career Mr.. Clay's duel
with Robert Wickliffe, Jr., grew out of
some remarks made by the latter in
public speech when they were running
for the Legislature in Fayette county, Ky.
They fought on Mr.. Clay's challenge,
ing exchanged without effect. owing, Mr..
dead shots), to the inferior quality of the
powder employed. His seconds, one Of
whom was Albert Sidney Johnston, re-
fused to countenance Clay's demand for
another fire, and the duel ended thus,
but without reconciliation, Three
years later, when Garrett Davis was run
ming (in the Wing interest) against
Wickliffe for Congress, Mr.. Clay warmly
opposed Wickliffe, and followed him
through the canvass, making habit of
publicly contradicting Wickliffe when he
spoke. Wickliffe declared that he did
not notice these Interruptions because he
thought Clay wanted to fasten another
quarrel on him. Clay declares that
Wickliffe's friends conspired to provoke
him into brawl at Russells Gave, where
political meeting was to be held, Au-
gust /, 1874, mail agent, Samuel M.
Brown, being summoned to Kentucky to
do the work. The meeting was held !;
Wickliffe spoke, and Clay interrupted
his statement with q denial, pulling q
paper from his pocket and announcing
that he was prepared to prove his words.
Brown then called him liar and struck
at him with an umbrella, Clay retorting
with the butt-end OF his whip. Suspect
ing a concerted attack, Mr.. Clay at
tempted to draw his knife, but was
seized and dragged distance of fifteen
feet. Releasing himself he heard Brown
cry out, "Clear the way" and line was
Immediately opened between them,
Brown with cooked pistol in his hand
taking deliberate aim at him. Clay adj
vanced upon him with his knife. Brown
waited until they were within four feet
of each other, and fred. The bullet
struck the silver mounting on the scab-
bard of Clay's knife, directly over his
heart. He was staggered by the shot,
but reached Brown, and dealt him ter
rible blow directly on the top of his
head. laying the skull open and exposing
the brain. The friends of Brown again
seized Clay, and caught his arms Just
above the elbows, which interfered with
his handling his weapon, but in spite of
it he continued hacking away at Browns
head and face, inhicting horrible injuries.
He cut out one OF his eyes, split his nose,
cut off IN ear and sliced his face in a
dozen places, so disfguring him that his
most intimate friends subsequently failed
to recognize him. Clay himself was
struck with chairs, canes ard fists by
outsiders to make him desist, but with
out effect, owing to his prodigious
strength, until finally it was found
necessary to throw Brown over an adioin-
ing fence to prevent his being killed out
right. The last blow Clay aimed at him
mark remained there for many year.
When the combat was over Clay raised
his bloody knife aloft and cried out 81
reiterate my statement, and defy any one
i'll this crowd to dispute it." No one,
however, cared to challenge the accuracy
of his information under the circum-
stances. For the offense of mayhem
Mr.. Clay wns subsequently put on his
trial, but Browns evidence was SC
straightforward and truthful that it &C.
quilted him. Mr.. Clay, impressed with
his adversary's manliness, sought re.
conciliation, but Brown rejected all his
overtures. In October, 1S45, Brown
was killed in a fearful steamboat ex.
plosion his son afterwards was al
officer under Clay in the Mexican wal
and his warm friend.