The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-10-28
CAsIus NJ CLAY.
SOME OF HIS DUELs AND RENCON-
TRES. a~@e ~ z

- a. ~ S@
His DimcuIties with Robert wickiire,
7. +. Marshall, tCyrus Turner, s,Rsrs
And Others.aa..-. 80
Mr.. Olay's duel with Robert Wick
life, Jr.. grew out of some remarks
made by the latter In a public speeeh,
when they were running for the Legis.'
lature Id Fayette county. They fought.
on Mr.. cClay's challenge, near Louis
Vile, May@'15, 1871. shots being ex-
changed without effect, rowing, Mr..
Clay has always held (sinee both were
dead shots),2 to the interior quality OF
the powder employed. His seconds,
ston q refused to s oou nn Giays Dc:
mand for another fire, and the duel
ended thus, but without q reconcflia.
ton. Three years later, when Garrett
Davis was running On the Wing
] interest) against Wickliffe for Con-
press, Mr.. Clay warmly opposed
] Mr.. Wickliffe, and followed nifn
through the canvass, making q
habit OF publicly contradictipg WICK,
life when he spoke. FWickif1e declared
that he did not notice these Interrupt
Z tions because he thought Clay wanted
] to fasten another quarrel on him. Clay
] declares that Wickliffe's friends con-
) spired to provoke him into q brawt at
Russell's Cave, where political meet
ing was to be held August !, 1874, a mail
agent, Samuel M. Brown, being sum
x1oned to Kentucky to dothe work. The
meeting was held, Wickliffe spoke and
Clay Interrupted his statement with
denial, pulling paper from his pocket
and announcing that he was prepared
To prove his words. Brown then called
him damned liar and struck at him
with an umbrella, Clay retorting with
the butt-end OF his whip. Sus.
pecting concerted attack, Mr.. Clay
attempted to draw his knife. but
was seized and dragged, distance OF
heard Brown1cry out. Clear the way"
and a line was Immediately opened be-
tween them, Brown with q cooked pistol
In his hand taking deliberate aim at
him, Clay advanced upon him with bis
knife. Brown waited until they were
within four feet Of each other, and fired.
The bullet struck the silver mounting
. on The scabbard Of Olay's knife, directly
over his heart. He was staggered by
the shot, but reached Brown. and dealt,
him a terrible blow directly on the top
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, infltct-
ing horrible injuries. He cut out one Of
his eyes, split his nose, cut off his ear
and sliced his face in dozen places, 80
disf1guring him that his most fnti-
mate friends subsequently, failed to
recognize him. Gay himself hnse was vas
fists by outsiders to make him desist,
but without effect, owing to his prodi-
gious strength, until finally it was found
necessary to throw Brown over an adj
Joining fence to prevent his being killed
outright The last blow Clay aimed at
him struck the topof the fence, and the
mark remained there for many year.
When the combat was over, Clay raised
his bloody knife aloft and called out:
Il reiterate my statement and defy any
one in this crowd to dispute it," No
one. however, cared to challenge the
accuracy OF his Information under the
circumstances. For the ofense OF
mayhem Mr.. Clay was subsequently put
on his trial, but Browns evidence was
80 straightforward and truthful that It
acquitted him. Mr.. Clay, impressed
with his adversary's manliness, sought
q reconciliation, but Brown rejected all
was killed in q fearful steamboat explo-
sion; bis son afterwards was an officer
under Clay In the Mexican war and his
warm friend. sy,s~suu,.~~
y Meanwhile June, 1857 Mr.. Clay had
begun the publication at Lexington of
his True american, an avowedly aboli-
tion paper, conducted with his usual
yehemence. The citizens, constituting
his object to be the melting Of the ne
groes to violence and rapine, though he
held that he was only warning the white
population what might follow as con-
sequence OF slavery, addressed him q
cation would be tolerated. go, tell
your secret conclave of cowardly assas-
SINS" Was Mr.. Clay's characteristic re-
ply to the delegation sent to him, that
Cassius M. CLAY knows his rights and
p will defend them" and "from the sick
bed OF q mont" was then lying i'll
of typhoid fever-he penned still more
bitter appeal to the public. An excited
public meeting was held, which, after a
that no abolition press should be toll
Grated in Kentucky, and appointed a
committee Of sixty to seize the True
american Office, pack up the material
and ship it back to Cincinnati. Among
these sixty were George W. johnson,
Confederate Provisional Governor In
1861; James B. Clay, q son OF ''Harry Of
the West" and VIM. h. Mckee, Clay's
second in his duel with Wickiiffe. The
committee proceeded in the most sys-
tematic manner, holding itself RESPONSE
BILE for whatever might be destroyed or
lost. Printers were appointed to take
down tho press and others to put up the
type, and che Secretary took list Of the
property as it was packed up. The desk
containing Mr.. Clay's private papers,
by unanimous resolution, was sent to
his house. The committee as directed
by the meeting, notified him by letter
that the press, type, ETC.. had been care
fully put up and shipped by railroad
and steamer to Cincinnati, subject to
his order, and that the charges and ex-
penses upon them had been paid.
Clay at that time was lying i'll or there