Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1877-02-22
The Graves CilIey Duel.

duel TODD place in 1887. Mr.
Wise was the second Of the for
mer, and George w. Jones, of
Iowa, the second of the latter
1t grew out of an attack by Mr.
Cilley on James Watson Webb, of
the Courier and Enquirer
Graves first acted as the friend
of Webb, when CiIley refused tc
be accountable for words spoken
in debate. Aquestion of veracity
having subsequently, arisen,
Graves became principal, and
acted by the advices of Henry
Clay. Mr.. Wise was opposed to
the duel, and desired TO delay it,
and, ii possible settle the affair by
negotiation. He declined several
times to bear the challenge to Mr..
Chilley; and, on the last occasion
of his doing SO, Mr.. Graves sp-
pealed to Messrs. Clay and Me-
nefee to bear witness that-on one
occasion, in the absence of MIR.
Wise from the House of Repre-.
sentaves, he had without asking
the right or wrong of Mr.. Wise's
controversy, taken up his person
al quarrel, and was ready to fight
for him-that he had more conf
dence in him than any one else
as his friend on the ground; and
that if he (Wise suffered him to
60 upon the field without guard
ing his lie and his homer, and be
was brought back a corpse. be de-
sired his wife, bis children and
his friends to know that he (Wise)
had failed to stand by him after
he knew that he was determined
to fight" Wise could not with.
stand this appeal. He carried
the challenge to Mr.. CiIley, cop
led by Mr.. Graves from Mr.. Clay's
manuscript. Mr.. Wise had, how
ever, resolved to prevent, if posi-
bic, the hostile meeting.
After nightfall Mr-Georce w.
Jones brought an acceptance, and
the terms proposed-eighty yards,
with rifles. Mr.. Wise demurred
Mr. Clay instantly exclaimed, ,'No
Kentuckian can back out from a
rifle MIR. Wise's object still be
ing that of delay, lie met Mr..
Jones the next morning, and said
he must have time to go to Phila-
delphia for rifle, as he did lot
know where else 10 get one that
was reliable. Mr.. Jones replied,
Certainly, sir, there must be a
gun Nhich-can be relied on in the
whole District of Columbia |! A"
At this answer Mr.. Wise was
somewhat provoked, and replied,
"lf you know Of one, sir, | Iwould
be glad if you would furnish me
with it," Thereupou the next
morning, rifle, powder flask,
bullet molds, &C., were found up
on Mr.. Wise's table, with a polite
note rendering the rife. &c. "tc
Mr.. Graves" ;" Graves was a very
bad and CIlley a crack shot; yet
at the third slot the latter was
shot, and died in few moments.
His death led to great public
excitement, and committee of in
vesiigation was ordered by the
House. The chief onus of the af-
tair was sought to be placed on
Wise; and even those with whom
he bad acted from pesopal motives
rlis opinion 20 prevail in
order to shield themselves. Mr.
James Watson Webb, in lS42,'al. |
legged in the Courier aud En-
quirer that MIR. Wise had institu-
Ted tn duel. Such a charge was
totally unjust, emanating as il did |
from Mr.. Webb, who was directly |
connected with the affoir. Soon |
after this allegation had appeared |
in the Courier and Enquirer,
Mr.. Wise published the facts of
the case in the MadisoniaR. Mr..
Clay replied, admitting his whole
part in the affair and generally
justified Mr.. Wise as well as him.
self.