Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1877-11-01
CASSIUS M. CLAY,
His Desperate and Bloody ARRAY
with Sam M. Brown,

| GASSkUS M CLADs
His Desperate and Bloody ARRAY
/ with Sam NJ. Brown.
A correspondent Of the Cincinnati
Commercial, writing "reminiscences OF
Csssius NJ. Clay, gives the following:
In 1874, Wickliffe and Garret Davis
were opposing candidates for Congress,
from the Fay ette district, the former
on the part of the Administration (fy-
Ter, Democratic), and the latter repre-
senting the Wing party. Mr.. Clay
warmly opposed the election of Wick
life. He followed him through the
canvass and made it u habit of public
iy cuntradicting bis statements when
speaking. WickIiffe paid no atten-
tlon to these Interruptions, believing
it to be Clay's purpose to fix another
quarrel upon him, but they were re-
peated so frequently that it began to
affect his popularity and jeOpardize his
election. Clay beId that a conspi-
racy was entered into by the friends of
Wickliffe, of which the latter had
knowledge, to get him into a brawl
and xiii him. For this purpose Samuel
M. Brown, of Kentucky, at the time a
special mail agent under appointment
from Charles A. Wickliffe, then Post
master General, who was in New Or
leans, was summoned to Kentuck v.
Brown was we'll come ted-a cousin
by marriage. | think, of the late DIR.
Robert j. Breckiuridge-and had a
widespread notOriety as fighting
man. H"He had fought fifty fights"
said General Clay, land had never
been whipped" A short time before
he had exchanged shots with Free
Tom Moore, whose celebrated contest
with x-Gov Letcher for a seat in the
National House of Representatives,
will be readily recalled. This conspi-
racy was cOncocted in ASntOn's tavern
in LIegingtOn; Brown, Ben Wood, Dr..
Cross, Of Pennsylvania University, and
Ashton, being the parties. A political
meeting was to be held at Russell's
Cave the following day, which Wick
life aud Davis were expected to ad-
dress. Clay was sure to be there, and
make his usual Interruptions. Brown
WAS then to commence the row by in
sulting him. When resented. his con-
federates were to supply him promptly
with the means of defense, and with
their combined aid short work was to
be made of Clay. This, be it repeated,
is General Clay'5 impression of the
matter. 1.-THE understandings" he says,
twas to get me into fight and silence
me-"
The meeting at Russell's Cave (Au-
gust l, l844) came off. Mr.. Wickliffe,
in the course of his speech repeated the
Objectionable statement, when Clay
again interrupted him with a denial,
and, pulling paper from his pocket,
said that he had document with him
to sustain his denial, and if opportuni-
ty was allowed would read it. At this
moment Brown approached him and
called him id liar, at the same
time striking him with an umbrella.
Clay struck back with the butt end Of
his carriage whip, and then, from
movement in the crowd, suspecting
that his life was to BIZ attacked, he
attempted to draw his knife, but
was seized and prevented, and in the
struggle dragged distance of twelve
OF fifteen feet. When he had su ceed.
ed in releasing himself he heard Brown
cry out, "Clear the way," and a line
was Immediately opened between
them. He then discovered Brown with
a cooked pistol in his hand, taking de-
liberate aim at him. He advanced
upon him with his knife. Brown
waited until they were within four feet
of each other and fired. The bullet
struck the silver mounting of the scab-
bard of Clay knife, which, in the hur-
ry of upsheathing, he had pulled di-
rectly over his heart, and to this prov
idential circumstance he owes his life.
He was staggered for moment, but
finally reached Brown and dealt him
terrible blow directly on top of his
head, laying the skull open and expo
sing the brain. "Had it been direct
blow, Colonel" he said to me in rela-
ting the story, 81 would have driven
the knife clean through to the nape of
of his neck"
At this moment the friends of Brown
again seized Clay. They caught his
arms just above the elbows, which in.
terfered with his handling his weapon,
but in spite OF it he continued hacking
away at Browns head and face, in
flicting horrible injuries. He cut out
one of his eyes, cut off his nose, cut off
an ear and sliced his face in dozen
places, so disfiguring him that his most
intimate friends subsequently, failed to
recognize him. While this was going
on Clay himself was struck with
chairs, canes and fists, by outsiders to
make him desist, but without effect,
owing to his prodigious strength, until
finally it was found necessary to throw
Brown over an adjoining fence to pre-
vent his being killed outright. The
last blow Clay aimed at him struck the
top Of the fence, and such was its force,
that the mark remained there for
many q year.
When the combat was over, Clay
raised his bloody knife aloft and called
out: ~ reiterate my statement, and
defy any one in this crowd to dispute
i'll" At that moment no person could
probably have been found disposed to
deny any assertion Mr.. Clay might
choose to make.
Terrible as Browns injuries were, he
recovered. Clay was indicted in the
Fsyette Court for mayhem. He Was
defended by Henry Clay and John
Speed Smith. Brown was examined
as a witness for the Commonwealth,
and his testimony was so straig ght for
ward and truthful that 1t aided in
Clay's acquittal, and won his respect
and.admiration, and he sought a recon.