Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1878-05-31
The Bennett-May Duel.

The New York Times, on the author
ity of Mr.. George Wilkes, publishes the
following account of the Bennett-May
duel in January last year: sa.t'
There were five persons present at
the Bennett-May duel-two principals.
two seconds and surgeon, who acted
for both parties. The latter. in fa-
miliar conversation in February last.
on the evening previous to Mr.. Wilkes
departure for Havana, gave him a re-
cital of what took place at that reneontre.
Both parties brought their own pis-
tolls. Those of Mr.. Bennett were hair
triggers, new, of the finest fashion,
most delicately balanced, and with all
the latest improvements. Those of Mr..
May were less elegant and less nicely
finished than Mr.. Benefits, and, as It
turned out, very hard upon the trigger:
the one that Mr.. Bennett got was so,
at least.
The party took their places, and the
word was given to fire. The direction
was to fire at the word L" fire." and not
after the word "three." Almost in
stantly upon the word Mr.. May fired.
Zone, two, threer' followed, and Mr..
Bennett, who pulled at his trigger, and
evidently with the best will in the
world, did not succeed in getting his
weapon off. He was baffled by the
hardness, or, rather, the stiffness, of
the lock. 1t was an exciting moment.
No one who looked at his eye as it bore
straight across the angry wound which
his opponent had inflicted upon his
face few days before (while his arms
were entangled in his coat, could
doubt for a moment what he then meant
to do; but the ineffective pistol ex-
hausted the lone, two, three byrits
| reluctance and dropned harmlesslv by
his side. His second at once inter-
posed and claimed that, as Mr.. Bennett
had suffered his risk and disadvantage
through no fault of his own, he was en-
titled to return shot at Mr.. Nav.
The claim being according to rule was,
of course, allowed, and Mr.. May took
his place, empty handed, before Mr..
Benefits pistol. The fatal disc of the
avenging weapon covered him as the
merciless word was given, but the face
of Mr.. Bennett changed as he saw his
opponent at his mercy, and before the
signal words were counted out he had
forgiven him and fired into the air.
The Baltimore Sun has this account
of the duel:
But four persons were witnesses of
the May-Bennett duel at Marydel, be-
ing the principals and their seconds.
The surgeons were within reach, but
neither of them was an eyewitness to
the meeting. The weapons used were
regular dueling pistols. A private
letter now in the hands of friends of
Mr.. May in Baltimore, written at the
time OF the occurrence TO an Interested
party in New York, gives the true story
of the meeting and its results. This
letter, which is now published for the
first time, says:
81 have been extremely worried here
tofore that could not give you an actu-
al statement of the circumstances at
tending the late duel, but all the par
ties were bound in honor to say moth
ing further than that one shot was
fired, and that then the aggrieved party
stated he was satisfied Your letter to
me to-day, however, shows that there
has been dishonorable breach of faith
on the part of Mr.. Bennett, and | now
make you a detailed statement of the
affair. AS it had been agreed that the
utmost privacy was necessary to reach
the point agreed on, only Frederick
May, his surgeon and second went to-
gether, while on the cars in the other
party were Mr.. Bennett, his second,
surgeon, servant and another person
female nurse. When the field was
reached no one, to the best of my
knowledge, was in sight, except Mr..
Bennett, his second, Mr.. Robbins, Mr..
May, and his second, DR.. Frederick MAY,
of Baltimore. The two seconds agreed
that one toss of half-dollar should de-
eide whose pistols should be used, who
should give the word and who should
have the choice of position. Mr.. Mays
second loaded the pistols with regular
charges of powder, and bullets weigh
ing fully an. ounce, in the presence of
Mr.. Benefits second, and the weap-
onS were placed in the hands of
the principals. Mr.. Robbins said the
loading was satisfactory. DIR. Freder-
ick May then took his position about
ten PAGES to the windward of his prin-
cipal, and he was placed twelve PAGES
from Mr.. Bennett. DIR. May gave the
word: Gentlemen, are you readyP'
Mr.. Mays foot slipped little, and he
said: Not ready The question was
repeated. Mr.. May, not getting his pis-
tol in his grasp well, again said Not
ready AS to Mr.. Benefits reply, it
could not be heard whether he said
ready or not ready the wind blow
ing so high. The third time the ques-
ton was asked both principals were
understood to say ready and DIR. May
proceeded to give the word: Fire
one, two, three Both principals raised
their pistols. Mr.. May was as cool and
as calm as anything could be. Mi.
Bennett was very much excited and
nervous, his body swaying to and fro.
Between 'One' and two a cap was
heard to snap. Believing it to be Mr..
Benefits pistol that had snapped, DIR.
May called out: Stopr He walked up
to Mr.. Bennett and asked: Did your
pistol fireP' Mr.. Bennett said: No, l
my pistol Mr.. Bennett was extreme
ly nervous.
DR.. May then said; My principals
pistol has snapped. Do you claim a
shotP' Bennett: L do DR.. May, with
some hesitation: You can haveit, and
turning TO his principal: Mr., May,
stand up as you are Mr.. Frederick
May did so, as calm and as cool as any
one could be. Mr.. Bennett then raised
his pistol to an angle of about forty-five
degrees and fired. He then took one
or two steps toward Mr.. Mays second
and said he was entirely satisfied be-
fore DIR. May had asked him. 1t was
perceived by his manner that he was
fully satisfied. DIR. May then asked
Mr.. Robbins if he was satisfied, and he
gave the same answer as his principal.
The principals then touched hands in
compliance with the code under which
the meeting had taken place.
"Mr. Robbins then went up to Mr.,
Mays second and said; DIR. May,
there are none others here. would
be glad if you would agree with mo to
say there was one shot, and the ag-