Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1878-01-25
FAITH OF THE HEATHER
The Georgia Duel.

The Georgia Duel.
MEETING BETWEEN BRoTHERs-IN-LAw
FATAL RESULT TO THE MAN WHO
FIRED IN THE ARA DYING NOTE TO
HIS WIFE, &C.
1t has been stated that fatal duel took
place in Georgia, Oh the 18th, inst,
between Robert Fishburne and W. S. Har-
ley, of WATERFORD, S. c., in which the lat
ter lest his life. The parties were brothers
in-law, aud the meeting was the end Of a
feud of over a year standing. From the
Savannah and Charleston papers we get
| the following account of the affair:
Mr.. Harley and Mr. Fishburne are of
| the same political faith, both being Jealous
| Democrats, but some hard feeling had been
| engendered on accout OF dispute concern
| ing the recent municipal election in Wal
| terboro' on the 18th inst. Harley having
espoused the cause to which Fishburne was
opposed The challenge was the result of
offensive words used to Fishburne in his
Office by Harley on the evening of the Sth
| inst. 1t is charged that this insult was
aggravated by the fact of it's being a cul-
mination of a long course of bitter abuse
of Mr.. Fishburne by Mr.. Harley. On the
morning of the 9th Mr.. Fishburne address
ed a note to Mr.. Harley, referring to the
| Objectionable language used to him and re-
| questing retraction or withdrawal of the
same. In reply to this Mr.. Harley dis
claimed recollection of having used the
language quoted, ard added, ''What [ did
mean to say was, that you and W. J. Fish
burn are weak and cheap copies of the
! Rhett family, without their brains or
courage, and | must positively and en-
| phatically decline TO withdraw anything
that l said on that OCCASION This was
| followed by other correspondence, in which
| Mr.. Fishburne expressed the desire to
know when ard where outside of the State
the correspondence coull be concluded.
Mr.. Harley's rejoinder was that he regret
ted he could not Immediately name the
time and place as requested, but would do
SO at the very earlit st moment that Cir
cumstances would permit, adding, ''If it
would not seriously interfere with your
plans, [ would suggest that this matter be
settled in Colleton, as we could apprehend
no difficulty from such an arrangement. if
it is managed quietly"
This was followed by peremptory chal-
lenge on the 18th instant from MI. Fish
burn, which concluded as follows: II de-
mand that you meet me at the juno ion OF
the Gulf and Savannah and Charleston
instant, at half past IL O'Clock, to give me
satisfaction for the insult offered. My
friend, Mr.. VIM. NJ Rivery; who will hand
you this, will arrange al! detals.'' This
challenge was accepted, and the parties
made arrangements to come to Savannah.
Mr.. Harley, and his friend, Mr.. Farmer.
left WATERFORD on Thursday night at II
O'Clock Friday morning. Mr.. Fishburne,
with his friends, came by the accommoda-
ton train, which arrives her at $50.
| After reaching the ground selected for
the combat, and before the meeting took
place, Mr.. Harley wrote a few words Co
his wife on the leaf of his memorandum
book, Of which the following is a copy:
| MY DARLING WIFE: l am about to meet Fishburn
II M hm not widow Claudio for do not nteRa e shoot
The pistols were furnished by Mr.. Har
| ley. They were regulation duelllng weap-
ons, but were found to be unequal in size
weight, and bore. In consequence of this
| Mr., Fishburne's friend claimed the privilege
of aking his choice of the tWo as they had
| been furnished by the opposing party, to
which Mr.. Harley consented, remarking
| that he did not care which he had, but he
did not intend to allow any loop for es-
| cape.
On the ground it was ascertained that
| the pistol chosen by Mr.. Fishburne's
friend was choked up with some hard SUBJ
stance, probably an old load. After re-
peated efforts by Mr.. Fishburne's friend
to remove the obstruction, Mr.. Harley was
informed Of the fact. Mr.. Fishburne's
friend had in his possession a Colts Navy
revolver. It was suggested that this and
the duelling pistol that Mr.. Harley had be
placed together, and the choice to be toss
ed for.
Mr.. Harley declined acceding to this, and
M at II 10
the revolver that his friend had; while he
would use Smith Il Wesson revolver that
his friend had. This was agreed to. A
half hour was spent in making the arrange
ments. At this juncture disinterested
gentleman present, who had never before
seen either of the parties, approached Mr..
Fishburne, and inquired if the matter
could not be amicably adjusted. Mr.. Fish
burn replied that any arrangement that
would be satisfactory to his friends would
be satisfactory to him. The same gentle
man then approached the opposite party
with the same inquiry. Mr.. Harley repli-
ed that he had called MI, Fishburn
coward in South Carolina, and that he had
come TO Georgia either to prove him Il -
coward or leave his bones on the soil.
Finding his endeayors fruitless the media
tor retired, first returning to MIR. Fish
burn with the information that his efforts
were fruitless.
At 1 o'clock the principals took their
places ten PAGES apart no one else being
then present except their friends and sur
geons. It fell to Mr.. Fishburne's friends
IT, give the word. The question was asked
"Gentlemen, are yon ready ?" Mr. Harley
replied 81 am y Mr.. Fishburne replied''
"Ready." Both principals were cool and
collected. Mr.. Fishburnee's friend STEP
ped half way between the two and said
Ia tn11
to give the word. but before doing so will
repeat it. 1t is, Fire. One, two, three.
Stop or halt Y GU are to fire between the
words fire. and 'three.''' He then stepped
back and gave the word "Gentlemen are
you ready? Fire One, two. three p repeat
ing the words slowly, but leaving little in
terval between the last two. Between the
words Zone and two" Mr.. Fishburne fired.
MI. Harley staggering and firing his PTS
toll at the same time, his ball passing over
Mr.. Fishburne's head. Immediately afttr
firing Mr. Harley fell, Mr., Harley had
elevated his weapon and his shot passed |
harmlessly over his antagonists head. AS
it was discharged he fell to the ground, I
ard his second Fastening to him discover
ed that he had received wound in the
right side the ball lodging in the liver and
abdomen. The doctor who was with the |
other party gave a casual examination,
anu expressed the opmlo that the wound |
was mortal. Mr. FishbYrne and his par
ty, together with the physician, immediat- |
ely it. Mr.. Harley died the next eve
ming in great suffering.
QUEEN VICTORIA EXAMINING THE |
TELEPuoNE.-Profe Bell and Col onel
William H. Reynolds, of Rhode Island,
were presented to Queen Victoria at Os-
borne, Isle of Wight on Monday night.
They exhibited aud carefully explained
the telephone to Her Majesty, who listen
ed with evident curiosity. She was espec-