Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-03-11
letter from Richmond.
Correspondence Of the Alexandria Gazette. |
Richmond. March 9, 1878,

Yesterday evening some excitement was crc'
ated 10 Richmond by the receipt OF the intelll.
gencc vi reported duel at the University Of
Virginia. Tic rumorS in Richmond were so
conflicting, and there was such an evident de.
sire On The part ct those who ought to have
known the particulars TO hush them up, that
the Gaz,ttc's correspondent determined to in.
yastiqa!e tic matter. and, therefore, took the
evening traio for Charlottesville. Your CORES.
pondcut reached Charlottesville this morning and
at once set to work to get the citizens version
of the affair before proceeding to the Universe.
t.. Macy OF the people in the city said there
was really quarrel between the two duell5tS,
aud that they went out for the purpose Of set.
tling their differences, according 10 the code,
but upon arriving on the field, wisely deter.
mined to settle the matter amicaby and mako
friends. All agreed, ADD they returned to town
arm 10 arm Many citizens again insisted that
| the whole matter was q hoax, gotten up with
view of selling the faculty and STUDENTS gcner-
ally. Your correspondent then went TO the
University and endeavored to 20 among the
students IN s0g., and get the acts 10 relation to
the affair. but some Of his old friends recognized
| him and ut once asked ii he had not come w
| to follow up the duel After patiently inter
viewing several Of them it was shown to your
| correspondents satisfaction that the affair
was 4 h0ax-almiraby played. Indeed
one Of the students remarked that "thc Ia
bns had been turncd upon the w0uId-b, duel
| lists, and that they were getting The worst
of the Joke, for many OF the cltiZans at Char.
ollcsviAc believed that the duel was L bona
tide affair, and that the principals went out on
| 4. 4 't.t, Of
| mcnt, Tor your correspondent found that many
Of the citizens and one # the policemen had
been taken in by the affair, ina>much as they be-
Iicved that the quarrel aud challenge were
penune. The version of a student who was 10
the affair is as follows: Oa Tuesday night alr.
| Bradley II. Johusop, jr., q Law student, and
son of Gen. B. I. Johnson, Of this city, Was
playing Il game OF billiards with Mr.. Cockrcll, a
| medical student aud son Of Culted States
Senator Cockrcll, Of Missouri y dispute arose
between the Two students as to shot made BY
| one Of them during the progress OF the game,
and Mr.. Cockrell called Mr.. johnson :. liar.
| Both Young men then began to show 4 belilg-
crcnt spirit aud we're only prevented from get
ting to blows by The strenuous efforts Ul friends
who held them apart. Johnsoa affirmed that
| he had been insuItcd and meant to have salts.
faction therefor. Later that Eight Mr.. John
son sent challenge to Mr.. CockrcII. 'fhe
| no; tile message waS drawn UP in accord.
au.e with the requirements OF the code.
1t was accepted, time and place named re
yulvers j!starc!-tWenty PAGES. aleSsrS.
Darcy Paul, OF Petersburg, and II. L. q ia,
Their, OK Baltimore, acted SIS JohusoA : ST conds,
and Nlessrs. Garrison, and Enpca, OF Texas,
acted as CocErcil's seconds. The mex. morn
ipc tho parties secured two hacks and :clt the
| -, ,l N , ,nul
student as surgeon, a big hamper oil pEovlsloDs
and wine hidden underneath great proius'on
of lint we'll displayed.
II was their intention TO select Monticello as
tho place of meeting and they started Tor that
place, but fearing detection, owing TO the pub.
licity Of the place, went to "Pantop', the ia'm
of Rev. Mr. Wood, and here it vas that the
hostile meeting took place.
Now it chunced that the lum0r OF the meet
ing had by this time spread very rapidly. Two
students followed the party and hid 10 the
bushes to see the fight The dueling party
saw them and therefore determined to cuuci
the tragedy for their benefit. Accordingly the
seconds handed the principal knives ard both
went at each other tercciously. Johuson ap.
peared to Waver and stagger The two alright.
ed students in the bushes could stand the sight
90 longer and rushed away ilto lcwn calling
"poicc," aud telling everybody that the duel
had been fought and that Bradley johnson had
been wounded. The news spread through the
town and University The students forgot er,
lures and everything and went 10 Drlng hon IL
the wounded mao. Warrants were issr .el
for the arrest OF the two parties. W her
the duefing party drove into town md 4scer
tanned the condition of affairs aud ITO fact
that warrants were out Tor them they woW, back
Into the country again and played sever soca
games Of cards in the woods. Thor friends
made all haste to state that tho il.ir was
hoax. Later the young men re- turned To the
University and the Faculty SCI lpr them sittiu.
on the steps side by sido. laughing over tht
affair, wisely came 10 the conclusion tha
these tSo youth. could not have hat
much reason 10 r.eht u duel. ~ wa
stated, acvclh! wise people lnsst tia
the duel did rake place, and that the youn'
men went ar so fight in earnest l'ut all tn
students that your correspondent convcrsc'
with atiirm | lat the quarrel over tho billiards
and In iaot the whole affair. was planned beior
hand ana carried out as planned. There cal
be no &C .ubt that it 10 as they state. And ye
this cf.ennr gentleman en- the tram re
marx cd. "Don'5 you believe any such story a
tnF that duel was fought 10 earnest. and the
| 81 U uUH llyluS " nuSil IL uP' W hiSh Siio"
That it is very hard thing for some people t.
I acknowledge that they have been taken u.
The Legislature will adjourn sine die Thurs
day.
There is rumor aAoat that tho G0verno
will call them in extra session, but it il not be
lievcd.
| A young gentleman OF this city. not Goa
nectcd with the legislature, has on lHot plal
| Tor paying the State debt which is certalnl
more feasible than that OF getting ladies to SCI
their iewelry for this purpose. lie pro pose
that Il Estate Debt Paying Association b
formed. Ten dollars 4 year will be the cost Q
belonging to ii, and every man woman ant
child in tho State is eligible for membership
Upon the payment Of ten dollars. each memb,'
will receive certificate setting forth that fact
and enrolling the payer among the army o
patriots. This certificate the holder con keel
and show in coming years as an evidence of hi
patriotism and his duty to his old mother il
| tho hour Of her need. 1t is calculated that il
| the cities thousands could afford to join ant