The New York herald., 1879-08-11
BURNT POWDER FOE TWO.


A vERITABLE, oLD-FAsHIoNEp DUEL SEAI BAL
TIMoRE-THE QUARREL DEVOID OF ROMANTIC
MoIIyE-RETIcEScE OF ONE OF THE PRINCE
PALS AS TO BIS ANTAGONISTS NAME.
by TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD
BALTIMORE. Nd. August 10. 1879.
Mr.. John W. Gibbs. the alleged dueist called
upon by several reporters of the loco press to-day
IN reference to his encounter with the unknown
physician near Druid Hill Park saturday, and
was asked to give the iatters name. but in vain.
Ex-Judge Gibbs. the father of Mr.. Gibbs had a
long interview with his to-day, and stated to
your correspondent this evening that he had refused
to communicate even to him the name of his anita
gonist, stating that he. had had difficulty with
a man in Baltimore county and had shot
him. Judge Gibbs stated. however. that the full
particulars of the meeting were furnished him by
his son and that he was absolutely satisfied that the
story was true and that both principals pro-
vided with seconds and surgeons He presumed
that his son refused to disclose the name Of his
tagonist in order to avoid criminal prosecution.
DIFFICULTY.
Mr. Gibbs says of the encounter that the diff
Guilty between himself and the Doctor originated
about two months ago in the Rennert House. At
that time he and his friend, the Doctor. argu-
ing point in which there was reference to any
woman, and the Doctor gave him the lie He
gave back as good as he got and went
away without thinking any further the matter.
Mutual friends however. of Mr.. Gibbs and the
Doctor carried tales from one to the other.
At last the Doctor said that he would
tight duel if Gibbs would send him
challenge This reached the ears of Gibbs and he
determined to write the challenge as soon as the
Doctor, who had been away, should return. The
was sent. An acceptance was forwarded from the
Doctor on the return of the messenger.
and the next thing In order was the
arrangement of the weapons time place and other
preliminaries. This part of the programme at
tended to on Friday night by the seconds, at Bar
NUNS Hotel. The principals told to be in
readienss at an early hour yesterday morning. and
both men were on hand at the time and place ap-
pointed.
THE RENDEZVOUS
Mr.. Gibbs arose shortly before FIVE O'Clock and,
ordering his phaeton to the door and taking with
him his two skye terriers he called for his second
by the way and together they drove the
Hookstown road. turned to the right and
proceeded along Green Spring avenue for a
mile and half. Leaving their horse
the roadside. they climbed over a fence on the right
plain about thirty yards from the fence The doctor
and his friend were already the ground and there
was no time lost in any useless formalites. The
seconds laid off the ground aud marked the spot
on which the principals to stand about
eighteen PAGES apart Both men stepped up the
mark with calm and cool determination written in
their faces and waited for the order to fire.
ZONE, TWO THREE, FIREl"
The weapons-Smith Il Wesson's revolvers-wcre
handed to the men as they toed the mark when the
words. "One two. three. hre" were ut
tered in Quick succession, and the report
of the two pistols rang out In the
air. The ball from the Doctors pistol wide of
the mark. but not SO with the ball discharged by
Mr.. Gibbs. The Doctors face was seen to vince and
1t was soon discovered that he had been struck on
the right shoulder. The wound. however.
slight and the Doctor wanted another shot The
seconds held consultation. and it was determined
after brief interval that there should be farther
shooting.
AFTER FRAY.
Mr.. Gibbs drove into town, and it is supposed that
the Doctor did the same, after he had called
friend with whom he had spent the night. Mr..
Gibbs kept out OF the way much as po. sible
in order to avoid publicity, and spen.
considerable portion of the day at Green
mount Cemetery with his father Returning
in the afternoo he read account of the duel and
hastened home to quiet the apprehensions OF his
wife. He denied that Howard Grafin was his sec
ond. but refused to name the person who had per-
formed that Office for him. The police authorities
have taken steps to investigate the as yet