Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1880-06-09
from the Baltimore SUM-
Code In Virginia

= RICHMOND, VA, June IA due
was fought in the suburbs of this cit.
early Yesterday morning, almost on thu
identical ground where the fatal Nc
CarthysMordecal duel occurred severa
years since, the principals being Mr.
William c. Elan, principal editor of The
Richmond wing, and ex-Judge Thomas
Smith, OF Fauquier county, son of the
venerable ex.Gov. Smith.
The meeting had its origin in ar
editorial article which appeared In The
Whig last Tuesday, headed 'Politica
Pirates which denounced, in unmeas'
ured terme, the funders, or so much o
the conservative party as had utterly
repudlated the old name under which j
had masQueraded, and assumed a new
style, the democratic party Of Virginia.
This Remuneration embraced all the
leaders in 1860, and included the Gov
ernor civilian Smith) who was chic
magistrate of Virginia at the close G.
the war, who were described as having
grabbed the remaining swag ant
sneaked away in humlliatlng disguise
and shameful trepidation.'
The concluding sentence, in which
ex.Gov. William Smith 10 alluded TO-
caused the challenge from his son, sx-
Judge Thomas Smith, to the author o.
the Objectionable paragraph. The
latter promptly referred the matter to
friend, and a meeting was arranged iol
Sunday morning. The scene Of the
duel IS located about one mile fro II tht
suburbs of the city, on the banks o
Bloody Run creek. The hour was
o'clock in the morning, when nearly al
Richmond was yet wrapped in, slumber
and before the early church bells ha(
begun to toll the people to prayer. Tht
usual distance (ten paces) was marked
off by the seconds, and the principals
took their places. Elan fell at the frs
fire. bis opponents ball taking effect il
the centre of the chin, splitting th'
bene and fracturing the left jawbOne.-
The wound is severe, but not considered
dangerous. The weapons used were
dueling pistols.
Before the return Of Mr.. Elam's sec
and in his search tor physician hi
principal tainted from exhaustion ant
loss OF blood. 1t is stated that wheI
Elan fell Smith came forward and TIT
combatants shock hands, and, Smith
expressing the deepest regret that nee
essity fer The unfortunate meeting ha'
arisen. Elan in reply said he felt IN
initely relieved that he, instead o
smith had been wounded. The par
ties then separated in the most AMIGA
HE manner. The secrecy IN conduct
inc the affair aad retlcence Of the par
ties show very plainly that they wer
in earnest.
It Is understood that Mr.. J. B. Wal
tiers, Of the Wing. acted as second 10
Mr.. Elan, and Mr.. Barney" Greene
of Faueuler, represented Judge Smiil
in a similar capacity. In accordance
with an understanding between thu
parties there were no surgeons on thu
ground when the hostile meeting oc
CURED. but DR.. N. B. Carter wa, nea
enough 10 be summoned as soon a
M. Elan was wounded, and rendered
all necessary assistance. The wounded
mans family living IN Louisa county
he was removed to the house Of NJ
Walters, on Sixth street, near Leigh
Warrants have been issued for the arrss
of The two principals and those believed
to have acted as their seconds. Mr.
Elan was paroled, and Mr.. Walters
bailed in 81 900 for his appearance a
court. Mr.. Greene and Judge Smitt
were not in the city to day. All OF tht
parties are represented as having acteC
with great GOODNESS and courage yester
day.
M. Elan is the third editor of th'
Whig who has fought a duel. The frs
was the late j. Hampton Peasants
who fought with the late Thomas
Richie, near Manchester, in February
l84s. Mr.. Peasants received a wount
on that occasion from which he died il
few DAYS afterward. Mr.. Robert Ridge
way, during his editorial control OF th'
paper, subsequently fought a duel. Mr.
Elan is said also to have had another
affair of honor with a captain Of The
Confederate army during the war
Neither of them was hurt. Elan Is al
old journalist. and was associate edito
Of the Richmond Examiner under thu
late Ii. Rves Pollard.
So quietly was the affair yesterday
conducted that net two persons Outsld'
those in confidence Of the principal &C
tsrs knew of it last night. Judge Smitl
aud Mr.. Greene are understood to hav'
gone to the White House, the home o
Capt. r. Z. Lee, where they intended
to take the steamer for Baltimore, thu
getting Beyond the jurisdiction of thu