Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-02-26
Sanguinary Duel Between Two Girls
I'm Virginia.
BoTu EsAaoRED OF ONE MAN VINO WAS IN
DOUBT AS TO WHICH he LIKED BEST
ONE TAKES 4 CLUB AND THE OTHER

hoi" ENAhohED OF ONE MAN WHO WAS IN
DOUBT AS TO WHICH he LIKED BEST
ONE TAKES CLUB AND THE OTHER
piTcHFoHH.
ONANCoCK, VA, Feb. 10.-A san
culinary duel was fought here between
two women last Saturday, which ended
in the probable fatal wounding of both.
Miss Louisa Wise and Miss Margaret
Downing had for some time excited
much comment in thc'little village be-
cause Of their jealous quarrels over the
attentions of IL young man named
Benjamin Young. On one or two oc-
casions they had come to blows in his
presence, and were only restrained
from seriously iniuring each other by
the efforts of Young. This young
man seems to have been in doubt as
to which of the maidens possessed his
heart, and realizing the force of the
axiom
How happy I conId h" With either,
Were tother dear eharmer away,
temporized with them and had little
difficulty in convincing each that she
was the object of his admiration. At
length on Friday evening he went to
party with Miss Wise, and while
dancing with her the assemblage was
thrown into intense excitement by the
sudden appearance of Miss Downing,
who, in tragic manner, stalked up
to the couple and forbade her lover to
dance With her rival As she stood
facing the couple, with her eyes in
famed with passion, it was not thought
that violence would be the next act in
the drama. Suddenly, however, with
piercing shrek, she sank to the floor
in a swoon, frothing at the mouth as
though suffering from an epileptic fit.
She was removed by her friends, and
Young and Miss Wise withdrew.
The following day Miss Wise re.
ceived note from Miss Downing, re-
questing her to call upon her, as she
wished to see her about an important
matter Miss Wise went to her rivals
house, as requested. She entered the
yard, walked around to the kitchen
entrance, pushed open the door, and,
stepping inside, saw her rival setting by
the stove, with her head resting mood
lily upon her hand. When Miss
Downing caught sight of Miss Wise,
she sprang to her feet, and seizing a
stout club, rushed ut her, shrieking
with rage. Miss Wise ran into the
yard, and, seeing the other following,
she picked up pitchfork, and facing
her enraged rival, warned her to stand
off. Miss Downing exclaimed
"All right We will fight now. You
have a weapon, go have |. 3"
Both being strong. healthy, country
girls, they found no difficulty in WELD
ing their weapons. As Miss Downing
rushed at the other, she was met BY
the three-tined fork, which was driven
into her breast. The next instant she
struck Miss Wise a stunning blow on
the head which staggered her, and fol.
lowing it up by a second blow which
felled her to the ground. Miss Wise
soon regained her feet, and assuming
the offensive, impaled Miss Downing's
hands on the prongs of the fork
Again she received n blow on the head
from the club which felled her to the
ground. While in this position she
thrust the pitchfork into Miss Down.
ing's face making three terrible
wounds. BY this time both were
weakened by the loss of blood and
dropped to the ground insensiblc. In
this position they were found by some
neighbors, who gave the alarm. DIR
Drummond was summoned and wa.
soon in attendance. Both girls were
terribly Injured. Miss Downing hav.
ing been wounded fourteen times by
the pitchfork, and Miss Wise shock
ingly bruised and beaten about the
head. They are now suffering from q
high fever, aud the physician has lit.
tie hopes of their recovery. In lucid
intervals they gave the particulars oi
the fight, and at the same time each
begged piteously to see Mr.. Young
The latter, evidently not relishing the
notoricty into which he was brought
by the strange infatuation of the two
girls, has left the town, and no trace
of him can be discovered. The affair
has caused the most intense excitement
here, ar d the usually quiet little town
has been in a turmoil since the par.
ticulars of the fight were made public