The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-08-14
The Cash.ShannOn Duel in South Caro-
lima.

THE quarrel of the year ended in OAR
lington County on Tuesday with the
death of Col. Shannon. The story of
the duel is long one. Col. William M.
Shannon, the man who was sinned
against and yet slain, has been of prom
inence for many years. He was born in
1922 and graduated at South Carolina
College in 1871, when he married the
daughter of Gov. Melville. After
gaining good practice at the Kershaw
bar he was sent to the State Legislature.
He resigned his seat in that body to take
command of cavalry company in the
Confederate service. Since the war he
has been President of the Camden Bank,
and found himself, at the age of So, es-
teemed everywhere. Col. E. B. e. Cash,
planter in Chesterfield County, was in
command of regiment in Bohnhan's
Brigade, G. S. A., and was known as a
fearless officer. The duel grew out of
lawsuit against Capt. r. &. Ellerbe,
Cash's brother-in-law. Capt. W. l.. De
Pass and Col. Shannon were the plain
tiff's lawyers. 1t was charged by De
Pass that Mrs. Cash, now deceased, had
tried by questionable means to help her
brother, Ellerbe, over legal difficulties,
and, regarding this as an unbearable
imputation against his wife, Cash, on
the 22d of May, abruptly challenged De
Pass to fight duel. In reply, De Pass
said that, though the challenge was
''couched in language unwarranted by
the code of honor among gentlemen"
he nevertheless would be pleased to meet
Cash at any time and any place. Get
ting wind of the duel, De Pass and his
second were arrested, the others avoid
ing arrest. Shortly afterward arrange
ments were made to fight in North Caro-
lima, but De Pass again was arrested.
The second arrest led Cash to publish a
card, in which he said that De Pass had
brought about his own arrest; that De
Pass was a coward, and that, being sick
and disguised at such conduct, he Of
fered the public his pistol-case in ex-
change for horsewhip." This brought
out long reply from L. w. r. Blair,
the letter being dated "Dixie's Retreat,
June 49," In the letter Mr. Blair, who
was De Pass's second, gave a minute
account of De Pass's search for the
battle-ground and his misfortunes in
falling into the hands of the officers.
On June "The Camden and Ker-
shaw County Anti-Dueling Association"
was formed, with Judge Kershaw as
President. The objects were declared
to be to educate and organize "the
public opinion and moral sense of the
people to true perception of the GRIM
inality of the wicked and pernicious
practice )" to take measure to procure an
adjustment of personal difficulties which
might tend to induce a duel, ''and to
use and enforce all legal means of pre-
venting dueling.''
Upon the formation of the Anti-Duel-
ing Association Cash published an article
in the Carolina Sun attacking the editor
of the Meas and Courier, and ridiculing
Camden. He laughed at the idea Of
such club in ''Camden, the Galway of
the State.' "Such an association" he
wrote, evil be bombproof to all the
liars, slanderers and towards in the place.
Such men as Andrew jackson, Henry
Clay, John Rutledge, Commodore Perry
and Alexander Hamilton were thus
maligned." In the meantime Ellerbe
had challenged Col. Shannon, who had
refused point blank to fight. Ellerbe
then published Col. Shannon spoil
troon and coward,' who had refused to
go upon ''the field of honor" A few
weeks ago Cash challenged the old
Colonel, who was persuaded by friends
not to fight. A few days ago, goaded
on by the very persistence of his enemies,
he sent Cash challenge, which was at
once accepted.
Shortly before two O'Clock on Tuesday
afternoon the gentlemen met in grove
at Du Bosses Bridge, in Darlington
County. Col. Cash being deaf in one
ear requested that the signal to fire be
given by the discharge of pistol, which
was agreed to. Col. Shannon fired first,
his ball striking the ground near Col.
Cash's feet. Col. Cash then fired, the
ball passing through Col. Shannon's
heart. Death was instant aneous. Col.
Cash has since been arrested on a
warrant from the Coroner of Kershaw
County. Charleston NewS and Courier.