Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-02-11
FIGHTING OVER A LOVER.
Snnguinary Duel Between Two Girls i'll Vir-
gtnia Both EnamOred of One Man who
was In Doubt as to Which he Liked
Best-One Takes Club and


gtnia Both EnamOred of One Man who
was in Doubt as to Which he Liked
Best-One Takes q Club and
Other q PitchfOrk.
In OnancOck, Va, a sanguinary duel was
fought between two women last Saturday,
which resulted in the probable fatal
wounding of both. Miss Louise Wise and
time excited much comment in the little
village because of their jealous quarrels
over the attentions of a young man named
Benjamin Young. On one or two occa-
sions they had come to blows in his pre-
sencc, and were only restrained from Sc.
riously injuring 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 could be with either
We're t'Other dear charmer away,
temporized with them and had little diff
Guilty in convincing each that she was the
object Of his admiration. At length OH
Friday evening he went to a party with
Miss Wise, and while dancing with her the
assemblage was thrown into intense excite
ment by the sudden appearance of Miss
Downing, who, i'll tragic manner, sta!ked
up to the couple and forbid her lover to
dance with her rival. AS she stood facing
! the couple, with her eyes intlamed with
passion, it was thought that violence would
be the next act in the drama. Suddenly,
however, with a piercing shrek she sank
to the floor in a swoOn, frOthing at the
mouth as though suffering from an cpl
leptic fit. She was removed by her friends
. The following day Miss Wise received a
| ,pfr I,nr
to call upon her as she wished to sec her
about an important matter. Miss Wise
went to her rivals house, as requested.
She entered the yard, walked around the
kitchen entrance, pushed open the door
and walked inside, saw her rival seated by
the stove, with her head resting moodily
upon her hand. When Hiss Downing
caught sight of Miss Wise she sprang to
her feet and, seizing a stout club, rushed
at her, shrieking with rage. Miss Wise
ran into the yard and, seeing the other fol-
lowing, she picked up pitch-fork, and,
facing her enraged rival, warned her to
stand off Miss Downing exclaimed
''All right we will fight now. You
have a weapon, SO have L."
Both being strong, healthy. country
girls, they found no difficulty in welding
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 stunning blow Oh he head which
staggered her. and followed 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 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 loss
of blood and dropped to the ground in
sensible. In this position they We're found
by some neighbors. who gave the alarm
DR.. DrummOnd was Summoned and was
soon in attendance. Both girls were ter.
ribly injured, Miss Downing having been
wounded fourteen times by the pitchfOrk,
and Miss West shockingly bruised and
beaten about the head. They are now
suffering from a high fever, and the physi-
clan has little hope of their recovery. In
lucid intervals they gave the particulars
of the fight, and at the same time each
begged pitcously to see Mr., Young. The
latter, evidently not relishing the nOtOriety
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 eX
citement and the usually quiet little town
has been in turmoil since the particulars
of the fight were made public.