River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1880-07-22
SOUTH cARoLINA's FATAL DUEL.

SOUTH CAROLINA'S FATAL DUEL.
Colonel shannon. the Dead Man,
Leaves Dependent Family ofTwen-
ty--His Antagonist Alleged to Have
Forced the Combat by Repeated
lnsults--He Disappears After kiIl-
ing His Antagonist.
New York Herald.
When | reached here / found the
whole community III mourning, lament
ing the sudden loss of Mr. William NJ.
shannon, who had been slain in duel.
The death of no other man could have
produced such general CONSERVATION,
such universal sorrow. Col. w. NJ,
Shannon was a quiet and loving father.
a frank and generous friend Il pure and
public spirited citizen. He was the
sole support of family of more than
twenty dependent children and grand
children, all of whom are now cast ON
the world Thus his antagonist has not
only killed the father but beggarcd the
children. As soon as intelligence of the
fatal encounter between Col. Il. b.
Cash and Col w. d. Shannon reached
Columbia | boarded the first
train for Camden determined to ascer-
tain the particulars of the affair reach
ed here last night | sought w. f.
Johnson who acted Us the second for
Colonel Shannon but utterly failed in
my attempts to make him disclose any
thing. | succeeded i'll gathering an
authentic history of the whole affair
from trustworthy sources. 1t is i'm
possible to ascertain the immediate
cause of the duel Some wears ago
Cash challenged Captain w l.. Depass,
the colleague of Shannon in case
pending in court The challenge was
promptly accepted, but the whole party
was arrested before reaching the duel
ing ground and placed under heavy
bonds. Several other efforts were made
by the same parties to meet, but all
were frustrated by the authorities,
who were determined to prevent the
hostile meeting. Cash however, seem
ed bent upon fighting some one, and
turned his attention TO Shannon, who
wos known to be Il peaceful man.
DETERMINED TO FIGHT.
Cash heapcd insult after insult upon
him, and threatened, if he did not fight,
to go to his house and worship him.
Shannon was so wrought mp by these
repeated affronts that he determined to
bring the bully to terms and sent him
peremptory challenge. Cash was only
too glad to accept it. The prelimina-
RIGS were conducted vefy secretly. Not
even the most intimate friends of Col.
Shannon suspected what was going on.
None save the seconds, surgeons and
few trusty friends knew of the impend-
ing combat On Monday afternoon, a
little before o'clock, the two parties,
by precOncertcd plans, met at Dubrose
Bridge, II point in Darlington county,
some twenty miles from Camden. The
ground chosen had been the scene of
two duels last year, and was somewhat
famous ON that account. The country
around presents a barren appearance,
and renders it most favorable spot
for secret meetings, being so far remov-
ed from any frequented roads. Mr.. w.
f. Johnson, the second of Col Shan
non, and W. b. Sanders, Cash's second,
asked the principals if they were ready.
Just at 2 o'clock both responded eyes"
The derringers were taken from their
cases, fifteen PAGES were measured of,
bucket of water was brought and the
boxes of cartridges and surgical instru-
ments were placed on the ground. The
principals shook hands with their sec
onds, and the dread moment was at
hand. Everything was rs still as death.
The two COOL determined men faced
each other with pistols. A look of ca
gerness and desperation was depicted
on the face of one, while an expression
of severity and sadness shone on the
face of the other. Each had been
heard to remark some minutes before
that he felt sure of killing his adverse
ry. 1t was apparent, however, that
Cash had greatly the advantage of Shan
nom He was n tall, slim man, pro-
fessiOnal duelist and an unerring shot.
His foe was burly, corpulent man.
who had never shot before, and was
unaccustomed to handling a pistol. The
pistols were cooked and both were
ready. The word zone" is given, and
almost simultaneously the sharp report
Of Shannon's pistol is heard. The ball
falls short of its mark, and ploughs the
ground at Cash's feet The word 1.-TWO"
breaks the silence and another shot is
heard
sHANNoN's DEATH.
The fatal bullet has done its work.
Shannon lets fall his weapon; he reels,
swings around and falls heavily to the
ground. The leaden messenger has
penetrated his heart and he drops dead
before the smoke had cleared away.
His surgeon hastens to the PROSTATE
form. Overcome with grief, some of
his friends wiring their hands and burst
out in loud lamentations. They bear
his lifeless body to a waiting carriage.
In the meantime the slayer has with
drawn from the field He did not even
cast plying glance at his victim, but
mounted his horse and rode away. As
soon as the news reached crowd of
Shannon's friends, who were about n
mile off, they resolved to set out in
pursuit of cash and avenge their friends
death. But the idea was abandoned
and they repaired to the fatal field and
bore the remains of Colonel Shannon
home. They reached Camden about 9
o'clock at night, the news of the fatal
combat having preceded them several
hours. When intelligence Of the death
of Colonel Shannon reached Camden it
spread rapily and the whole populace
became wildly indignant, threatening
dire vengeance on the head of the
SLAYER, and had Cash made his appear
ance on the streets it is certain that he
would never have gone away live
man. The colored people were highly
incensed because their best friend had
been killed. They would have lynched
Cash could he have been found When
the remains arrived Mt Camden large
crowds of eager spectators turned out
to greet them with walls.
The funeral took place yesterday
afternoon 1t was by far the largest
ever known in Camden. Business was
entirely suspended, and nearly all the
inhabitants, white and black, followed
| the cortege to the grave. Yesterday
afternoon the coroner held an inquest,
but the jury did not render their YER
dict until to-day at II o'clock. The
verdict was that the deceased came to
his death by the hand of Cash. This
afternoon a warrant was issued for the
arrest of Cash, but it is doubtful wheth-
er he can be found. If he should be
caught he will have to stand his trial
for murder. Active steps are being
taken to have Cash apprehended and
to justice. Judge KeTshaw declares
the law must be enforced at all hazards.
Tonight the public are as indignant as
| ever, and the unanimous verdict is that
the duel was the most unfortunate and
eauSalasS ono oyer foupht in SOuth