The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-02-19
FIGHTING OVER 4 LOVER.
Sanguinary Duel Between Two Girls in
Virginia.
ONANcooK, Va, Feb. 10.

ONANcooK, Va, Feb. 10.
A sanguinary duel was fought here
between two women last Saturday, which
resulted in the probable fatal wounding
of both. Miss Louisa Wise and Miss
Downing had for some time excited
much comment in the little village be.
cause of their jealous quarrels over the
attentions of a young man named Benja-
min Young. On one or two occasions
they had come to blows in his presence,
and were only restrained from seriously
injurng each other by the efforts Of
Young. This young man seems to have
been in doubt rs to which of the maid.
ems possessed his heart, and realizing the
force of the axiom:
How happy could he with either
Were t'Othcr dear charmer away,
temporized with them and had little dif.
ficulty in convincing each that she WAS
the object Of his admiration. At length
on Friday evening he went to a party with
Miss Wise, and while dancing with her
the resemblance was thrown into intense
excitement by the sudden appearance of
Miss Downing, who, in tragic manner.
stalkei up to the couple and forbid her
lover 10 dance with her rival. As she
stood facing the couple, with her eyes
inhameG with passion, it was thought that
violence would be the next act in the dra-
ma. Suddenly. however, with piercing
shrek, she sank to the floor in swoon,
frothing at the mouth as though suffer.
ing from an epilepIic fit. She was re-
moved by her friends, and Young and
Miss Wise withdrew.
The following day Miss Wise received
note from Miss Downing, requesting
her to call upon her, as she wished TO see
her about an important matter. Miss
Wise went to the rivals house as re-
quesled. She entered the yard, walked
around to the kitchen entrance, pushed
open the door and stepping inside, saw
her rival seated by the stove, with her
head resting moodily upon her hand.
When Miss Downing caught sight of her
she sprang to her feet, and seizing stout
club rushed at her, shrieking with rage
Miss Wise ran into the yard, and, seeing
the other following, she picked up -
pitchfork, and facing her enraged ri
val, warned her to stand off, Miss
Downing exclaimed:
All right: we will fight now. You
have 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 on the head which
staggered her, and followed it up by
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 telled 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 were
found by some neighbors, who gave the
alarm. DR.. Drummond was summoned
and was soon IN attendance. Both girls
were terribly injured, Miss Downing hav-
ing been wounded fourteen times by the
pitchfork, and Miss Wise shockingly
bruised and beaten about the head.
They are now suffering from high fc-
yer, and the physician has little hope of
their recovery. In lucid intervals they
gave their particulars of the fight, and at
the same time each begged piteously To
see Mr.. Young. The latter evidently
not relishing the notoriety into which
he was brought by the strange infatua-
ton 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, and the usually quiet
little town has been in a turmoil since
the particulars Of the fight were made
oubl;o