The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1881-09-01
A DUELIsT's DEFENSE.
Paying Tribute to the Man He Slew
''Most H0nOrably Has lie Settled His
Account"
A RATHER REMARKABLE LETTER.

Col. Cash, of South Carolina has pub
lished defense Of his action in the matter
Of the duel in which he killed Col. Shan
non. Col. Cash opens his pamphlet As fol-
lows, wi h partial description of his duel
At the solicitation Of Col VIM. NJ.
shannon, a distinguished lawyer OF Cam
den, and prominent citizen Of south Car
alma, / met that gentleman 1t Du01is
Bridge, Darlington county, ,. e., on ihe ON
day OF July, 1880 for the purpose OF set
tiug a personal difficulty that had arisen
between US. We fought in the usual man
ner Of dueliug. The fight was IaIr ana
equal, and there has been DO complaint on
the part Of his friends that / sought or OBJ
tanned any advantage over MIN. lie teil AT
nv fire and can honestly say 10 not De
lieye drawer man ever bat the dust He
went down with his c0lJrs flying and 'front.'
iDg the foe. lie died upon the ramparts OF
la. enemy, and with a smile upon his lace,
ne filled herO's grave. since my troubles
81. igIa col. 1uanuon l'-5tn, / AaYe frequently
heard him spoken OF As selI-wilvd, iHIP0-
riOus aud intolerant man, who was often
brought into difficulties with his associates.
OF that I know nothing. For twenty-five
or thirty years he was to me
THE GENIAL, CULTIVATED GENTLEMAN,
with whom it was pleasure to meet. We
were Of the same age, and when young re-
sembled each other 50 much that one was
often taken for the other, and when we did
meet enjoyed these mistakes. / was fond
of him, and the feeling seemed reciprocal.
sod forbid that [ should now seek to cast
reproach upon his memory. Most honorabiy
has he settled his account with me, and we
have passed receipts as to the affairs OF this
world.
After a statement Of the causes leading
to the duel, Col Cash proceeds with full
E 2 g of ON fbl fold
In accordance with the above arrange
ment | met Col Shannon at Dubois Bridge
on the 9TH day of July. When l drove
upon the ground / saw about one hundred
persons standing in groups over the held,
about one-half Of whom collected around
NV carriage after ! had left it. They were
"A motley mass of white people, mulattoes
and freed negroes. / had never seen them
7, before. and i did not address any remark to
them. Individually or collectively, nor take
any notice of them in any manner. 90
soon a / arrived upon the ground some OF
5 Col Ehannon's party advanced towards the
center of The field where | and some of my
friends wen, to meet them Here
THE PISTOLS WERE LOADED,
r and near By the pegs we're set, and l was dl-
= racted bv NV friend. Mr. VIM. Il. sanders, 10
d tolye nv po.ition. Nv brother-in-law, capt
, Euerbe and NV son, W. b. Cash, came 70
L hid me farewell. Our meeting was ABOUT
r 100 wards from the group referred 10. C"P'
P are shooting ut long taw, and my son salu'
s.Isather. remember how poor mother was
replied, 'If Col Shannon does not dis
able me before | shoot, will send my bull
let through bis heart" This Is verbatim
the conversation that passed between Us.
1t was spoken in 4 low tone, and no one else
heard it. and all statements to the contrary
are absolutely false. When | took my posi-
ton, | drew from my pocket Il photograph
: likeness Of Mrs. Cash. and, taking what
supposed might be my last look at the pic
ture. Col. =half--ssss>, took his position, and,
/ am informed safnNSd my friends and my
self | did not see his act, and therefore
id not return the salute. To others this
nav seem a small matter, but the clrcum-
= sance has annoyed me very much, and
- can Aot get over It,
+ Nr. Johnson had won the word, and it
- was his duty
To DIRECT THE FIGHT.
1t would be impossible for any man to fill
any position or to discharge any duty more
, perfectly ar more fairly than he performed
' ms part on that occasion. When asked !:
/ gentlemen, are you ready y Col. Shan
/ non was the first to reply, and never can /
: forget his game-cock crow of defiance His
L after ! responded Readyw and Mr..
4 johnson gave the signal. At "Onew Col.
. Shannon hred and ] felt burning sensa-
p ton on my right check and neck and thought
y, ! was shot. The fire and smoke from Col.
!, Ghannon's pistol obscured the upper portion
of his person and caused moments delay
in my firing. | fired at two and saw
white spot through his black coat precisely
where l had aimed, and yet he stood firm
and unmoved. The thought flashed upon
me that l had been cheated. 1t was only
: for moment; for he stepped once forward
u Coward mel, then turned to lis right and
( staggered. | turned my eyes away,
5 AND SAW NO MORE.
: The friends of both parties gsered some
y what excited, and then changed their posi-
tons and approached the point where Col.
Shannon bad fallen. ! called Mr.. Sanders
I back and requested him to ask II the gen
. tlemen were satisfied, as the code required
! he should do, to which Mr.. johnson replied,
and, ] think, said, MY God, what more
could we ask? Do YOU know tina. Col.
shannon has been shot - / then asked Mr..
Sanders to take me off the field and |
rode of with my friend, A. II. Warng, in
the first vehicle that was ready to move.
Southern Misunderstanding News.
Tho