The Evening critic., 1882-08-28
HILL AND YANCEY.
THEIR QUARREL AND FIGHT REToLD

ny DR.. y. Il. Hamilton. of Georgia,
an Eminent Surgeon of the Con-
fcdcrate Army-Yanccy Called Hill
n Coward, whereupon Hill Threw
an JnItstand ut Ynnccy, Hut Did
Not HIT Him - Neither Did Hill
Graphic with Ynnccy md Bend
Him Over u Desk and Injure His
spine. Thus Causing or Mastcn-
ing His Death Yanccy Died of
Brights Disease.
Now that Ben Hill is dead, that old story
that has been going the rounds since tho war
to the effect that ho was responsible for the
death OF william l.. Yancey, OF Alabama, is re-
vivod. Tho story COOS something like this;
Hill represented Georgia In part In the Con-
federate Senate and Yancoy Alabama. There
was q GOODNESS between them that broke out
one day, and Hill threw Yancey across desk,
and injured his spine to such an oxtont that ho
died from the effects Of tho hurt.
A CRITIC representative met DR.. James d.
Hamilton, OF Georgia, who was n surgeon In
tho Confederate army from tho beginning to
tho end, this morning. He was warm per-
sonal and Intimate friend OF Mr.. HIS, and
thoroughly acquainted with all the facts con.
nected with the trouble between Mossrs. HUI
and Yuncey. THE CRITIC asked him IL he
would BIO kind enough to givo to THE CRITIC,
for the benefit of the public, his version of tho
He said ho would, and proceeded without
preface TO give the following history of tho
case:
'eTho trouble between Mr.. Hill and Mr.. Yam.
cey," he said, "grew out OF politics, aud dated
back to 1850. II came about In this way When
Mr.. Toombs, OF Georgia, was In Congress, no
made a very strong speech against the com
promise measure as proposed by Mr. clay.
This was believe In tho Thirty.flrst Congress:
1t Is generally known as the compromise OF
1850. When Congress adjourned, Mr.. Toombs,
for some reason or other, In the campaign for
Governor in Georgia, felt It incumbent upon
himself TO .change his views and made very
powerful speech in favor of the very measure
he had 80 earnestly opposed in Congress. Mr.
Hill replied to Mr.. Toombs, and was
came to tho assistance of Mr.. Toombs.
Mr.. Hill then proceeded in another speech to
chow up the Inconsistency OF both Mr.
offense to what Mr.. Hill said, and sent him a
challenge to mortal combat. The challenge
was borne by Judge Thomas W. Thomas. Mr..
powerful man, physically, than Mr.. Hill, that
he could not accept challenge from Mr.
stephens; that Mr.. stephens was an invalid.
whereupon Mr.. Thomas suggested to Mr.. HIN
could light him. This Mr.. Hill do.
clined 10 do, assigning as reason
Methodist Church. That onded that diricuiiy.
| When Mr.. Hill was sent TO the Confederate
| Senate, no was very much opposed to the war.
President Jefr. Davis. Mr.. Hill assumed the
| championship OF Mr.. Davis In the Senate;
took sides with and defended him In every
| thing he said and did. This so exasperated
| Yancey that one day In the Senate, aftor Mr..
| Hill had concluded speech In defense OF Mr..
Davis, he rose In his place and In that style OF
| his, which was simply inimitable, proceeded to
charge Mr.. Hill with Inconsistency and want
| OF ardor for the cause OF tho South. He brought
| up Mr.. Hllls past record, and finally referred
| TO The stephens difficulty and intimated that
| Hill was coward. Whom he did that, Mr.. Hill
| picked up an inKstand and threw 1t at Yancey,
| lust grazing his cheekbone. Yancey, In dodg.
| ing, slipped and fell backward over his desk.
thereby hurting himself slightly That was
| all there was Of It,
| 'sThen Mr.. Hill did not, rs is generally be-.
| lieved, by physical force throw Mr.. Yancey
across q desk, thus producing such spinal In.
| Jury as to eventually cause his deathF"
size did not. He was not within ten feet of
| Mr.. Yancey."
s9Then the seemingly premature death OF
| Mr.. Yancey was not In any sense caused
| or brought about by Mr. HIP
1T was not. Mr.. Yancey died OF Brlght's
| disease Of the kidneys. This you can state as
| fact as true as holy writ"