The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-01-20

81 Louis special of the 18th to the
phjladclpbia Press says: Since Mrs. Lang
ivy and Mr.. Frederick Gebhard arrived
hero ON Monday the newspapers have We'd
with each other in keeping the public
nosted upon the lady's add gentlcman's
actions. Their goings and comings, their
dress. talk, and meals have been chroni-
cled pcrseveringly, and more or less all-
tbeptic interviews with them have been
published. Many Of these alleged reports
have been somewhat indicate, and yester-
doy morning the Globe Democrat contained
what purported to be diagram OF the re-
snectiye apartments Of the actress and her
| friend. publication which caused them
both pain and evoked from Gebhard n
promise that he would personally cbas-
| tise the next reporter OF that paper
who attempted TO visit him or Mrs. Lang
try. They had both been called upon the
| day before by Globe Democrat reporter
named Major A. 3. Cunningham, who had
a nJeasant interview with them, and pub
ljshed what he heard and saw in very con-
seryatiye shape. Yesterday evening, wn,ie
cunningham was i'm the rotunda OF the
Southern Hotel, he was approached by MI
| Gebbard. who charged him with being re-
sponsible for all the coarse statements that
had been published regarding himself ana
Mrs Iargtry. Cunningham declined 10
accent the responsibility. when Mr.. GeD,
hard lost his temper entirely and insulted
| Cunningham grossly with many oaths ana
challenged him TO fisticufl encounter IN
the ladies' parlor.
! "yOu WILL. HEAR PROM NE LATER"
Major Cunningham, who has an unim-
peochable record for courage and served
with credit in the Confederate army during
The war as a cavalry officer, kept his tenn
ner and informed Mr.. Gebbard that he had
been insulted, and that Gerhard would
hear from him on the following day. Geb-
hard insisted upon fist fight, and told
Major Cunningham that he could knock
bin, ont i'm one round, but Cunningham
informed him that he was not pugllist,
and that he would shortly give him (GeD-
hard) an opportunity to select gentlemen's
weapons with when their difficulty could
be settled.
Mr.. Gebhard did not reply to this sug-
pestion, but continued TO apply opprobrl-
ous epithets to Cunningham, who suffered
himself to be led of by his friends. This
ended the evenings trouble. To-day, after
| a consultation in the Globe Democrat office
with the editor, MIR. Cunningham selected
that paper's dramatic critic, Mr.. John Jen-
nincs. to represent him, and Mr.. Jennings,
whose favorable criticisms OF the Lilys
acting have placed him on terms OF tempo
rary intimacy with her, carried letter
containing challenge TO Mr.. Gebhard,
which, unfortunately, he delivered nj a
moment when he was in the company OF
the interesting Englishwoman, who, di-
yining the nature OF it's contents, insisted
upon seeing the letter.
Mr.. Gerhard, who was not averse to the
fight, declined positively to surrender the
letter, but the lady became hysterical, and
he finally consented. When she read the
letter which contained an invitation to
Gebhard to accompany Cunningham with
seconds to Indian Territory, Mrs. Langtry
regained her composure fully, and bent all
her energies toward securing promise
from Mr.. Gebhard not to take any notice
of the challenge. She urged that he could
decline to accept it on the ground OF great
difference in station between him and re-
porter, but Mr.. Jennings sternly stated
that Cunningham is member OF one OF
the oldest and most aristocratic families in
Louisiana, and q man OF unimpeachable
character in the community, and finally the
perturbed fair one was forced 10 tne IRE
sistibIe resource Of asking Mr.. Gebbard TO
ignore the challenge for her sake.
After long reflection he consented to pay
no attention to the challenge, and Mr.. Jen-
nings withdrew, after having been in
formed that the invitation was declined,
and that Mr.. Gebhard had perhaps spoken
hastily-a concession, however, which is
pronounced at the GiObe-UemOcrdt office
altogether insufficient to amend the insult
Of yesterday. Unless ample apology is
made by Mr.. Gebhard to Mr.. Cunningham
the latter will adopt the southern method
of posting him in published card in the
public papers as coward, which will
throw upon the dashing New Yorker the
onus OF seeking satisfaction. In the mean
time. however, friends of both parties are
seeking to effect a reconciliation, and it is
more than likely they will be successful.