The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-07-02
THE FIRE-EATING EDITORS.
They Meet at Waynesboro, Va, and
Exchange Shots.
Elan Seriously Wounded in the Hip at the
Second Fire-His Opponent UniDjured
What All the Trouble Was About

mond State, and William C. Elan, editor of
the Richmond Wing, took place two miles
south of here this morning at o'clock. The
men were placed in position promptly by
their seconds, the command was given
Gentlemen, are you ready. Fire-one, two,
three" At the first fire Elanl's ball pierced
the skirt of the sack coat worn by Beirne
Neitherwas hit. Beirne, as the challenging
party, demanded another shot. In the
second round Elan was wounded in the
right hip, the ball passing through the fleshy
part OF that side and striking the left hip.
The wound is not considered dangerous.
Elan, as soon as struck, said to his sec
onds: Il am struck" Beine's seconds de-
clared their principal satisfied. Bierne lifted
his hat, saluted his opponent and walking to
his carriage entered and drove away. Elan
was lifted to his carriage and also driven
away. Beirne was represented by Frank
White, of Petersburg, and w. e. Chockley,
OF Richmond. Elam's seconds were Shelley
Lewis OF Rockingham, a son of Lieutena0t-
governor John f. Le,.s" and United States
District Attorney for the Western District OF
Virginia, and John ID. Smelling
The dueling ground was in a beautiful
grove OF oaks on the farm of Philip Killian,
on the New Hope turnpike. The weapons
were Colt revolvers of 32caliber; distance,
eight PAGES. The original cartel provided for
navy-siX revolvers The new cartel provided
for navy-six revolvers or 42-caliber Smith &
Wesson, Berne's seconds demanding this or
that the weapons selected should be as near
it as possible. Elams seconds, however, in
sisted that he should be allowed to use such
pistols as he wanted.
A the word of command both men fired
DrOnlDtlV and abOut simultaneously Elan1'S
second shot entirely missed his opponent
Both men are represented to have been en-
tirely cool. Beirne is very large man. and
weighs 225 pounds, Elan weighs about 1877.
The difference in size was considered to
Beirne's great disadvantage; but Elam's near
sightedness was claimed to Offset this disad
vantage DR.. Lewis Wheat of Richmond
nephew of Ex-Governor Lewis. was Elam's
surgeon. Belrne had none. Elan was re-
moved to the residence of Ex-Governor
Lewis. Elam's wife was telegraphed for, and
is now on the way to his bedside.
1t is remarkable fact that the duelists had
never seen each other until they met on this
occasion. A remarkable and romantic fea-
ture of the affair is the manner in which the
two men got together without being arrested
When Beirne escaped from Hanover juno
ton, eight days ago, he fled to West Virginia
on the following Monday evening, and as
soon as Mccarthy, his second, could COM
municate with him, a new cartel was made.
The place of meeting named therein was near
Waynesboro, on Saturday morning Here
the romance OF the duel comes r. Beirne
had safely placed himself beyond the limits
OF the State, and the question then arose.
how were the parties to be got together? The
difficulties were enhanced by the fact that
all avenues of communication were espion-
aged. Deputy sheriffs all along tine lines of
the railroads were on the outlook. The au-
thorities had drawn complete network
around the parties. Mccarthy, Royal, Rag
land and all parties suspected of connection
with this affair were watched by detectives.
Elan ives securely hid near Richmond, but
Beirne could not move from West Virginia.
Finally Mccarthy resorted to a cipher dis
patch. Two messengers were sent to Beirne,
in West Virginia one bearing pair OF navy
six revolvers and the other the key to the
cipher They went by different routes, and
the cipher man was chased by deputy Sher-
ifs, Who suspected him. He escaped by
running through a big corn-feld. The rail-
road authorities who read and gave away
every telegram that passed through were
baffled as they perused dispatches concern
ing brilliant transactions in tobacco and rash
attempts to bull the wheat market, while
the chances of brilliant season at the White
sulphur were discussed, while the dispatch
which appointed the place of meeting dis
cussed the maple crop of Greenbrier county
At both ends OF the lines detectives were
lCupluSSSu by means Ol InlS ClpNef tDe
cartel and all necessary preliminaries were
arranged.
The cartel provided that the meeting should
be within two miles of Waynesboro at 4:30
this morning on the old stage road. The
password was Number One" Mr.. Beirne
left Greenbrier county on Tuesday night
The rain was coming down in torrents
Berne and Wright had to keep away from
the railroad and take the most out-of the
way roads. To add 10 their troubles, the
mountain streams were swollen, and once the
wagon and its occupants were swept down
the stream. They Travelled night and day.
and managed to make the trip of nearly 200
miles without being discovered The parties
were determined for both beligerents real
lied that neither of them could show himself
IN Richmond without having had this meet
ing.
In the meantime Elam who had been ly-
ing hid near Richmond in the sa shes of
Hanover, by Henry Clay's birthplace, made
his escape from the public. He took to the
by-roads, led by the same strong purpose to
get to the point of meeting. He was in a
covered buggy and had TO exercise the same
caution as Beirne, being logged at every step,
but he appreciated thoroughly the situation,
and was determined on getting to the APP
pointed place. 1t might be a matter of life
or death when there, but to fail to get there
was a matter of honor or dishonor. AS the
men neared this place the difficulties around
them thickened, and many tricks and dis
guises were resorted to, while renewed efforts
were made in the cities to entrap them.
1t was at the same time understood by the
two opposing parties, the Mahonites and anti
Nlahonites, that there was more in this than
mere abuse between the two editors. The
two papers had been fitting at each other for
a good while, and the two men felt that the
eyes of the State were upon them, and to
them it meant that old Virginia expected
each man to do his duty. Through food and
proceeded to go for each other, at night lying
on hen-roosts or creeping into barns and
dark cabins.
On Thursday night it was understood that
thn1t ,rn about 81 tlnilns Ifar lAr