Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1883-07-03
THE BEIRNE.ELAM DUEL.
Fought in this County Last Saturday
Morning.
TWO ROUNDS fFIRED-ELAM WOUNDED
IN THE THIGH.
BEIRNE UNHURT, THOUGH THE BALL PASSEl
THROUGH HIS CLOTHES.

Since Friday week, when the duel between
Richard F. Beirne Editor of the Richmond
State, and VIM. G. Elan, Editor of the Rich
mond Wing and Secretary of the Common
wealth, was interrupted near Hanover juno
ton a few minutes before the time fixed for
the duel at that place, heretofore published
the people throughout this State and many in
other States have been deeply interested and
were daily expecting to hear OF the duel at some
point, but they were kept in anxious suspense,
as even the whereabouts of the parties could
not be ascertained. Little did the citizens of
this city and county suppose that the duel
would be fought on the soil of Augusta, yet
such was the fact as they learned to their as
| constituent on last Saturday, when the news.
| taking the wings of the morning." flew rap
Idly over the country.
The parties met on last Saturday morning
| about one and a half miles northwest of
Waynesboro', near the New Hope road, and at
6 o'clock the duel was fought with Colts five
| barreled revolvers, 81 calibre, at distance of
eight PAGES. The Elan party won the choice
of position and word of command-D. Sheffey
| Lewis acting as Elam's second.
The principals then took their positions, and,
| at the word, fired simultaneously, but without
effect, save, as is reported, that Elam's ball
passed through Beirne's clothes, cutting the
skirt of his coat, but infiicting no wound.
Mr.. Beirne being the challenging party was
then asked if he was satisfied, when he replied
that he was not, whereupon a second fire was
had, which resulted in shooting Elan in the
| upper part of the right thigh, the ball passing
through the lower portion OF. his body and
lodging in the left thigh. inflicting, we suppose
serious If not fatal wound. Beirne was not
hurt. The parties fired at the same instant
| and both are reported to have acted with great
GOODNESS and bravery. AS soon as it was as
certained that ELAN was wounded, Beirne's
second announced that he was satisfied, and
the Beirne party then raised their hats cour-
teousy to the other party and left the field
whence they went to Crimora station on the
Shenandoah Valley Railroad and took the train
for Baltimore,
Mr.. Elan was taken to a carriage, and, &C.
companied by D. Shelley Lewis; DIR. Lewis
Wheat, his surgeon; and John F. Lewis, Jr.,
was driven to the residence of It, Gov. Lewis in
Rockingham county, where the battle of Port
Republic was fought few miles below that
village.
1t is understood that the seconds of the par
ties were changed after the interruption near
Hanover Junction, and that for Beirne, Frank
M. Wright, Of Petersburg, took the place of
Page McCarty and for Elan, d. Sheffey Lewis
took the place of W. N. Ragland, of Richmond.
After the arrest of some of the parties near
Hanover Junction, as stated last week, Beirne
made his escape. boarded the train at II O'Clock
at night and went to Lewisburg, W. Va. where
he was born and reared and Elan. it is sup
posed was concealed in or near Richmond.
Beirne. finding that he was in danger of be-
ing arrested in Lewisburg, sought concealment
hot xJia mi U 1ry1ao ha 1aft
enter upon his journey, in a Jersey wagon. for
the duelling ground near Waynesboro' in this
county. distance eff l25 miles, with both the
Allegheny and North Mountains to cross. He
was accompanied by Mr.. Wright and colored
man, David Wood, who drove the team. They
camped out at night to avoid detection.
On Wednesday night last, we learn, they
camped in the vicinity of the Warm Springs
in Bath county; on Thursday night, near
Deerfield in this county, and passing here
about nine o'clock Friday night reached a
place few miles this side of Waynesboro',
known as the punch Bowl" where they en-
camped till morning. On arrival at that place,
Frank NJ. Wright went Immediately to
Waynesboro' and learned from another friend
of the Beirne party, W. E. Chockley, of Rich
mond. the place where the duel was to be
fought.
Elan also Travelled by private conveyance to
avoid detection for about an equal distance,
and had the Blue Ridge Noun tain to cross.
He " as accompanied by John d. Smelling, of
Richmond,
1t is reported that, during the week that
Beirne was absent and lodging the authorities
who were seeking to arrest him, he received a
letter from his wife telling him to do all that
his honor demanded, but to let Elam off as
easily as he could. from which many infer that
Beirne aimed to shoot Elan in the legs, and
did not aim to inflict a mortal wound.
Whether such was his aim or not, the public
Is gratitied that neither was killed, and it is
hoped that Elam will ecover, and we feel as
sured that no one desires his recovery more
than Belrne, who was not seeking the death
| of Elan, but to defend his own character
| against the imputation with which Elan
sought unjustly to stigmatize it. We feel au-
thorized in saying this much for Beirne, whom
we have known from his childhood, and never
knew boy of better manners and principles
or who was more universally loved and es-
teemed by all who knew him. 1.-THE child be-
| ing the father of the man." he is as much es-
teemed as man, as he was beloved as a boy.
| He combines the bravery of a hero with the
| tenderness of a woman.
| On Saturday, Meade f. White ESQ, the pres
ent Commemorative Attorney for Augusta
| county, whose term commenced the next day
| acting by request in his absence for James
| Bumgardner jr., whose term terminated that
day, went down where the duel was fought,
and, in the discharge of his official duty learn
ed all he could about it, and sought evidence
| looking to the prosecution of the parties engag-
ed in the duel. In this city ON that evening he
rhad David Wood (colored) who drove the
wagon with the Beirne party, arrested and
lodged in jail, to be held as a witness in the
prosecution If the Grand Jury should find suf.
| fcient evidence to indict the parties. On Mon
day, yesterday. he was released on giving bail
in the sum of 85O0-his sureties being Messrs.
VIM. R. Tyree and I. s. Thornburg. From an
Associated Press Dispatch, we copysthe follow
ing:-
The result of the duel was ga greatrelief to the
public. They did not wish to hear OF the death
of either party. They were glad to know That
| the trouble was over, and that without great
injury to either com Blatant.
| Mr.. Be1rne is one of the best fellows in the
world. That is what is generally said about
him here. Everybody loves him. His death
would have caused universal mourning, AS
1t Is, he will return to receive the kindly pres
sure of the hand from a Thousand friends. His
courage with those who know him was ever
above suspicion, and they rejoice that he has
had this opportunity to prove it to the world,
The loss OF Mr.. Elam woald have been an al
most irreparable one to his cause. The whole
party was in a sweat for fear that he would be
killed. The county chairmen who recently
came here TO discuss politics talked more about
the duel than about the canvass. A we'll
known gentleman said yesterday: "Mr. Elam
will he their next candidate for Governor. If
he loses the office of Secretary of the Common
wealth 1t will only be TO succeed Cameron, lift
Is in the power Of the Malone party to put him
| there"
BALTIMORE. June 3O-Richard F. Belrne
who engaged in a duet this morning with W.
c. Elan, of the Richmond Wig, accompanied
by bis seconds, Frank NJ. Wright. of Peters,
burg, and W. E. Chockley, OF Richmond, as
wei as Andrew Beirne. of Lewisburg, W. Va
and II. M Smith, Jr., of Richmond. reached
this city this evening and stopped at Barn um's
Hotel. Their future movements are not known.
LEG BRoKEN.-On Wednesday last, j. l.. ST.
bert. ESQ.,. of Harrisonburg, had the misfor-
tune to have both bones in one of his legs
| broken between The ankle and knee Whilst