Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1883-06-26
The Beirne-Elam Duel.

The Beirne-Elam Duel.
GREAT EXCITEMENT IN RICHMOND AND
THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
THE DUEL INTERRUPTED IN HAN
OVER.
BEIRNE ARRESTED BUT MAKES HIS ESCAPE.
DETERMINED TO FIGHT AND GOES TO W. VA.
FOR THAT PURPOSE.
There has been great excitement since
last Thursday night, not only in Richmond,
but throughout the State, wherever it was
known that duel would be fought by Mr..
R. F. Beirne, Editor and Proprietor of
the Richmond State, and Mr.. VIM. Elan,
Editor of the Richmond Wing.
The State of Wednesday evening con-
tanned an editorial article, from which the
following is an extract =
SIN making this comment upon Boss
| Malone we wish it to be distinctly under
stood by all his corrupt henchmen that
what we say and have said Of him we mean
and have meant of them, personally, indi-
vidually, collectively, or in any other sense
they may choose to feel. A more vicious
corrupt, and degraded gang never followed
any adventurer than those who hang about
the petty Boss. These fellows, it is, who
having never q scruple in promoting mixed
marriages and mixed schools and in Oppos-
ing honest white men, honest colored men,
we trust-in the strong desire to turn aside
SO dire an evil, accuse their opponents OF
using their own offensive word, niger ! y
| The following is an extract from an ar
ticle, in reply, by Elan, which appeared
in the Wing Of Thursday morning
'EWe laugh at the States vituperation
and vaporing, and beg to remark that not
only does the State lie, but its "editor and
owner" lies, and the poor creature who
may have actually written the article in
question also lies,-all, jointly and several
ly-deliberately, knowingly, maliciously,
and with the inevitable cowardice that is
always yoked with insolent bravado."
Mr.. Beirne has his home at Ashland, the
seat of Randolph Macon College, about 16
miles from Richmond.
For all the information that was obtaina-
bic up to Friday evening we copy from the
Richmond DiopatcA of Saturday as follows :
THE CHALLENGE.
Thursday morning, sitting at his break
fast-table at his home, in Ashland, Mr..
Beirne saw the Wing.
1t was a big day at Randolph Macon Col
lege, and he had several visitors in his house.
From these he excused himself as quickly
as possible and left Ashland.
As soon as he could find a safe retreat he
communicated with friends and sent chal-
lenge.
Mr.. Elan had anticipated the message,
and also the probability that the police
would upon seeing his article seek to pre-
vent meeting, and he had therefore aban-
doned his office, but left a gentleman to re-
ceive all letters for him.
The challenge was expected, and was
promptly accepted.
| THE CARTEL.
| Two friends representing each side met
here Richmond Thursday at P. NJ, and
after discussion and such deliberation as the
occasion allowed agreed to the following
cartel:
Weapons: Colts navy revolyers (six
barreIs).
Distance: Eight PAGES
Firing: To begin after "Gentlemen, are
yoa ready?" and between the atterance of
the words-one-two-t
After the first shot the challenger was to
say whether he was satisfied. If not, after
and beginning with the second shot the
parties were to fire until the revolvers were
empty, and to advance if they chose.
Place of meeting: Near Hanover juno
ton, which, it was believed, would be
equally convenient to Mr.. Elan, who was
in concealmcnt in Richmond, and Mr.
Beirne, who was IN concealment eight or
ten miles from Hewlett's
Mr.. Elam's friends very much wished the
fight to occur at daybreak Friday morning,
but as Mr.. Belrne was too far away to be
communicated with and COTTON there in that
time his representatives declined to agree to
that proposition, Then it was resolved that
the meeting should take place at 6 P. NJ.
Friday.
ON HAND-WEAPONS.
Arrived at The Junction. it was agreed
that the ground should be on Mr.. Cardoza' s
farm, about two miles south of the juno
i ton.
This matter disposed of, an investigation
was instituted as to the weapons that had
been brought by Mr.. Elam's party. Upon
examination it was found that they were
not navy reviewers, but Colts fiye-shooters
of 81 calibre. Mr. Beirne's seconds insisted
that these weapons did not fulfil the terms
of the compact. On this point there was
considerable contention. Captain Page Nc
earthly, who had arrived at the Junction
from Washington about 2:15, offered to
produce pair of duelling- pistols (Derrin-
gers, and proposed that these should be
used.
MIR. ELAM'S FRIENDS OBJECTED.
AS valuable time was being lost Mr.. Beirne
finally determined to waive all objections
to the weapons, and Intended so to say when
arrived at the field. His friends demanded
that the circumstances concerning the weap-
ons should then aud there be briefly re-
duced to writing. For this purpose they
| left the vicinity of the Junction and pro
ceeded towards the duelling- ground, and
at about one mile from the depot stopped
by the roadside in a ravine to commit the
matter to the paper. That was twenty
minutes to O'Clock. At they were to
fight. Mr. Beirne was near the ravine in
his carriage.
ARRESTED.
About 81 O'Clock the train from Rich
m0nd on the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad
arrived. Messrs. Humphrey and Ragland
left the depot in buggy just as it came in
On that train, unknown to any of the duel
lists, was Officer Tomlinson, of the Rich
mond police force. He got off at the juno
ton. He picked up horse and followed
rapidly down the road and arrested Mr.
Beirne and Messrs. W. Page McCarty
and Frank Wright, of Petersburg, of one
party, and Messrs. Waverly Ragland and
W. Frank Humphrey Of the other.
They were engaged in writing when Mr..
Tomlinson came up and showed his war
rant. It was perfect surprise. There
was no chance for flight So the whole par
! ty then and there found surrendered.
There being no warrant for the arrest of
any one except Mr.. Beirne and Mr.. Elan,
the gentlemen found near Mr.. Beirne We're
released, bat summoned as witnesses. Mr..
! Elam and some friend and Richmond doc
tor were down the road at anotherspo