The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1883-07-05
The Code.

|
BEIRNE AND ELAN sETTLETHEIR DIFFER
ENCES BY A RESORT TO PISTOLS AT 8
PACES-A USTA COUNTY THE SCENE
OF THE CONFLTCT-ELAM DANGEROUS
| LY WOUNDED IN THE TIIIGH-IIISTORY
OF THE CONTROVERSY
For peaceful and law abiding commu-
tai city have had much to answer for in
the way of grave crimes during the past
six months. Murder, suicide, wholesale
poisoning and minor ofienses multiplied
have piled up upon it's criminal calendar,
and now to crown the collection, a resort
to the code duello has been had within It's
boundaries. Verify. it seems as If an cpl
demic of law breaking had afflicted us.
This last addition is what we are called
upon to chronicle to-day
| THE DUEL.
On Saturday morning, just before SIX
o'clock, some half dozen gentlemen met
in beautiful strip of woods just about
two miles from Waynesboro, and not far
from the New Hope road. They met for
purpose. and but few moments were
lost in the arrangement Of preliminarles.
OF the one party were VIM. G. Elan, edi-
tor of the Whig,with his friends, d. Sheffey
Lewis, of Rockingham, and John ID. Smell
| ling, of Richmond, with DR.. Lewis Wheat
as surgeon. The other party consisted OF
Richard F. Beirne, editor of the State,
and his friends, Frank Wright, OF Peters
burg, and w. +. Chalkley, of Richmond.
The object of the meeting was a duel be-
tween the two editors. AS the parties
came in sight of each other, ID. Sheffey
Lewis advanced and was introduced to Mr..
Wright as the representative OF Mr..
Beirne. The cartel had been agreed upon.
1t provided for Colt revolvers, at eight
PAGES. The command to be given, was
= Gentlemen, are you ready? Fire. one,
two three" The pistols were to be dis
charged after the word 9 fire, }" and before
the word three" After the first fire,
unless the challenger, Mr.. Beirne, ex
pressed satisfaction, the firing was to con-
| tinue until all the chambers had been eX
hausted, and either party were at liberty
| to advance.
|
Messrs. Lewis and Wright and Mr.. Lewis
won. The ground was measured off and
the principals placed in position, Mr..
Elun fronting to the north west In the
toss for the word OF command Mr.. Lewis
also won. He then produced the pistols,
| Colts five chamber reyolyers, thirtyOne
calibre, and presenting one to Mr.. Wright,
together with the cartridges, proceeded to
load the other. After loading, the weap-
ons were handed the principals, who stood
face to face, neither showing the least
nervousness. Mr.. Elam exhibited not a
sign of emotion, nor did Mr. Beirne,
though the latter was pale, but perfectly
cool and deliberate.
Gentlemen, are you ready? fire, one,
two, three, y said Mr.. Lewis.
AT the word lone" both reports rang
out almost simultaneously. The ball from
Mr.. Elan S pistol cut the coat of his OPP
ponent, but did not touch the skin.
Beirne's bullet was harmless and went
singing over the head at which it was
aimed. Mr.. Beirne the challenging party
demanded second fire, which was ac-
corded. Again the command was given,
and again between the words $ one, and
''two,' the pistols were discharged III
quick succession, Mr.. Elam's being a lit
tie in advance. The echoes Of the two re-
ports were yet reverberating through the
woods, when Elan staggered a step OF two
forward, and said,
81 AM STRUCK"
DIR. Wheat ran to him and eased him to
the ground. He then remarked just
my luck; hit again | can t shoot that is
what's the MATTER In the meantime
Beirne stood perfectly motionless. From
his attitude and expression it was evident
that he expected his antagonist to ad-
vance, and was prepared to deliver his
fire deliberately from his original position.
But for the wound Elan would doubtless
have fulfilled that expectation, for even as
the ball struck he made a step forward
When it was ascertained that the wounded
man would not be able to stand again, Mr..
Wright declared his principal satisfied,
and his party, bowling courteously to their
opponents, left the field, entered their
carriage and were driven to the Crimora
station, where they took the train for Bal
timOre.
4 ELAM's WOUND.
Before the wound was examined, Mr..
Elan called for a cigar and cOmplacently
ASmOked it. whilst with firm hand he
wrote telegram to his wife, stating that
Ise had received Il flesh wound and would
meet her at Senator Lewis residence. The
ball had entered his right hip and could
not he traced with the probe. He insisted
that it passed through into the left leg and
that the latter was by far the more pain
full. When assured there was no evidence
that such was the character of the wound,
Elam declared that had he known it sooner
he would have continued the fire.
| Cushions were procured and he was
placed i'm an ambulance and driven slowly
to the residence of Hon. Jno. +. Lewis,
some twenty odd miles distant. DIR. Wheat
accompanied him. Reaching there more
minute examination was made and Mr..
EIam himself disclosed the location of the
ball. 1t had entered the right thigh near
the junction of the upper third and lower
two-thirds Of the femur. After striking
the bone it ranged backward and upward,
penetrating the perineum and lodging in
the left groin, whence it was extracted by
DR.. Wheat. 1t passed between the uretha
and rectum decorating the tissues, but not
seriously injuring either of the organs.
There was no paralysis, and no evidence
that the larger vessels had been seriously
affected. The ball was bat little defaced
1t was feared that some foreign substances
such as bits Of clothing OF bone splinters
had been carried into the track of the ball
and may cause difficulty.
\ From the first, Mr.. Elan continued in
n excellent spirits, chatting pleasantly and
i directing affairs about him in a strong.
vigorous voice. The splendid courage and
nerve of the man exhibited themselves
throughout all the long and tortuous
journey from the battle field to the home
of Senator Lewis, and his innate gentle
ness has ever since been manifest. He
who faced death with reckless bravery, is
as patient and amiable as woman now
never complaining, never showing the