Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1883-01-21
langtry's Lover Posted a Coward
ByaSt. Louis Rsportsr--Frsd-
die Fortifies Himself
And Is Prepared to Act Promptly In
Case ofAn Encountsr..A Trag-
edy Looked For.
A Couple of Cincinnati Turtle Doves
Aired In Court Another Lii
lies Wicked Ways.

OF. LOUIS, January N.-lne CnallenSe
sent Freddie Gebhardt by Col. A. B. Gun,
ningham, Of the Globe Democrat, to fight
him a duel has caused q wonderful amount
of excitement here and the quarrel Is o
general topic of conversation. Cunning.
ham carried out the threat last evening to
post Gebhardt as coward for not having
accepted his challenge and giving him
chance to secure satisfaction. To-day Geb-
hardt was called upon by correspondent.
He acknowledged that he had received a
challenge from Cunningham the evening
before.
"What did you do with the challenge,
Mr.. Gebhardt?"
81 handed it back to the gentleman who
brought it, telling him that that was
sufficient answer. Cunningham insulted
me by publishing an interview which
never occurred. Under the circumstances
there was nothing left for me to do but to
brand him as a liar the first time that oc
casion offered. did this, and at the time
Of the occurrence he made no effort TO re-
flute the charge. That was the time hs
should have spoken il he had ought to say,
and that was the time he
Should Have Fought,
if there was any fight in him. I have no
reason for fighting him now, and will pay
no attention to any challenge he may send
or any card he may publish; but should he
cross my path and assume hostile bearing
toward me, will act promptly, you may
pend upon that"
1t is stated that Mr.. Gebhart armed him.
self before he approached Mr.. Cunningham
in the hotel rotunda, and that he is still
ready for an emergency that may arise.
A gentleman says the challenge was de-
livered to Gebhart about dusk last even
ing. At that time Gebhart was standing
in the
Southern Hotel ONCE
talking with an official OF the hotel. Mr..
Tobias Mitchell approached the gentleman.
Mr.. Mitchell has been connected with the
Globe Democrat, but is now editor OF the
Register. Call, Of Central City, Col, and is
at present visiting this city. Mr.. Mitchell
handed Gebhardt the letter, which the
latter Immediately opened. He found
that il was formal challenge. Itdemind-
ed in the usual form an apology for. the re.
marks Gebhardt had made on the previous
evening, or the satisfaction which was due
one gentleman to another. The cartel
wound up by stating that any answer
could be sent through the writer's friend
Mr.. Mitchell, bearer of the letter. The
communication was signed "A. b, Cum
ninghafi.
ATraGedy Looked For.
Cunningham's intimate friends believe
that if Gebhart does not leave the city be.
fore tomorrow night, tragedy will be the
outcome Of their quarrel. 1t is also said
Cunningham's card, which was rather
mild one, would have been OF the fre-eat'
ing order, but that McCullogh advised him,
which resulted in the writing Of u more
conservative epistle.
The following is the card printed By Mr.,
Cunningham:
ST. LOUIS. No, January Is
To The Editor o. the Globe Democrats
A person by the name OF Frederic Geb
hardt. OF whom the best that can be said Is
that he has made himself ridiculous As the
annex Of lady who is trying to make no
toriety do duty for ability as an actress
out OF the fact that he publicly denounced
were reasons of the most potent and over
whelming character, known to my iTti
mate friends, which prevented me from
properly resenting on the spot the ailfon'
offered on Thursdey light in the Southern
Hotel. Since that time Mr.. Gebhardt has
been rendered an opportunity to meet me
on equal terms, but has declined. ! was
elected from the Southern Hotel by In" po
| lice on Thursday night, although Gebaardt
and not ], was the aggressOr. am nos
notified that l cannot enter the hoteI
while Mr.. Gebhardt is there.
This person, from the security OF his
| fortress denounces me Is q coward. leave
| il to the public as TO who is the coward
| Gebhardt under the protection OF the po
| lice, or asking no more than an 0ppOrtu
| nifty to meet him in q fair way aud on
equal terms. Respectfully,
A. b CUNNINGHAM.
Gebhardt did not attend last nights per
| formance OF the Lily, but Cunningham
was in the theatre and is reported to bt
ready to attack Gebhardt should he appear