Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1883-07-06

: near recognizing Elan but the rec0gnltlon
was ayerted by the latter holding up q
paper before his face and giving some or
ders to the driver in gruff and unnatura
voice. He reached Mr.. Lewis 3 on Thurs
day and spent the time there up to mid
night Friday night. While he was there .
| messenger was tent to Stanton to get
| bullets for the Colts revolvers called for
by the cartel. He came up on the 5. v.
| r. R.. purchased the bullets at store
in Stanton On Friday and went back to
Mr.. Lewis by rail. Friday night the
party consisting of Mr.. Elan, his second,
Mr.. D. oheffey Lewis, U. S. District At
torney, DR.. Lewis Wheat his surgeon and
Mr.. Snellings. in carriage. and Mr.. Jno.
F. Lewis. Jr., on black blooded mare.
left Mr.. Lewis for the point of meeting.
They arrived there, distance Of twenty
| five miles, about daylight.
GOING ON THE GROUND.
AS the appointed hour approached Mr..
Beirne's wagon started for the ground.
The wagon stopped short distance off
and Mr.. Beirne and Messrs. Wright.
Chockley and H. M. Smith, Jr., walked
over the hill and to the spot where the
meeting was to take place. Maj. Beirne,
who staid With. the wagon, sat at tho foot
Of a tree. his heart filled with all brothers.
affectionate anxiety. Mr.. Elam's vehicle
also drove into the grove. and the parties
saluted each other. The arrival on the
ground was not many minutes after 5
o'clock. Mr.. Sheffey Lewis advanced
and asked for Mr.. Page McCarty, who
had been the friend of Mr.. Beirne at the
opening of the difficulty. He was inform,
ed that Mr.. Wright would act for Mr.. B.
TIE DUEL.
The two priscipais stood aside talking
PLEASANTLY With their friends while the,r
respective representatives we're arranging
the preliminaries. Mr.. Wright and Mr..
Shelley Lewis tossed for the choice of po-
sitions and Mr.. Lewis won 1t. They again
tossed for who should give the word and
Mr.. Lewis again won it. The eight PAGES
were then measured of. and the men were
placed with Colts flve barreled revolvers,
80 calibre. Mr.. Beirne wore suit of gray.
the coat being Of the sack pattern and
closely Ruttoned up. He wore a soft hat
and low necked shirt the collar of which
was held by blue necktie. Mr.. Elan
was dressed in black with closely button
ed sack coat. He was placed near rotten
stump, which was pushed aside to give him
standing room, and he faced north. Mr..
Beirne was placed eight PAGES of, fac ing
south. There was no difference in the ad-
yantages of the two positions except the
slight one that the hill. which rose directly
in the rear of Mr.. Beirne, made good
back ground and made him better target
The sun had just come above the trees in
the East and begun shining across the
wheat field which interviewed bet ween them
and the duelling ground. Mr.. Shelley
Lewis gave the word Fire.: One-Isco-
Three. The principals fired Simultaneous
" at the word ''one" neither was hurt
Elam's ball pierced the skirt of Belrne's
coat. Mr.. Beirne's second announced that
his principal was not satisfied and de-
manded another fire. The cartel provided
that at this second fire the principals
should go on firing until their pistols were
empty and advance ii they chose. The
word was given by Mr.. Lewis again. and
the men fired. At the first shot Mr.. Elan.
without moving from bis place, turned his
head and said to DIR. Wheat 81 am
struck That he had been struck was
already apparent to DIR. Wheat. who was
hurrying to him. Mr.. Choekley crossed
over to where Or. Wheat was examining
Elam's wound. and seeing the nature Of
it. returned to Mr.. Beirne with whom he
held brief consultation. He then re-
Turned and announced that Bis priaeipal
was satisfied. The Beirns party then left
the field. Mr.. Beirne going straight over
the hill to where his brother was sitting
| at the foot of tree.
Mr.. Elan g friends placed him On some
carriage cushions and a hasty examination
of the wound was made. At that time 1t
appeared to be merely flesh wound in
the right hip over the thigh bone. Mr..
Elan walked to the carriage with his
friends and in a moment more Mr.. John
| AOWiU Wdo vi lilo OlhCh WdlO I6Ilty
to Waynesboro to telegraph to Mrs. Elan
the welcome words: Merely flesh
| wound"
AFTER THE DUEL.
After leaving the ground Mr.. Beirne &C.
companied by his brother, Messrs. Wright
and Chockley and Mr. H. M. Smith, Jr.,
Of Richmond, drove in their wagon to CHI
| mora station on the Shenandoah Valley
Railroad to take the train for Baltimore.
Before getting on the cars Mr.. Beirne
made David Brooks, the colored driver, 8
present of $25 for his faithful services In the
long drive from West Virginia. The par
ty were met by reporter of the Baltimore
american on the train Saturday afternoon
before it reached Baltimore. He writes !.
They we're reading the accounts in the
Baltimore afternoon papers about the duel,
and the report that MIR. Beirne had gone
| considerable satisfaction. They were &C.
cordingly somewhat surprised when The
american, reporter introduced himself.
They were seated together. and though
J their faces and clothes we're dusty with
travel, they appeared to have heartily en-
joyed their ride through Western Mary
land. Mr.. Belrne wore gray serge suit
of clothes, a low neck shirt and dark blue
necktie. On his knee lay one of Josh Bill
l:ngs' joke books, with which he had been
amusing himself. About his feet were
several valises and a couple of rolled
blankets. The travel-stained condition of
the party and their suE-burned faces
would have led anyone to suppose that
they were company of mountaineers
| coming to the CITY to see the sights and
spend Fourth-of-July. They were very
| reticent, and indisposed to say anything
about the duel.
do you return to Richmond tonight"
asked the reporter of Mr.. Beirne.