Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-07-13
THE CODE.


Hostile Meeting Near waynesboro. VA,
Between Two Bloodthirsty Riehmond
EdItors-Mr. Bierne Shoots and CrippIes
Mr.. Elan In Strict Accordance With the
Rules of the Dueling Code.
SrAUSroN, Va, july
Bierne and Elan, the Richmond duelists.
met Saturday morning near New Hone. in
this county. At the first exchange of shots
neither were touched. AT the second shot,
Elan was struck in the upper part of the
thigh, and BierDe escaped unhurt. Bierne
then expressed himself as satisfied, and the
parties left the field in opposite directions.
Elan had been concealed not many miles
from the scene OF the combat for several
days past. He was at the residence of John
Lewis, son of ii. j. Lewis. The arrange
ment for the meeting was matured in Rich
mond at the time when Elan was in this
vicinity and Bierne in West Virginia. Some
point about midway between the two places
was fixed as the place. A change of seconds
was made, and the cartel, as previously de-
termined-namely, Colts skies, at eight
PAGES, was agreed upon.
Both principals managed to evade the
vigilance of the authorities, and at six
o'clock Saturday morning met i'm a strip of
woods about two miles from Waynesboro,
the junction of the Shenandoah Valley
and the Chesapeake and Ohio railroads.
The distance was marked off and at tho
first fire neither Of the men was struck.
Bierne, the challenger, demanded second
shot, which was granted, and the bullet
from his pistol imbedded itself in the upper
part of Elam's right thigh. Bierne was I'M
touched. ELAN fell to the ground, and
Bierne, raising his hat to his fallen
opponent, was hurried into carriage
and driven rapidly away. Subsequently
he took the train at CrimQna. Elan was
also conveyed in carriage to house near,
where his surgeon attended him. 1t was
found that the extraction of the ball would
be attended with danger, and a consultation
among the surgeons was held. The fact
that the ball failed to force itself through is
taken as evidence, in connection with the
character of the weapon used and the dis
lance, that it came in contact with one of
the large bones.
No arrests have been made nor does there
seem any disposition to institute legal in
veStigatiOn. Elan was removed to the res
idence of j. +. Lewis, and his wife sent for.
When the combatants took position, sew
eral gentlemen present, but not Immediately
connected with the affair were asked to re-
tire. They did So and the physician then
gave the word: Gentlemen, are you ready?
Fire! One, two, threer' The shots were to
be exchanged after the word fire" and
before the word 4" three.' At the word
" one" both pistols were discharged in quick
succession, but without effect. The same
programme was then repeated, both reports
being almost simultaneous, and just at the
word zone" AS Elan staggered I'M
der the effect of a wound, his second
ran forward and assisted him to cushions
which lay on the ground. The wounded
man was under the impression that the ball
had penetrated both legs, ami insisted that
such was the case. When assured by the
surgeon that it had not even gone through
one leg, and that the intense pain in the
other was caused from sympathy, Elan ex-
pressed regret THAT he had not demanded
another shot. He was perfectly cool and
collected, and gave directions in strong,
composed voice. Biene also acted with
deliberation, and, although pale, seemed
perfectly cool. He was taken away by his
second after he discovered that Elan could
not again stand.
Elan was placed in an ambulance and
started for the residence of Lieutenant
Governor Lewis, fifteen or twenty miles dis
tant. 1t was doubtful what effect the ride
would have, and in case the wounded man
was not able to stand it preparations were
made for his entertainments at the house of
some of his prominent friends along the
way. The wound was evidently very seri-
Gus one. After the ball struck, Elan gave
one or two steps forward, and from that
il was thought that the leg had not been
broken. The surgeon, however, stated that
the muscle would have sustained him that
length of time.
Elan has been removed to Governor John
F. Lewis residence. The Post Republic,
of Rockingham County, says it is currently
stated that Bierne has been challenged by n
leading Readjuster to fight again at an early
day.
This is the third duel Elan has fought,
and the second one in which he was wound
ed. During the civil war he fought with
a fellOw-confederate soldier, but escaped
unhart. In 1850 he fought duel near
Richmond with Colonel Tom Smith, son of
Ex-Governor Smith, of this State, and was
wounded in the chin.
AS will be remembered, the duel grew out
Of editorials in The Wing and The State
which reflected upon the editors who met on
the field to-day. Strange as it may appear,
those gentlemen were unacquainted, and
until they faced each others weapons had
never met before. Some idea of their de-
termination to resent the offensive editorials
can be gathered when it is known that both
travelled in private conveyances over $50
miles to fight Their journey was necss-
sarily made under the most disadvanta-
geous circumstances. AS the whole State
was aroused, they had to cOnfine themselves
to the by-roads and travel mostly by night,
sometimes sleeping out, fearing to apply for
lodgings on the road, fording swollen noun
tain streams and crossing mountains. 1t
would not do, however, for either to return
to Richmond without fighting, and no diff
culties were permitted to interfere with
them.