Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-07-02
BEIRNE AND ELAN MEET
TWO SHOTS EXCHANGED Ann
ELAN HIT IN THE THIGH

NhARLoTTEsVILLE,V VA, June 30.-A
renaDle telegram received here at II
/ O'Clock this morning states that Editor,
Deirhe and Elan fought near WAYNE
borough, Va, at six O'Clock this morning
Al the second firing Mr. Elan was
shghtly wounded in the thigh. Both mer
We're satisfied and left the field. If is re-
| ported that Mr., Beirne was represented
by Messrs. Young, ,Chockley, and Wright OF
Richmond, and Mr.. Elan by John Smell
/ ing and John f. Lewis and son.
Mr.. Elan, of the Vhig was dangerous.
| Iy shot through the right thigh, and is al
MOTEL at WaynesbOrough, and telegraphs
for his wife. Mr.. Beirne, of the Richmond
/ State, passed through Charlottesville for
Richmond on the 1920 O'Clock train this
/ noon.
/ STAUNToN, VA, June 3O.-Mr. Elan
had Deen concealed not many miles from
/ the scene of the combat for several davs
/ past. He was at the residence of Jo6n
/ Lewis, sor of the Hon. j. F. Lewis.
/ Arrangements for the meeting were made
III KlchmOnd at the time when Mr.. Elan
was IN that vicinity and Mr. Beirne i'm
! west virginia. some point midway be-
/ tween the two places was fixed as the
/ place. The change of seconds was
made, and the cartel, as previously de-
/ uefmlned, namely, Colts siX-shOOters at
| eight PAGES, was agreed upon. Both prin-
| cipals managed to evade the vigilance of
the authorities, and at o'clock this
morning met in strip of woods about two
| miles from the WaynesbOrOugh Junction
of the Shenandoah Valley and the Cbesa-
| peake and Ohio Railroad. The distance
was marked off and at the first fire
neither of the men was struck.
MI. Belrne, the challenger, demanded
second shot, which was granted. and
the bullet from his pistol imbedded itself
IN the upper part of Mr.. Elam's right
thigh.
MIR. Beirne was untouched.
MIR. Elam fell to the ground, and Mr..
Beirne, raising his hat to his fallen Oppo-
nent, was hurried into carriage and
driven rapidly away.
Subsequently he took a Shenandoah
Valley train at CrimmOna.
Mr.. Elan was also conveyed i'm
carriage to house near
by, his surgeon attending him.
1t was found that the extraction of the
ball would be attended with danger and
consultation among surgeons was held.
The fact that the ball failed to force itself
through is taken as evidence in cOnnec-
tiOn with the character of the weapon
uStN anu AAC uloIdllCG ludL IL came Ill
direct contact with one of the larger
bones. No arrests have been made nor
does there seem to be any disposition to
institute legal investigation. Mr.. Elam
was removed to the residence of John +.
Lewis and his wife sent for.
When the cOmbatants took their po-
sitions several gentlemen present, who
were not Immediately connected with the
affair, were asked to retire, and they did
- nbVCiaiap tho
tlemen, are you ready: Fire. One, two,
three"
The shots were to be exchanged after
the word ''tire" and before the word
"three." At the word ''one7 both pistols
were discharged in quick succession, but
without effect.
The same programme was then re-
peated, both reports being almost stimuli
taneOus and just at the word cone"
AS Mr.. Elam staggered under the effect
of the shot his second ran forward and
assisted him to cushions, which had been
laid on the ground. The wounded man
was under the impression that the ball had
penetrated his legs, and insisted that
ouch was the case. When assured by the
surgeons that it had not even gone through
one leg, and that the intense pain in the
other was from sympathy, Mr.. Elam ex-
pressed regret that he had not demanded
another shot. He was perfectly
cool and collected. and gave his directions
in strong and composed voice.
Mr.. Beirne also acted with deliberatiOn,
sand, although pale, seemed perfectly
cool. He was taken away by his second
alter it was discovered that Mr.. Elam
could not again stand.
Mr. Elam was then placed in an ambu-
lance, which started for the residence Of
Lieutenant Governor Lewis, some fifteen
or twenty miles distant. 1t was doubt
full what the effect of the ride would be,
and in case the wounded man was not
able to stand it, preparations had been
made for his entertainment at the houses
of some of his most prominent friends
along the way. The wound is evidently
a serious one. After the ball struck Mr..
Elam he gave one or two steps forward,
aud from that it was thought that his leg
was not broken. The surgeon, however,
stated that the muscle must have sus-
tanned him for that length of time.
RICHMOND, VA, June 30.-In the meet
ing this morning between Messrs. Benne
and Elam the provisions of the original
cartel were carried out until Mr.. Elan
was shot. The cartel provided that after
the first shot, if neither was hurt, the
word should be given for a second round,
and then the parties should continue fir
ing, and advance if they choose.
On the second round Mr.. Elam
his thigh, and stage cred or
fell and exclaimed: 81 am hitr'
Mr.. Beirne ceased firing, and his sec
Onds declared that their principal was
satisfied.
MIR. Beirne then raised his hat, saluted
his opponent, and walked to his carriage,
which he entered, and was driven away.
Mr.. Elan was helped to his carriage and
taken to the LynWOOd residence of Lieu
tenant-GOvernor Lewis, in Rockingham
county, few miles from the scene of the
rencOntre.
The ball in Mr.. Elam's thigh was probed
for on the field, but was not found The
wound is not considered dangerous, how
ever.
Mr.. Beirne's seconds were Frank
Wright, of Petersburg, and w. Emmett
Chockley, of this city.
Mr.. Elam's friends were ID. Shaffel
Lewis and j. ID. Snellings.
The delay of the meeting was caused
by the fear of arrest. Three attempts
were made to arrest Mr.. Beirne. The |
parties were nearly 25O miles apart, and
had to come to the place of meeting in
private cOnYeyances, travelling mostly
at night. Everybody seemed pleased that |
the duel did not terminate fatally to
either.
BALTIMORE. June 3O.-Richard f. |
Beirne, who engaged in a duel with Mr.. |
Elam, of the Richmond Whiq, accom- !
panied by his seconds, Frank NJ. Wright, |
of Petersburg, and w. +. Chuckley, of |
Richmond, as well as Andrew Beirne, of |
Lewisburg, Va, and H. NJ. Smith, Jr., of |
Richmond, reached this city this evening
and stopped at Barnum's Hotel. Their |
future movements are not known.
HARRIsONBURG, VA, July 1.-W. c.
Elan, who was wounded in the duel with
II. +. Beirne yesterday morning, is now
at the home of Lieutenant Governor Lewis,
in this county. Mr.. Lewis and his son
arrived at his home here this morning.
He says that the ball was cut out of the
inner side of Mr.. Elam's left hip, and,
unless blood poisoning occurs, he will re-
cover. The latter's wife reached him to-
day, and he will not be removed for some
time.
BALTIMORE, Md, July Richard F.
BeiTne, editor of the Richmond Stdte, and
his friends, are remaining very quiet
guests at Barnum's Hotel tonight. They
were recognized by a few persons while
services AT church to-day.
They leave for Richmond tomorrow NOR
ming.
Beirne Again Challenged.
CIIApT OTfrESNTT Va Junp ~ Tho