Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1883-06-29
THE IMPENDING DUEL.


between Messrs. Richard F. Beirne, of the
Richmond State, and VIM. G. Elan, of the
Richmond Wing. We give below history
of the affair up to the FIRST attempt at
meeting, which was frustrated. Of the
of the parties since, nothing is
absolutely certain save that the seconds
have been changed, new ones procured,
and duel IS expected at some, now un-
known point, to-day OF tom ,rrow:
THE PARTIES TO THE MEETING.
Richard F. Beirne, the editor and owner
brier county. w. Va, only twenty-seven
years of age. He was educated at Ran
dolph Macon College, which is located in
the village OF Ashland in Hanover, about
twenty miles from Richmond, and finished
his education at one of the German uni
versities. He is man Of unusual size,
tall and weighing over two hundred and
twenty-five pounds, has a handsome
bright face, dark hair and eyes, and wears
a moustache and goatee. He is genial,
fond of company, and an admirable relater
OF anecdotes. Six years ago he purchased
an interest in the Richmond State, of
which John Hampden Chamberlayne was
then the proprietor and editor. and though
then but an amateur in journalism, rapid
ly rose in the profession until when Cham
layne died he assumed the chair left
vacant by that distinguished writer, with
an ability that assured the public that the
State was in able and competent hands
In 1881 he was challenged by the present
u. S. Senator, H. H. Riddleberger,
promptly accepted the challenge aud re-
paired to the field, but, through an over-
sight of his second. no caps had been
brought along for the pistols, and the fight
did not take place. 1t is this occurrence
to which alluson is m lda in the article
which brought on the present hostile meet
aud they have three children
His home is in Ashland and he comes to
Richmond by the morning train on the
and returns in the evening.
VIM. G. clam, editor of the Richmond
Whig is native of North Carolina, fifty
years of age. He is a little below medium
height, and 1876 pounds in weight. He is
very grey and wears a now-white, fall
beard, trimmed but not very short. He
is near sighted and wears glasses which
conceal very bright, lark eyes. His man.
ner is rather reserved except with init
mate friends and this reserve and his pre-
mature greyness had caused him. as long
IS ten years ago, to be spoken of by his lit
erary associates, of even greater age. as al.
old man. He served during the war in Wool
folk 8 Va. battery. and at its close married
IS member of the Bo lrd of Visitors of
Ito D.. D. 4 b. Institution here and Lis
face is familiar to many of our citizens
He was ed ic.tad in North Carolina, and
at an eaily age developed marked literary
talent. as contributor Of both poetry and
prose Co the pages of the old Southern Lit
erdry Messenger In John r. Thompson's
day. After the war Mr.. ELAN did much
if not most Of the editorial writing on the
Richmond EGaneiner, which had been re-
vived by Henry Rives Pollard. After
that l,urpai vas discontinued be earned
livelihood by literary werk. which includ
ed good deal If admirably written +
respondence to out-of-town papers. AT
the time Of the capitol disaster in 1870 he
was one of the injured and it was some
time before he rfcove: sd. lie became
sub litor on the |Vhig several years agn
and by his unquestion-d ability soon rose
to the positioa Of Chief L. WIS in this
position that he penue :he arti ,lo about
ex-Gov. Smith W,;eh br,ugita challenge
from bis son, C,. Thomas Smith. rhs
result Of the N ,eting was that Elan. was
shot in the chin. A few months ago an
article appeared in the Whig which it WAS
apprehended by the Richmond authorities
would lead to duel and Mr.. Ella was
put under bonds of $1,000 to keep the peace
for IA year. tfr, Elan was elected Secre-
tary of The CG.nsaoIW ealth in Janu' ~,
1882. His home is in Louisa county.
where bis wife and Sc. eraI children reside.
He makes his residence ia Richmond dnre
lug the week and spen Is his Sa5b4ths at
lone. His Oldest daug hter, young lady
f sixteen, was pupil at the Wesleyan
Female Institnte here last year.
THE CAUSE OF THE MEETING.
The following are the twG articles out of
which the meeting arose:
From the Richmond State of June 2oth.l
WHO ARE THE NIaGERs?
The Whig which is the organ of Boss
Malone and his hail-feIows- swell met from
among negro politicians and white rene
gadeS of the same ordrF, ia fss'ever aecus-
ing the Democrats of raising che cry of
'nigger." That The Democrats hare never
done, and the Wing knows it 1!
The word ''nigger" is very offensive
one alike to respectable whites and respect
able colored men. 1t is used among low
md abusive white men and black men as
the most offensive of epiJhets. 1t is not
surprising, therefore. to see the Boss,
his organ. ana oihere whom he
may allow to speak for him. talking a2uch
about ''nigger," and accusing Democrats
of using chat word which only fits the
mouth Of degraded Mahoneite. Nobody
who knows anything of the character of
the TWO coTrnptionls's who misrepresent
Virginia in She United States Senate
would ever think OF tiisif calling the word
negro anything else than 'sEigger." But
The peculiar device of the Boss. lI3 aGGgs-.,
ing others of what he does himself In order
to hide his own guilt, was never more
plainly exposed than in his charge that
Democrats cali bis hypocritically-p
faithful allies'' "niggsr ga vulgar name
that might seem to have been framed by
his own mind.
In making this com ment upon Buss hfa,
hone we wish 1t to be distinctly understood
by all his corrupt benchmen that what we
say and have said OF him we mean and
have meant of them, personally, indiyi-
dnallu cnlIaof uolu or in anu G{i.a,. nor,nn