Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1883-07-12
Mr.. EIam Shot Down Strictly Ac.
cOrding to the Rules Of the
Dueling Code.
The Antagonists Compelled to Hide
in Hen-Roosts Prior to the
Contest.
At the Scene.
THE ENEMIES FACE TO FACE.

At the Scene:
THE ENEMIES FACE TO FACE.
CHICAGO, July 2.-The Tribune of
Sunday has the following special: The
duel between Richard F. Bei~ne, editor
of the Richmond State, and William G.
Elan, editor Of the Richmond Wing,
took place two miles south of here Sat
urday,..at o'clock p. M. The men were
placed IN position promptly by their
seconds, and the command was given,
Gentlemen, are you ready? Fire.
One, two, three" At the first fire
Elam's ball pierced the skirt Of q sack
coat worn by Beirne. Neither was hit.
Beirne, as the challenging party, de-
manded another shot. In this second
round Ei8m was wounded IN the right
hip, the ball passing through the 18shy
part Of that side ans striking the left
hip. The wound is not considered
dangerous. Eiam as soon as struck,
said to his seconds: II am struck"
Benne's seconds declared their princi-
pal satisfied. Eeirne lifted his hat,
saluted his opponents, ard, walking to
his carriage, entered and drove away.
Elam was lifted to his carriage and
driven away. Beirne was represented
by Frank Wright, of Petersburg, and
w. E. Chalkley, of Richmond. Elam's
seconds were Shelley Lewis, Of Rock
ingham, son of Lieut.. Gov. John F.
Lewis, and United States district at
torney for the western district of Vir-
ginia, and John D. Smelling.
WHERE THEY FOUGHT.
The dueling ground was in beautiful
grove of oaks on the farm of Philip
Killian on the New Hope turnpike. The
weapons used were Colts revolvers of
80 calibre, distance eight PAGES. The
original cartel proviG ed for navy 6 shot
revolvers. The new cartel provided for
navy 6 fevolvers or 42-calibre Smith &
Wesson. Beirne's seconds demanded
that the weapons substituted should be
as near to those SIS possible. Eiam's
seconds however, insisted that be should
be allowed to use such pistols as he
wanted. At the word of command both
men fred promptly and almost stimuli
taneously. Elam's second shot entirely
missed his opponent. Both men are
represented to have been perfectly cool.
Beirne Is q very large man, and weighs
225 pounds. Eam weighs about 1877.
The difference In size was considered to
Beirnes great disadvantage, but EIam's
nearsightedness was claimed to offset
this disadvantage. Dr.. Lewis Wheat, of
Richmond, nephew of ex Gov. Lewis,
was Elam's surgeon. Beirne had none.
Elam was removed TO the residence of
I 10 - al
graped for and IS now on the way to his
bedside.
HOW THEY MET.
A remarkable feature of this affair is
the manner in which the two men GOT
together without being arrested. When
Beirne escaped from Hanover Junction
eight days ago he fed to West Virgil
MIA. The following Monday evening.
as soon as Mccarthy, his sec ond, could
communicate with him, new cartel
was made. The place of meeting NAM
ed therein was near Waynesboro Satur-
day morning. Here the romance of
the duel comes in. Beirne had safely
placed himself beyond the limits of the
State, and the question then arose, how
we're the parties to be gotten together.
The difficulty was enhanced by the fact
that sill sources of communication were
under espionage. Deputy Sheriffs al
along the lines of the railroads were On
the lookout. The authorities had drawn
a complete network around the parties.
Mccarthy, Royal, Ragland, and all par
ties suspected of connection with this
affair were watched by detectives. E.
am was sc curely hid near Richmond,
but Bierne could not move from West
Virginia. Finally Mccarthy resorted
to cipher dispatch. Two messengers
were sent to Beirne in West Virginia,
one bearing pair of navy six revolvers
and the other the key to the cipher.
They went by different routes, and this
cipher man was chased by Deputy
Sheriff who suspected him. He escap-
ed by running through big cornfeld.
The railroad authorities wAo read and
gave away every telegram that passed
through were bafaed as they perused the
dispatches concerning brilliant trans
action in Tobacco and rash attempt to
bull the what market, while the chances
of 8 brilliant season at the White Sui
phur Springs were discou-sed. The dis
patch, which appointed the place
of meeting. discussed the maple sugar
crop of Green Brier County. At both
ends of the line detectives were non
plussed. By means of this cipher the
cartel and all necessary prelimiKaries
were arranged. The cartel provided |
that the meeting should be two miles |
out of Waynesboro at 430 this morn
ing on the old stag road. The password |
was Number one" Mr.. Beirne left |
Green Brler County Tuesday night. |
The rain was coming down in torrents.
Beirne and Wright had to keep away |
from the railroad and take the most |
out of the way roads. To add to this |
trouble the mountain streams were
swollen, and once the Jersey wagon |
and its occupants were swept down the |
stream. They travelled night and day |
and managed to make the trip ofnear- |
~ 200 miles without being discovered. |
The parties were determined, for both |
hoD 0ft