The Sully County watchman. (Clifton, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1894, 1883-07-14
Hostile Meeting Near Waynes-
boro, Va, Between the Blood
thirsty Richmond Editors.
MIR. 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.

THE ENEMIES FACE TO FACE.
CHICAGO, July 2.-The Tribune of
SunGay has the following special: The
duel between Richard +. Bei-ne, editor
of the Richmond State, and William &
Elam, editor of the Richmond Wing,
took place two miles south OF here Sat
ufday,ss ,ssat o'clock a. 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 a sack
coat worn by Beirne. Neither was hit.
Beirne, rs the challenging party, de-
manded another shot. In this second
round Fam WAS wounded in the right
hip, the ball passing through the 4shy
part of that eide AMI striking the left
hip. The wound is not considered
dangerous. Elam as soon as struck,
said TO his seconds Il am struck"
Beirne's seconds declared their princi-
pal satisfied. Eeirne lifted his hat,
saluted his opponents, a. d, 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. L Chalkley, of Richmond. Elam's
seconds were Shefley Lewis, of Rock
ingham, a son of Lieut.. Gov. John +.
Lewis, and United States district at
torney for the western district of Vir-
ginia, and John ID. Smelling.
WHERE THEY FOUGHT.
The Oueling ground was in a beautiful
grove OF oaks on the farE of Philip
killian on the New Hope turnpike. The
weapons used were Colts revolvers OF
81 calibre, distance eight PAGES. The
original cartel provided for navy shot
revUlvers. The new cartel provided Tor
navy 6 fevolvers or 42-calibre Smith &
Wesson. Beirne's seconds demanded
that the weapons substituted should be
AS near TO those as possible. Elam's
seconds however, insisted that be should
be allowed TO use such pistols as he
wanted. At the word of command both
men fired promptly and almost stimuli
taneousIy. Elam's second shot entirely
missed his opponent. Both men are
represented to have been perfectly cool.
Brirne is very large man, and weighs
30 pounds. EIam weighs about 1877.
The difference in size was considered TO
BeirDe's great disadvantage, but Elam'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
ex-Gov. Lewis. Eam's wife was tele-
graped for and is now on the way TO mis-
bedside.
HOW THEY MET.
4 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 fled TO West Nirgi-
MIA. The following Monday evening.
as soon as Mccarthy, his second, could
communicate with nim, Il 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
were the parties to be gotten together.
The difficulty was enhanced by the fact
that all sources of communication were
under espionage. Deputy Sheritis all /
along the lines of the railroads were on
the lookout. The authorities had drawn |
complete network around tae parties. /
Mccarthy, Royal, Ragland, and all par |
ties suspec cted of connection with this .
affair we're watched by detectives. E.
am was securely hid near Richmond, I
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 a pair of navy Elk 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 corntield.
The railroad authorities W 10 read and
gave away every telegram that passed
through were ba He'd as they perused the
dispatches concerning brilliant trans
action in Tobacco and rash attempt TO
bull the what market, while the chances
of q brilliant season at the White Sui
pnur Springs were discou-sei. 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 nom
plussed. BY means of this cipher the
cartel and all necessary prellmik aries
were arranged. The cartel provided
that the meeting should be two miles
ont of Waynesboro al 4 80 this morn
ing on the old stag road. The password
was Number one" Mr. Beirne left