Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-01-22
GEBHARDT WANTS 10 FIGHT.
The "Jersey Lily Entreating Him,
with Tears In Her Eyes, not to Meet
9. Louis Special, 18Th.


Since Mrs. Langtry and her devoted at
tendant, Mr.. Gebhardt, came here the
newspapers have kept the public fully
posted upon their dOings and their goings
and cOmings. Their dress, talk and meals
have been chrOnicled faithfully, and more
or less authentic interviews With them
have been published. Much ef this
writing has been indecently sug-
gestiye, and yesterday morning the
GtObe-DemOcrGt contained what purport-
ed to be a diagram of the respective
apartments of the actress and her cava-
lier, publication which caused them
both much pain and evoked from Mr..
Gebhardt the promise that he would per-
sonally chastise the next reporter of that
paper who attempted to visit HIM or
Mrs. Langtry. They had both been
called upon the day before by a
Globe Democrat reporter named Major
A. b. Cunningham, who passed a
pleasant time with them, and published
what he heard and saw in very con-
servative shape. Last evening, while he
was in the rOtunda of the Southern Hotel
he was called upon by Mr., Gebhardt. who
charged him with being responsible for all
the Yileness that had been published re-
gardlng himself and Mrs. Langtrv. Major
Cunningham declined to accept the re-
spons1bility, when Mr.. Gebhardt lost his
temper entirely and swore at and insulted
Cunningham grossly, and challenged him
to fist encounter in the ladies' parIor.
Mayor Cunningham, who has an un-
lmpeachable record for courage.
and served with great credit i'm
the Confederate army during the
wer as cavalry officer, kept his
temper, and informed Mr.. Gebhardt that
he appreciated the fact that he had been
lnsulted, and that Mr.. Gebhardt would
hear from him the following day. Mr..
Gebhardt wanted to insist upOn n fist
fight, and told Major Cunningham he
could knock him out in one T6Iind but
Major Cunningham informed him thu no
was not pugiliss, and that he wcnld soon
give hlA {debhardt) an Opportunity to
select gentlemen's weapons with which
their dIincuIty could be settled. Mr.. Geb-
hardt dld not reply to this proposition. but
conInued to apply apprObriOus epithets
10 mayor Cunaingham, who suffered him.
sell 70 be led off by his frienas.
rms ended the evening trouble, and to-
uay, aIter consultation in the Globe Dem
nam Seiected that papers dramatic critic.
Mr.. John Jennings, to represent him
Mrt Jennings, whose favorable oriti-
cIsm OF the Lily's acting has placed him
on terms OF temporary Intimacy with her.
carried a challenge to Mr.. 'Gebhardt'
Unfortunately, he delivered this at mo-
ment when Mr.. Gebbhardt was i'm the
company of his fair enslaver, who. di-
Ylnlng the nature Of its contents. insisted
upoR seeing the letter. Mr.. GebhGrdt-
whose mcllnatiOnS We're all in the direc
ton Of fight, declined positively to snr-
render the letter, but the lady became
hysterical and he consented. when She
read the letter, watch contained an
invitation to Mr.. Gebhardt 10 ac-
company Major Cunningham. with SO.
eQnds, to the Indian Territory, She REGAIN
ed her cOmposure fully and bent ali her
energies TO securing his promise not
70 take any notice Of the challenge.
?he urgea tRat ne could decline to accent
! II on the ground of difference in station
between him and the reporter. but Mr.
Jennings sternly stated. and the state
ment is true, thai Major Cunningham is a
scion OF one OF the oldest and most aris-
tocyasic families in Louisiana and a man
OF unimpeachable character in the com
Finally the Derturbs1 fair
one was forced to the irresiti-
able resource of asking "Ereddie', 10
ignore the challenge for her sake. At
ter a long struggle Mr.. Gebhart CON
Ssentea 70 pay no attention to the chaI-
lenge, and Mr., Jennings withdrew, after
having beon Informed that the inyitatin-
was declined and that Mr., Gebhar9s - -
BeWe9sr. BPeTnaps. spoken ISiaS hastily, Concession SION
G1"ta GGg1meVgr, H. Whlch Is pronognced at the
ont t 'dIen.SerGt office altogether insufici-
enL = amend the ipsuit Of Yesterday.
Unless ample apology is made 6v Mr.
0eDhgaSotI 10 MAJOR Cunningham, the latter
viii adopt the Southern method of postine,
hlm IN published card in the nubIic
papers, as coward, which win throw
upon the dashing New Yorker the burden
oI seeking satisfaction. In the mean
TIME, however, friends of both parties are
seeking to effect a reconciliation. and if is
more tAan likely they win be successful.