Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-10-03

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from following up the attack. By this
time the Gain had reached Alexandra,
and the excited crowd proceeded down
Main street to Armory Hall, where the
meeting was announced to take place.
When Mr.. Wise commenced speak
ing at Armory Hall Mr.. Smith was in
the room, and Mr.. Wise evidently did
not see him, there being about eight
hundred persons present. Mr.. Wise
at first began to talk about the cam
paign. and read from memorandum
statement to the effect that while Cen
eral Lee was cadet at West Point he
was forty-iifth out of a class of forty
eight. and had 100 demerits opposite
his name. He had hardly spoken ten
minutes, however, before the audience
became noisy and diserderly, and one
of Mr.. Wise's sentences was inter-
rupted by clamor from the rear OF
the hall.
"What did you strike j. Amber
Smith for:
Because" said Mr.. Wise, she was
making a blackguard of himself, as you
are doing now."
We'll, you can't whip Inc now, any
how" shouted Mr.. Smith. You are
coward"
Mr.. Wise paid no attention to the re-
mark, but went on speaking. He dis
cussed the Blair bill, denounced Vir-
cinians, and finally asserted that the
Democratic officials who had charge OF
the State Insane Asylum had seduced
the inmates. This statement was the
torch which kindled into flame the ex-
led feelings of a crowd in the rear of
hall.
You are a liar " shoutsdneeme
Ge!
There is no coward in this hall
no will dare to come upon the stage
with me !" cried Mr.. Wise in rehIrn.
"Why don't you say that to Page
McCarty?" was the exclamation Of an
other man in the crowd. BY this time
the scene was one Of widest disorder,
and Mr.. Wise thought it best to cease
speaking. The lights on the stage were
extinguished, and Mr.. Wise escaped
through a rear entrance, and under the
escort of two policemen was taken as
far as the corner Of Pitt and Duke
streets, where he said that he did not
need their protection any longer. He
disappeared and was not seen any. more
last night. Mr.. Smith came outside Of
the hall and hunted in vain for Wise
until he had to take the midnight train
for this city.
FROM MR.. SMITHS POINT OF VIEW.
Il do not wish to say anything
about the matter" said Mr.. John
Amber Smith to a Post reporter. Z" 1t
is not fair to Mr.. Wise to allow any
thing to be published until he has a
chance to explain matters, and | can
not allow myself to be interviewed"
"Was it true. then. that Mr.. Wise
struck you?" asked the reporter.
"Well, yes" said Mr.. Smith, hesi-
tatingly, his anger evidently beginning
10 get the better Of his resolution.
"l'll tell YOU just how it happened. ]
got on the train and met Wise at the
door. How are you. John Amber E
he said, pleasantly, and as | had been
friend of Mr.. Wise's, returned his
greeting and presented my friend, Mr.
Ramsburg, of Maryland. We sat down
together. and in the course Of our con-
versation he referred to some articles
which he said had been published in he
Richmond Dispatch, and quoted from
them some remarks pertaining to himself,
which he objected to. told him that he
was mistaken, and he intimated that |
was lying. then told him had the
papers and could prove what said.
At this he rose, and, without giving me
a word of warning, struck me in the
mouth. l fell back in my seat, and
the first thing l knew several colored
men had jumped upon me, and heard
my friend Ramsburg, who had seized
Wise, cry, Don't double up on a
man | really believe ! should have
been killed had it not been for this
timely interference. The colored men
released me, and as the conductor came
in at that time | asked him to tell Mr.
Wise that, as the difficulty had occurred
between US two, / should expect him to
settle with me on our arrival at Alex
andria. Whether this message was de.
livered or not do not know, but when
we got to Alexandra Mr.. Wise did not
appear, and l next saw him at the
meeting. When, in the course of his
remarks, he stated that he struck me
as he would any other blackguard,
rose Immediately and said, You struck
me foul blow, which could only have
been done by poltroon and a coward,
and l stated explicitly that l should
expect satisfaction. Shortly after this
the crowd Kissed and jerred him SC
that he was forced to leave the
building by the side door, and we saw
no more of him. Had Mr.. Wise whip
ped me in fair fight" said Mr.. Smith,
look Of anger settling on his face, 81
should not have said 4 word, but tt
strike me when had no more expecta'
ton Of it than i have that you will re
peat it was more than | could stand
and propose to make him pay dearly
for every drop Of blood which flowed
from this wound" displaying a cut OF
his lip.
"Had he come to me tonight" con
tinued Mr.. Smith, savsgely, 81 should
have considered that | was doing duty
| to my God, my country, and myself BY