Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-11-19

From the Neis York Sas.
OCEANA, WYOMING COUNTY, W, Va"
Nov. I3.-The recent death ol Edward
Harbrook, an old-time resld ut Of tAls
county, causes the resurrection Of long
forgotten tales of his ecceutricities ana
wild follles. Harbro0k was born IN Lew
isburg. Va. on Dee. TO- eighty-tnree years
ago. His parents belonged 70 one OF the
oldest families iu the state, and were
numbered among the weai thiest residents
Of this fertile country. His father aud
only brother died from contagious dis
ease when be was - years old. ana from
that peri Cd be had absolutely no restraint
pIaced Uror his actions. Those who knew
bim. state that he was kind .riend. nut
possessed ri an unE0yernable temper and
when fairly aroused spared neither friend
or foe.
Attic age ~ 26 be FELL desperately in
love Wltn Edith Vernon, the daughter OF
near ueighbJr. she refused him because
ofhis temper. Eiwood Warner. the son
OF wealthy planter from below Nicks-
burg. was also a suit0r for the lady's IA
v0rs, ana by his handsome figure and pol
fshed manners succeeded in gaining her
love. On hearing Of the engagement HRr-
brook gave wav to insane paroXysms OF
rage. he vowed that the Mississippian
should never live 10 enjoy his triumph.
The remark was repeated, and reached
Warmers ears. The hot creole blood OF
the S0utherner boiled at the threat and,
despite the persu8si0us OF bis friends. be
determined o. make HarofOok eat niS
words or dght. Tie TWO men met few
davs subse4u-u al the house Of friend.
Warner during the evening demanded an
explanation oi the Nirginian. who, boil
ing over with Jealous rage, promptly
Knocked him down. Both men drew pis-
tolls. which they were prevented from US
ing By the bystanders. Warner was rem
dered frantic by the brutal response 10
his naughty challenge. and swOTe deep
oath that the insult should be washed out
il blood.
The matter was placed In the hands OF
friends. who decided to settle the affair at
once. although il was then within a short
half-1Our u midnight. II was agreed
that tna duelsts should be bliudfolded
aud lea into a darkened room, and that
each be armed with a pistol and bowie
knife. Both seemed anxious for the en-
counter. A large upper chamber was
chosen aud stripped Of furniture and
hanglngs. The windows and doors were
then mufied, and everything put in readi-
ness for the novel duel Each man was
carefully blindfolded and led 70 a separate
corner OF the room, and provided with
weapons by his second. who nOiselessly
withdrew 10 the next chamber, where
they waited with bated breath for the is
sue Of the struggle. The seconds grew
slowly into minutes, which seemed like
hours 10 the anxious friends, till nearly a
quarter Of an hour had passed by, when
the loud report OF two shots, blended to-
getheT, rang out, followed by the sounds
Of "a Ffn rlfa Il nd
all became quiet, with the exception Of a
low moan, now and then, Of person evil
IDENTIFY suffering intense agony. A light
being procured, the friends entered the
room, and we're greeted by a scene never
10 be forgotten. The body OF the Missis-
sippian lay stretched upon the floor, the
blood pouring in streams from knife
wounds in his throat, bosom, and abdo-
men. Lying across the body, his right
hand still clasping the weapon which had
done the work, Jay the almost insensible
body Of the Yirglnian. His right arm mad
been broken at the wrist by pistol ball,
while the blood streamed from several
gasbes ia his neck and shoulders. The
room everywhere gave evidence OF the
struggle, the ceiling, walls and doors be-
ing clotted and spattered with blood.
Physicians were at once summoned to
attend the men. Every effort was made
70 Tesuscitate the Mississippian. but
without avail, as he was quite dead. With
Harbr00k the doctors had better success,
and succeeded in restoring him TO health
but IL was only after long months Of con-
nnement that he ultimately recovered
from the terrible effects Of his savage bat
tie. Miss Vernon never recovered from
the effect Of the shock given her at hear
ing OF the horrible death OF her lover, and
went rapidly into decline, dying a few
months later OF consumption.
After the death Of Miss Vernon, Har-
brook became wilder and more dissipated
than ever, collecting about him the worst
men Of that section. His gaming and
wild orgies caused his society to be shun-
ned by all the respectable members Of the
community. His career was brought to
an end in that county by a fatal ARRAY
With a companion over game Of cards,
HarbroOk plunging a knife deep into the
heart of his antagonist. His victim
was a boy only Is years old, and
had been tempted and led by HANDBOOK
into habits Of vice. His family, which was
very wealthy, swore vengeance on the
murderer, who was compelled to leave the
country.
Harbrook's career for many years is
somewhat yelled in mystery. 1t is said
that he made his way 10 New Orleans,
and thence TO Cuba. Here his marksman-
ship and reckless disregard of life won
him an Bnenviable reputation as noted
duelist. he is thought to have entered
the slave trade on the Guinea coast, as a
portion Of a ships log book was found
RmOung his effects after his death. II is
alleged that he amassed vast wealth in
this nefariOus traffic, as after an absence
OF eighteen years he returned to his home
accompanied by a dark-eyed brunette,
whose jewels and dresses were at once
the envy and admiration OF the wealthy
Tide Water Nirginians. Owing 10 his
long absence, his past career had been
partially eifaced by time, so that both he
and his beautiful wife were received with
courtesy by the friends Of his youth. All
went we'll for a short while when a rumor
was circulated-by whom was not def
nitely knOWn-that the woman was not
Spanish, as he had claimed, but an octo-
room, purchased In New Orleans. A for
mer friend went 20 Harbrook with the
tale and asked for an explanation. He
was shown papers that proved conclu.
siFely that the woman was HarbrOOk's
legal wife, the marriage having been per-
formed by q Spanish priest in New Or.
leans.
y shortly after this episode mulatto
woman belonging 10 HarbrOok, who had
at one lime been his mistress, discovered
among her masters papers a bill OF sale
for his lovely wife. This she secured,
and, filed with jealous rage, determined
% secure her rivals downfall and ruin.
Living In an Old homestead a few miles
away was the crippled brother OF Har-
brooks last victim &c the card table, pre-
Yious TO his disappearance. This relative