Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-10-02
THE WISE.SMITEI AasAuIr
Various Accounts Of the Affair Which
ID NOt Likely to Result I'm q Duel.

THE WISE.SMITH ASSAULT.
Various Accounts of the Amir which
II NOT Likely to Result I'm Duel.
MR.. WISE DOES NOT RETURN To WASHINGTON
WHAT HIS FRIENDS sAY-wHAr Mr. SMITH
sAfs-A CAR PASSENGERS STORY OF THE
ALTERcAT1oN, ETC.
Mr. 1onn :. Wise. republican candidate for
governor of Virginia, was a passenger on the
$40 train from Washington to Alexandria last
evening TO address q republican meeting in
Armory nan. On the same train was Mr.. ].
Amoler smith, of this city. Mr.. Smith is re.
publican and q citizen of Virginia. but he de-
cines 10 support Wise. The two men got into
controversy in the smoking car with regard
W the attitude of Hon. John F. Lewis, Mr..
omitns iather-in-law and his LewisD family in
the pending canvass. Mr.. Wise said they
wooio vote for him. After the exchange of some
snarp "oros' 1t Is stated that Smith called Wise
Har. Wnereupon Wise struck Smith q blow in
Inc mouth knocking him down. Mr.. Smith
quickly recovered himself and struck back at
Mr.. Wise, but the interference of other passen.
gers put stop to the fight.
The TROUBLE RENEWED AT THE ALEXANDRIA
MEETING.
Hon. John 8. Wise, the republican candidate
lor governor, reached Alexandria In his canvass
OF the state last night. He addressed an audience
winch packed Armory hall to the utmost ex.
outside the doors at points where his voice
could be heard. He spoke amid repeated cues
i n his constantly replying in the same spirit
the to good his
were very active and several times elected dis
orderly persons. Mr.. Wise spoke tw o hours.
VIE IN o ot MS speech in Alexandria, Mr..
wise SAID ne had no comment to make on Fitz
Lee Lee personal character. but would speak of
him a as public man. AS Lee had Introduced
from a ten-cent life Of Lee ridiculed his career
at I'VE esq fo roints and claimed that he was made
nero LOT oeeds he never performed. He had,
| he said, many warm friends in the democratic
party who favored free speech, and he came to
free speech there and now.
MI Mr.. Wise was continually interrupted, and
".What about the trouble YOU had with AM.
bier smith on the train?" cried one inter
ru !Wbx ;, ,svsre, WIZ.
on the train like BLACKBOARD, as you are do
Ing, and slapped him in the mouth
on Inc ponce We're quite busy In keeping order,
ana every now and then would break through
the crowd that filled up the doorway and bring
ous some person who was interrupting the
his friends. Once during Mr. Wise's speech.
MIR. j. Amber Smith arose in the audience and
exclaimed, II denounce you as a coward and a
1t was anticipated in Alexandria that the
blow which Mr. Wise had given Mr.. Smith in
would lead to more serious difiiculty before the
night was over, and crowds were seen at seve-
RAJ points where it was supposed rencounter
gathered at the depot, where it was thought o
meeting me-. might take place, but when Mr.. Smith
lsts u1r washington on the 1880 train, all pos
mated and the thrOng separated.
MIR. WISE NOT IN TOWN TO-DAY-WHAT HIS
FRIENDS SAY.
A STAR reporter called this morning at the
hnfoI VrI,or -
Wise was staying, but was informed that he
mad not been there since last evening. Inquiry
among friends of Mr.. Wise resulted in i'm.
formation Tor that ne wasnot in the city. One of
MS 1r1ends said he had no doubt Mr.. Wise had
gone right on to fill his engagements in the
campaign. and that he would not probably take
friends maintain that it is not incum bent upon
him TO return to Washington or go out of his
way at all to meet Mr.. Smith. They say that
| MIR. Wise resented an insult, and that he could
not have done less.
MR.. SMITHS VERSION OF THE STORY.
THE STAR reporter next visited the law office
OF Mi. John Amber Smith on New York ave.
nue.. That gentleman was found In close con-
rupted his conference to receive the reporter
When asked for his version of the difficulty he
replied that he had nothing to say for the
present. "The matter is" he added. ain the
hands of my friends. and perhaps tomorrow I
may have something to say"
Being asked If he intended to challenge Mr.
Wise Mr. smith replied: What would Se the
duel" .-e"'
was In the hands of friends, and remarked that
1t would not be proper for HIM to make any
public declarations Of his intentions. Mr. Smith
declared that he did not hunt Wise up, and
that he did not even know Wise was on the
train. He said he went in company with several
Others to the train because he wanted to hear
Mr.. Wise's speech at Alexandria: that in mass
ing through q car Mr.. Wise hailed him with.
How are YOU John Amblers" Mr.. smith says
two shook hands; that they engaged i'm CONVEX.
satiIo r., and he continued: "Wise struck me a
have now Of one with With YOU, ,e and man his
were to Strike me Mr. Smith denie s as y9p
cally that he instigated the disturbance which
broke up the meeting at Alexandria. He de-
against such conduct. He admits that when
Wise, in reply TO an Interrogation from some
cause he made a "blackguard" of himself. that
he (Smith) arose and denounced Wise in the
meeting as "a liar, poltroon and a coward"
MI Sinith stated further that he waited at
Alexandria for the purpose of meeting Mr.
Wise and OF settling with him the trouble which
nt tha do"r en- @ says ne remained
Wise would make his exit in that way: that
when nearly fE EVERYDAY had left the hallhe was
back door. MIR. Smith declared that until then
he was not aware that there was back
0oor 70 Tie nan. HE then waited in
alexandra, he says, until the last
train came up to Washington last night
still hoping and expecting to meet Mr.. Wise.
In regard to the allegation that he was under
lie out of whole CLOTH" He declares that he did
Alexandria.
While Mr.. Smith declined to say anything as
to his intentions, his admission that the affair
was in the hands of friends would imply that
he Is seeking redress. He would not, OF course,
acknowledge any purpose of a challenge, even
If he entertained 1t, as that would bring him i'm
collision with the law. He expressed the opin.
ion that by tomorrow something definite
might De known as to the sequel of the affray on
the train.
WHAT AN EYE AND EAR WITNESS OF THE
SCENE ON THE CAR SAYS.
A gentleman who was seated in the car at the
time of the difficulty, but who does not want
his name used because he ''prefers not to be
mixed up with the affair."" gave q STAR reporter
substantially the following account Of what he
saw: The car was very much crowded. sup
pose twenty or twenty-five men were standing
In the aisle unable to get seats. Mr. Wise got
seat and colOred man kindly surrendered his
to me. was on the opposite side OF the aisle
and one seat further front than Wise. Mr.. Smith
and q friend or two passed along and he and
Wise exchanged greetings. Wise got after smith
about q statement of his to the effect that ex-
senator Lewis and his son, Smiths
fatherin-aw and brother-in.law, were
supporting Lee. Wise declared that
was not true, saying that those men were his
friends and supporters. Smith intimated or
declared that that was not true. He may have
AL =